Chocolate Mousse Cake

Dessert! The recipe you’ve been waiting for!!  Well, the recipe I’ve been waiting for.  Chocolate mousse cake.  Holay, yummy!  When I go to heaven, the clouds I frolic in are going to be made of chocolate.  Dark chocolate, white chocolate, peanut butter chocolate, mousse chocolate, milk chocolate…oh the list goes on!

There is nothing better than chocolate.  Nothing.  A bold statement, I know.  You have a bad day, eat a chocolate bar.  You get your heart broken, eat a chocolate bar.  You get in a car accident and break your arms, legs, and all of your ribs….well, ask the nurse to get you a chocolate bar.  In my world, it’s the answer to absolutely everything. 

And wine.  Wine also fixes everything.

Quit rambling on you say! Give us this wonderful gluten free chocolate mousse cake recipe!  And I will.  But there is a catch.  The main ingredient is chickpeas! Yes, I did say chickpeas.  Chickpeas can be used as a substitute for eggs and flour in baked goods.  They do not contain any cholesterol or saturated fats, and have a high protein and fibre content.  

The best way to make this recipe is with a food processer.  But, alas, I do not own one.  So I used a blender.  As I have said in previous posts, I’m not exactly the cleanest person when it comes to cooking in baking.  But it’s always fun to watch Blaine dive for cover every time something flies through the air (I have no idea how it happens…it’s just a talent of mine I guess).

The loveliest part of this dessert is that has no added sugar – only fruit.  I will list the ingredients I made this cake with, but feel free to substitute the berries and beans for other types.

Chocolate Mousse Cake

Ingredients:

-1 banana

-1 handful blueberries

-1 handful chickpeas

-7 Medjool dates

-3 tbsp cocoa powder

-1 large tbsp coconut oil

-1 tbsp almond butter

-Some sort of topping whether it be chocolate chips, pecans, or any other kind of nut

Instructions:

1. Blend the dates with the almond butter and coconut oil until smooth and creamy.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend.
3. Poor mixture into a circular or rectangular cooking tin and sprinkle topping on top (I used dark chocolate chips…of course).
4. Freeze and remove from freezer a few minutes before eating.

Easy as pie! Wait…easy as cake?  I think so!

4 Things They Don't Tell You About Colonoscopy Preparation

Colonoscopy.  Even the word makes me shudder.  Not the actual colonoscopy, but the prep.  For those of you who have ever had one, you know what I’m talking about.  I see you nodding your heads furiously. 

This past spring I was booked for a Colonscopy and Gastroscopy (for those of you who don't know, a Gastroscopy is basically the same thing, except down your throat) by my GI specialist.  I sat there innocently as he told me about the procedures, not really sure what these two things entailed.  After my general appointment I went to the pharmacy to pick up the prep drinks I needed for my procedures the following month – a small bottle of laxative and 4L of colon cleanser (I kid you not, I am dry heaving as I’m writing this just thinking about the taste).

Doctors don’t tell you how to prep for the prep and innocent people are fooled daily…LOL…so here I am to help the needy. 

WARNING: If you are easily offended by talking about butts, anus, colon, and shit, this is not the post for you!

4 Things they don’t tell you about Colonoscopy preparation:

1.  The prep drinks taste like shit.  No, actually it tastes like shit, poison, 

     barf, and mucus all mixed together with the "lemon-lime" flavor it is  

     supposed to taste like.  I'm not going to sugar coat it.  It is NASTY.  

     Drink flavoured tea.  This is a big life saver here.  I made an enormous

     pot of strong flavoured tea and kept that baby close by.  Chug as much of

     the cleanser as you can and then chase it with the tea.  You are allowed

     clear liquids, and tea is one of them.

2.  Get moisturized wet wipes.  Your ass is going to feel like it’s been blow 

     torched, beaten, and rubbed raw.  You know that chant “liar liar pants on 

     fire” (with the little picture of a boy with his butt on fire)?  I have a theory

     that Colonoscopy’s are karma for all people who have ever lied.  I don’t    

     care if you feel like a baby, get the freakin wipes.  They will feel 

     like nirvana on your asshole. 

     Also, ask your doctor for some kind of cream to put on your anus.   

     Something to soothe the feeling that your anus is going to burn, shrivel, 

     and fall off.

3.  Don’t plan anything.  Put on your granny panties and the most 

     dangerously ugly t-shirt you own and get ready to relax.  And pants? 

     You don't need pants.

     Don’t do laundry, don’t have a friend over, don’t make meals for your

     family, and by all means, don’t leave your house - even for a second.  I 

     made the mistake of going out to my car to grab a pair of shoes (yes, I

     keep shoes in my car….who knows when a girl is going to need a teal pair

     of 4 inch stilettos??).  Yep.  Don’t do that.  I’ve never run so fast in my 

     entire life.  Into the house, through the hallway and right into the

     bathroom, where my boyfriend’s cousin was showering.  There is nothing

     better than a Colonoscopy preparation to help you get to know your

     roommates better.  If you are scared to burp, fart, shit, and piss in front

     of anyone, you better get used to it.

4.  You don’t have to drink it all.  The doctor will tell you that you have to 

     drink every last little bit of the cleanser, but this is not necessarily true.  

     As long as the liquid that is coming out is clear, you are good to go.  I 

     only drank about 1/3 of the cleanser when I started throwing it up.   

     At that time, everything that was coming out of my rear was clear (baha! 
     A rhyme!) so I stopped drinking the cleanser.

The actual Colonoscopy and Gastroscopy weren’t bad at all.  With the help of drugs, I don’t remember a thing.  After the procedure, and after I’d slept off the drugs for about an hour, my GI doc came to talk to me about the results.

“All clear, no sign of Crohn’s or any inflammation.”

Wait…what?????  I don’t have Crohn’s?

”No ma’am, but I did take a few biopsies so we will get back to you about the results in a few weeks.”

I didn’t want to announce on my blog that I don’t have Crohn’s until I knew exactly what was going on.  Yesterday was my appointment with my specialist to talk about the results of the biopsies.   He showed me pictures of my colon and rectum (And I have to say, it was quite wonderful looking) and showed me exactly where the camera went. 

I am all clear of Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and Colitis.  I guess I was sort of relieved, but also very confused.  How do you diagnose someone with Crohn’s (through an x-ray) and then say, “Ooops! Just kidding!”  We discussed my symptoms for awhile longer and came to the conclusion that I have IBS and am gluten intolerant. 

Nothing will be changing about my blog.  I still have bowel problems and I still don’t eat gluten.  I still struggle with the same symptoms and I still have the same results when I eat gluten or when I don’t eat gluten.  I am a huge believer in the mind blowing changes that a gluten-free diet can have and I’m still here to provide you with knowledge and recipes regarding this matter.

Holy hot batman! Oh, and chicken & string beans too

It is HOT this summer.  And I mean, hot! I’ve been sweating in places that I didn’t know I had and taking 16 showers a day (okay, maybe a bit of an exaggeration.  But if I had time, I probably would!).  I truly think someone needs to invent boob, back, and butt deoderant.  Too much information?

And what’s worse, we don’t have air conditioning.  Which means when it’s 30 degrees outside, it’s 45 degrees in our house.  We live in a little older character home with only a few windows that actually open and a sauna for a bedroom.  I’ve been spending countless evenings and nights lying on the floor or my bed covered in a towel soaked with cold water.  According to Cosmo magazine, it helps to put your underwear in the freezer and wear them to bed.  Ummm….LOL.  I would like to go on record and say that doesn’t work.

Okay okay, I know I shouldn’t be complaining.  When winter comes around I’ll be wishing for that hot summer air again.  It’s already been getting darker earlier and cooling off quite a bit in the evening.  Here’s hoping for a warm winter like the last one!

Enough about the weather.  The Saskatoon Exhibition is in town this week (basically our fair, for those of you who don’t know) and I went with a small group last night.  Four things about the Exhibition:

• Never eat before you go on rides.  I learned this lesson a few years ago when I threw up all over myself and everyone around me.  Oh yeah, I’m not kidding.  I was that person.  We arrived late at the ex so I downed a delicious souvlaki and went on my first upside down ride ever.  I hopped on thinking I was so cool and the ride was going to rock my world.  Within 30 seconds I was nauseated as hell and within 40 seconds I was throwing up like a boss.  All over myself and all over the people around me.  Can you say hot mess??

•  Never ride the small horse on the merry go round.  No joke, your arse will hurt like you just rode a bike for 5 hours. And if you’re a man, apparently it hurts even more.  According to the guys riding behind me, getting drunk first is the key to riding the kid’s merry-go-round – they seemed to be having the time of their lives.  Good to know for next time.

• You cannot put lipstick on when you’re on the octopus.  Nope.  Not gonna happen.  Now I know this makes me seem high maintenance but the first time I rode it, I really just wanted to see if I could do it.  I don’t recommend this.  You will come out looking like Lady Gaga gone wrong (or maybe right??...who knows)/something out of a horror film.  Again, super hot mess.

• Watching high school girls is my favourite part of the Ex.  Seriously, I’m not trying to be mean, but it is hilarious 90% of the time.  I definitely remember being that girl who spent 2 hours getting ready to go to the Ex in high school.  The fair seems to be a large gathering of bump-its, bar makeup, and 3 inch stilettos.  And then there’s those moments you see parents walking towards their teenagers while they're with their friends.  Ha! It is a display of horrified looks and red cheeks and "don't embarrass me mom!"'s.  Oh, how I remember those times.

All in all, we had a good time. Annndddd….there was plenty of gluten free food!  Of course, none of it was exactly healthy, but there was a Mexican food truck with gluten free tacos.

This evening I decided to make one of my favourite dishes – Pistachio chicken and String beans with hazelnuts & lemon.

String Beans with Hazelnuts & Lemon

Ingredients:

• Green/yellow beans – preferably fresh, but can be frozen
• Olive oil
• Lemon zest
• Hazelnuts
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. If you have frozen beans, boil them in salted water until tender.
2. Place about 1.5 pounds of green beans in a bowl.
3. Mix with 2 tbsp olive oil, 1.5 tsp’s of lemon zest, 1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts, and salt and pepper.

Green vegetables are a very important food to incorporate into your meals at least once a day.  This includes green beans.  Green beans are a good stress fighting food because they consist of a high amount of anti-oxidants, as well as variety of Vitamins, including A and D.  Vitamin A is known to improve chronic fatigue and depression, while Vitamin D can help stabilize mood and irritability.  Green beans also provide healthy amounts of Iron, Magnesium, and Potassium, which are important for your metabolism. 

Yellow and green beans are also known to help prevent colon cancer.  They contain a high amount of fiber that help keep the toxins moving out of our bodies at a fast pace.  The minerals and vitamins that the beans hold also assist in keeping polyps and other cancerous growths from forming.  These beans are a super food that can also aid inflammation and digestive issues.

Pistachio Chicken

This is probably one of the easier and yummiest chicken dishes you can make.

Ingredients: 

• Chicken breasts 
• Pistachios 
• Salt and pepper 
• Olive Oil

Instructions:

1. If you can find pistachios that are shelled, then that’s great!  If you can’t, buy a bag of pistachios and shell them.
2. Put the pistachios in a plastic bag and smash the hell out of them with a rolling pin.
3. Lay the crushed pistachios out on a plate and press each side of the chicken breasts into the pistachios.
4. Put some olive oil in a frying pan and fry each side of the chicken breasts until browned.
5. Put the chicken breasts in the oven for about 45 minutes or until baked throughout.

Simply and delicious!

In my opinion, pistachios are the best nuts you can eat.  They have one of the lowest fat contents out of all nuts, and have many health benefits.  Pistachios are most known for their excellent heart healing skills, but are also great for eyes and the skin.  They contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which are two carotenoids that aren’t in most nuts.  These two carotenoids have been linked to decreasing visual impairments.  Pistachios also an excellent source of vitamin C, preventing skin damage and premature aging. 

Clumsiness and Quinoa

I have spent the last 5 days in Banff, Alberta.  Climbing mountains, kayaking the Bow Valley river, white water rafting, zip lining, taking walks in the cute little town.  What a life.  It was very relaxing for the most part.  And humorous as well.  At some point God decided it would be funny to make me the most accident prone person on earth. 

We go kayaking:

Camera – check.

Snacks – check.

Sunglasses – check.

Sunscreen – check.

We go hiking:

Camera – check.

Snacks – check.

Sunglasses – check.

Sunscreen – check.

We go fishing:

Camera – check.

Snacks – check.

Sunglasses – check.

Sunscreen – check.

Fishing gear – check.

Now what did I forget?  Toilet paper!! (and the probability that I will make a fool of myself using the “outdoor” bathroom)

We go kayaking:

I pull over on the side of the river and step into mud, which ends up being about a foot deep.  I can’t get my feet out and break my sandals during the process.  I finally free myself and I start to pee behind a tree.  What wonderful leaves those are beside me that I can wipe myself with.  Well, maybe not so much.  I pull the leaves off and start to wipe when I realize they have thorns all over them.  OUCH!

We go hiking:

This mountain has mosquitoes.  And I’m talking a lot of mosquitoes.  Army after army of mosquitoes.  There is not only a lot, they are also HUGE – mozzies on steroids!

I find a tree away from the main path, take a leak, and end up with 36 mosquito bites just on my ass! I am not kidding.  I have more mosquito bites on my butt than the average person gets in an entire year.

We go fishing:

Here I am whistling away when I realize I need to go.  The sun is going down so I put my sunglasses on top of my head, find a good spot behind a tree, and get ready to do my thing.  Just as I’m starting to go, my sunglasses fall off my head and I literally pee all over them.  Really attractive!!!

But yep, that’s me! All in all there was lots of adventures that were had and may good times.

And there’s nothing like a welcome home meal like Quinoa Lasagna.  Who doesn’t love lasagna (especially with a healthy twist)? 

Quinoa Lasagna

Ingredients:

-1 cup quinoa

-1 cup tomato sauce

-1 onion

-3 garlic cloves

-1 red bell pepper

-Olive oil

-4-5 mushrooms

-1 tsp basil

-1 tsp oregano

-1 tsp marjoram

-pepper

-2 medium tomatoes

-1 cup low fat cottage cheese

-1.5 cups skim cheese

Instructions:

1. Cook quinoa in pot (as if you would do rice) and preheat oven to 350F.
2. Saute onions, bell pepper, garlic, mushrooms, seasonings.
3. Once browned, add tomatoes and tomato sauce.  Simmer until hot.
4. Combine cottage cheese and skim cheese in a bowl
5. In a baking dish, cover the bottom with the cooked quinoa.  Layer with the tomato mixture and then layer again with the cheese mixture.
6. Bake for about 15-20 minutes.

This is a healthy alternative to the normally fattening lasagna (but just as delicious, I promise!).

There are a zillion great health benefits to eating quinoa, but I will highlight a few:

1. It is a great source of protein and contains all of the essential amino acids you could possibly want in one dish, with a low amount of calories.
2. It provides health benefits to your gastrointestinal system.  It contains insoluble fiber, which helps keep you regular.  It passes through your intestinal system and assists in moving food to your colon. 
3. It is a gluten/wheat free brain food that provides you with 15% of your daily intake of Iron, encouraging energy and brain power.
4. Its vitamin B content helps control brain volume and stabilizes moods.

Who wouldn’t want to eat this power food?!

And don't be afraid to pair it with a yummy salad :)



Chilli!

This blog post is going to be a shorter one, as I’m on holidays.  But I’ll be back and at the longer posts next week!

Chilli

The lovely thing about chilli is that there are so many different kinds and a variety of spices and ingredients you can experiment with.  When I was a kid, nothing was better than a hot homemade bowl of chilli.  Most people associate chilli with winter, but chilli can be a lovely summer meal with the right ingredients.

Chipotle and Chocolate Chilli (try saying that 5X over) is my absolute favourite.  I mean, who doesn’t love a little sweet and a little spice?!

Chipotle Chocolate Chilli

Ingredients:

-2 tbsp olive oil

-2 cups onion, diced

-1 cup red bell pepper, chopped

-garlic

-1 ¼ pounds ground turkey/chicken

-2 tbsp chilli powder

-1 tbsp cocoa

-1 tsp ground cumin

-Salt and pepper

-2 15 ounce cans pinto beans

-2 large tomatoes, diced

-14 ounces gluten free chicken broth

-2 chipotle chillies

-2 ounces chocolate (if you’re eating gluten free, check out the ingredients in the chocolate.  Some chocolate has gluten, while others don’t.  I use Hershey’s kisses, as they don’t have gluten.)

Instructions:

1. Heat dutch oven and cover bottom with 2 tbsp olive oil
2. Fry onion, red pepper, garlic, and turkey/chicken.  Saute until turkey/chicken is cooked throughout.
3. Add chilli powder, cocoa, cumin, salt & pepper, pinto beans, tomatoes, chicken broth, and chillies.
4. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. 
5. Add chocolate and stir until melted

Yum yum yum!!!!!!!!!!  You can’t go wrong with a little chocolate in anything.  The great thing about this recipe is that you can take away or add any other vegetables you like, and it will still be delish.

The ingredients in this recipe are full of all different kinds of health benefits.  If you’ve been reading my blog, you already know the amazing benefits of red pepper – full of tons of vitamins and anti-oxidants!  Pinto beans are full of protein and healthy carbohydrates.  They also offer many different vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin B9, magnesium, zinc, copper, and selenium.  These minerals help strengthen the immune system.  There are a lot of benefits to onions but there are specific health advantages to people with stomach or bowel problems.  Onions are known as a healing vegetable.  They are very rich in the antioxidant, quercitin,   Quercitin is an anti-infammatory and is known to inhibit stomach cancers.  Who can argue with these great benefits?

Enjoy!

SIX

Over the past couple months, I’ve had such great support with my blog and a lot of questions regarding my health, how I deal with certain things, and why I am where I am.  The purpose of this blog has never been to vent to the world about my illnesses or attract some sort of attention. .  It is about sharing the methods I use (mostly with food) to hopefully inspire or assist others that are maybe going through the same things as I, or that are just simply looking for new recipes and nutritional information.  I’m still at the beginning of my journey with my physical illness, but have spent my whole life dealing with the mental illness I carry and have learned so much in the past 4-ish years since my diagnosis.

I’ve been there.  I’ve been the crazy and I’ve been the depressed.  I’ve done the wanting to die thing, the sleeping for days thing, the throwing up because I’m so anxious thing, the crazy crying/don’t care anymore panic attack thing.  And I’m not sure at what point, but at some point, I gave life the middle finger and told it to go screw itself.  I decided no matter how hard it was, I was going to figure out what the hell was wrong and I was going to fix it.  And it’s been a journey, but here I am now, living a stable and absolutely fabulous life. 

I am in no way suggesting that I am a superstar that has it all figured out.  I definitely have my bad days.  But these are the things I have learned over the past few years that have really helped me out.

1.  Working hard pays off

I wrote this as the first point because it is the most important.  Like anything in life, you must take big chances to get big results.  Anyone who has ever felt depressed knows it’s hard as eff to even get off the couch sometimes.  But you must push yourself.  Push yourself to do things you wouldn’t normally do – one day at a time.  Keep those plans you have with friends, fill your schedule up and keep busy, go to that social event that scares you, and above all, SHOVE those negative thoughts out of your head and replace them with positive ones.  Most people think self talk is a bunch of bullshit, but I challenge them to do it for a week.

If you are feeling off or need something, don’t be afraid to deal with it.  You know your body and mind better than anyone so don’t let anyone tell you differently.  Go to your doctor if you feel you need a psychiatrist.  Go to your psychiatrist if you feel your meds aren’t working.  Trust yourself and your gut feelings.

2. Things are going to be okay and it’s not your fault

Seriously though, they are.  Even in your darkest days or most anxious days or most messed up days, remember – things are going to be okay.  Everyone has ups and downs, and maybe yours are worse than others, but there is always someone worse off.  Work on yourself and work on getting better/staying better because I swear to God, it is totally worth it in the end.

Do not be embarrassed.  There is such a stigma around mental health.  No one wants to talk about it, as if it’s some secret.  Many go through life denying it or keeping it a secret like they did something wrong.  Having a chemical imbalance in your brain isn’t who you are and admitting it only makes you stronger.

3. You are the only one who can help yourself, but don’t be afraid to let people help you.

In the end, you are the one who is responsible for your actions and your happiness.  You can’t rely on anyone else to make you happy and it is no ones job but your own.  It is okay to be selfish and to take charge of your life.  But, on the other hand, do not be afraid to let people in.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  This is key.  Although your happiness is always in your own hands, you can’t do it alone.  Whether it is a doctor, a friend, a family member, a therapist, whoever.  Do not be afraid.  Everyone copes with things differently, but talking to someone – anyone - allows you to admit to the issue and to deal with it. 

4. Know your limits, and be okay with them.

It took me a few years to know the things I can and cannot do.  And it took about another year to be okay with them.  Things like sleep, light, proper food, exercise, and routine are important to mental health.  For example, I know that I could never be a nurse because night shifts would screw me up all together. I love to travel and I need to stay away from  redeye flights.  I’d love to be the type of person who can stay up till 1am and get up at 6am and be totally fine, but I know the consequences, so I always make sure to get enough sleep.  And you know what?  That’s okay.  I’m not missing out.  I’m taking care of myself.  Make changes, maintain the changes, and be fine with them.  It doesn’t mean you have to play it safe; it means you have to find a healthy balance.

5. Don’t be scared of psychiatrists and medications

They are there to help you.  Talk to doctors and find the right medications that work for you.  Even though you can’t see it, there is a real imbalance in your brain and the medications are there to help even that out.  Half of it is medication and half of it is personal growth, such as breathing exercise, positive thinking, and education.  Which leads me to my next point…

6. Educate yourself

Continually educating yourself about your health gives you the power to move forward step by step in the right direction.  There are tons of resources including conferences, classes, support groups, books, videos etc.  Push yourself to do these things.  The more you learn, the more you become aware of your actions & feelings and how to deal with them.  It is also a great way to meet people or become aware of people who are going through the same things you are.

The McKerracher Center in Saskatoon was my saving grace.  It is a facility that provides day programs and night groups/classes to those with a variety of mental illnesses.  After getting a referral from my psychiatrist, I attended a Bipolar education group.  It was one day a week for six weeks and we learned everything from the different types of medications to alternative coping methods for highs, lows & anxiety to why the brain is the way it is (etc. etc…).  It was a wonderful way to meet other people who are in the same situation, as well as learn about the illness.  Attendees were also invited to bring a loved one, so that they can learn from a family/friends point of view what Bipolar is all about.

The biggest thing I’ve realized over the years is that my illness is my power, not my weakness.  Embracing it and working with it has made me a stronger and happier person.

Love, hard work, and a little crazy.



Substitutes - Spaghetti Squash!

Part of eating healthy is all about substituting the bad for the good.  You like French fries?  Make it sweet potato fries.  You like Ice Cream?  Make it frozen yogurt.  You like pasta?  Make it spaghetti squash. 

Yep, that’s right, spaghetti squash.  Spaghetti squash is a great alternative to pasta because you can use it in any pasta dish that you would normally make.  Instead of a load of carbs and starch, you get a “pasta dish” packed with vitamins and fatty acids.

Fun Facts:

1. Spaghetti squash is very low in calories (one cup is about 40 calories), very low in fat, and has no cholesterol. 
2. It also contains omega-3 essential fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids, which are great for preventing heart disease, cancers, and inflammation.  The omega-6 is particularly good for brain function, but you don’t want to overdue it, as too much omega-6 can cause inflammation.
3. Spaghetti squash is very rich in Vitamin A and C, which are anti-oxidants and can prevent cell damage.
4. Technically, squash is a fruit.  But c’mon, to normal people, it’s a vegetable.

  
Here are my 2 favourite spaghetti squash recipes.

Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

Ingredients: 
-1 large spaghetti squash 
-1 package ground turkey or chicken 
-1 jar of Ragu sauce 
-1 garlic clove 
-Grated cheese 
-Parmesan

Instructions: 
1. There are many different ways to cook a spaghetti squash – boil it, bake it, microwave it, steam it etc.  I usually stick it in the oven on 350 for 45 min-1 hour. 

2. Fry up the ground meat, garlic, and ragu sauce. 
3. After it has baked, take it out of the oven and cut it in half.  Grab a fork and scoop out the seeds.  Slide the fork along the sides and middle to string the squash.

4. Mix the spaghetti squash in a bowl with the meat sauce.  After it is all mixed, put the insides back into the spaghetti squash halves.  Sprinkle with cheese and parmesan.

5. Bake for another 10-15 minutes or until the cheese has melted.  DELISH!

Hell Yeah Spaghetti Squash 
I certainly did make up this name, as it is my favourite recipe to make using squash!\

Ingredients: 
-Shrimp 
-Olive Oil 
-Black Olives 
-Parmesan 
-Onion 
-Tomatoes 
-Garlic

Instructions: 
1. Bake the squash the same as in step 1 of the first recipe. 
2. Fry together shrimp, black olives, onion, garlic and tomatoes. 
3. Once the spaghetti squash is done and has been gutted, place the squash in a bowl and stir it in with the fried up mixture.

4. Sprinkle with a few tablespoons of olive oil and parmesan.

Sounds good, eh?

Another thing you can do is bake the seeds in the middle, like you are baking pumpkin seeds.  Throw a little spice on them and bake them for 15 minutes.  It’s mmm mmm good!

My favourite spice:

3-4 teaspoons chili powder
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon lime juice
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1-2 teaspoons cumin

YUM YUM! Give it a shot!