Spaghetti Squash and Chicken With Peanut Sauce

Looks yummy, doesn't it?

 I love peanut sauce - I don't know how I didn't even know about it until a few years ago. One of my favorite meals is dish of whole wheat fettucine, shredded chicken, scallions, carrots, and peanut sauce... but the pasta adds in 5 Weight Watchers Points Plus all on its lonesome, and I didn't want to spend that amount of points in addition to everything else (I have BIG comfort food plans for dinner) - so I decided to experiment with spaghetti squash.

 Spaghetti Squash And Chicken With Peanut Sauce

1 serving

 2 cups cooked spaghetti squash
3oz shredded cooked chicken breast
1/2c steamed shredded carrots
2 scallions, sliced into thin rings (on the diagonal, including both white and green parts)
2 TBSP 365 Organic Peanut Sauce

 Steps:

 1. Cook the spaghetti squash any way you prefer. I had a medium-large one, and I sawed it in half, scooped out the seeds, and stabbed it a few times through the shell to create air vents. Place it cut side down on a large plate, and pour a few tablespoons of water on plate, and microwave for 10 minutes. Once finished, turn the squash over and microwave for 6 more minutes. Let cool for a few minutes, then scrape out the flesh. You will have enough for a few meals.

 2. Steam your shredded carrots. When I cook this dish with pasta, I just throw the carrots in with the pasta for the last few minutes - so I had to find a different way to cook the carrots. You just want them softened a bit, not cooked all the way through. You will notice that mine look like ribbons - that is because I didn't actually have shredded carrots! I used my peeler to create long ribbons of a medium carrot and used that instead.

 3. Mix all ingredients together, and eat!

 If you look at these ingredients separately, they are only 4 Weight Watchers Points Plus (0 for squash, carrots, and scallions, 3 for the chicken, and 1 for the sauce) - but when I plugged it into the Recipe Builder, it came to 6 Points Plus, so I will count it as that. I think that this particular peanut sauce really makes the dish - every other sauce I have tried has had more calories and fat - and this sauce has a great kick to it.  This made quite a big meal - for reference, that green bowl is deep and 8" across.

I just wish now that I had made a double serving so I would have some for my lunch tomorrow!

Boo-yah - I'm 40

 Edited to clarify - my birthday was back in November. I was just having a particularly good night last night and thought I looked damned good for 40.

Doll Sleeping Bags

I love having crafty people in my life. On one of my recent Pinterest perusals, I found these cute doll and stuffed animal sleeping bags made from quilted fabric, and the pin led me to the Hazelnuts blog. I printed off the picture, showed it to my mother-in-law, and said I thought Piper might like one. A few days later, my mother-in-law gave me these three for Piper:



She had repurposed an old bedspread, and Piper loves them! Piper didn't understand that the largest one wasn't for her (as you can see she has it on her while her baby doll is next to her in one as well). She insisted they come to bed with her, so now she sleeps with her three favorite companions, all in their own sleeping bags. Thank you!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I am not sure why schools can't call it Valentine's Day - but I suppose the sentiment is just the same!

Nostalgic Outfits

Hey Mom - remember these cute overalls you made for Willow:



Well, they fit Piper, and probably for the last time - they are celebrating Valentine's Day this week and she insisted on wearing these because there are hearts on the ribbon detail:



(Yeah, ignore the mango she smeared on the front when I wasn't looking.)

  I know, I am not in this picture. Trust me - I don't feel nearly as cute this morning as I did in that first photo.

Wordless Weekend