Easy Roasted Vegetables

If there's one thing that I always like to have on hand are ready to eat vegetables. I typically love raw vegetables, but there is something so comforting about roasted and warm veggies during the winter time (even though our weather here has been far from winter weather, but I digress).

I decided to roast up some vegetables on Tuesday to eat with some turkey marinara I whipped up. I boiled whole wheat noodles for Emma, my hubby, and a dear friend from church who came over for dinner! Since I'm gluten free, but don't really like a lot of gluten free noodles out there, I thought I'd try the marinara over roasted vegetables, and it turned out SO GOOD! Here is the recipe for a quick and simple roasted veggies pan that you could use as a side to any meal...breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

Easy Roasted Vegetables

1 package butternut squash (I used the Trader Joe's precut one and chopped it up even smaller)

2 cups Brussels sprouts, halved

2 zucchinis, chopped*

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1/2 tablespoon dried basil

1/2 tablespoon garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

*And really, you could add any vegetables to this! Bell peppers, onions, eggplant, the stage is yours!

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Chop up all your vegetables and place on greased baking sheet.

3. Mix the oil, vinegar, and spices separately, then pour over the vegetables and toss until they are all evenly coated.

4. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the veggies are crisp and starting to brown.

5. Enjoy!

See? Super simple and now you have zero excuses as to why you can't eat your vegetables! :)

Eggplant and Zucchini Marinara

I thought I would share a recipe I whipped up last night. It's a random combination of foods but came out tasting great! I am calling it Eggplant and Zucchini Marinara with Lentils! I had some eggplant and zucchini in the fridge that I didn't want to go back...plus half a jar of marinara sauce. So I got working in my kitchen!

First, I chopped up my eggplant and a bag of mini zucchinis I got from Trader Joe's...if you have normal sized zucchini, you would only need about 3-4! After chopping them up, I steamed them on my stovetop. While the veggies steamed, I boiled 2/3 cup of green lentils in some water for about 25-30 minutes until they softened up!

Once the veggies were done steaming, I poured out all the water from underneath the steamer, then used to same pot (what can I say, I am a minimalist) to put the steamed veggies in. Then I mixed in half the jar of marinara sauce. Once the lentils were done, I drained the water and added them as well!

This dish turned out so warm, delicious, and filling! It's so easy and quick and is perfect to make in bulk to take to school or work with you!

Spicy Garlic Green Beans

Hello world!! Today I am sharing a recipe that even the most veggie-hating person will enjoy! I made these yummy green beans last weekend, and they were such a hit! So I thought I'd share!

Makes 4-6 servings 

4 cups string beans or french beans (I used a combination of both!) 2 T Olive oil 2 t crushed garlic Salt, back, and red pepper to taste 

Heat up the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the green beans, garlic, and spices. Add about 1/4-1/2 cup of water to the skillet, reduce the heat, and cover. Cook for about 20 minutes or until the beans are cooked through! I added a pretty good amount of garlic and pepper, so these definitely had a kick to them! 

A word on fat: most people are afraid of using fats and oils because of the calories and tend to steam or use spray oil when cooking veggies. DON'T DO IT! Okay do it once in a while, but please don't be scared of healthy fats. Our bodies need them! The vitamins in veggies, mostly vitamins A and C, are actually fat soluble and need fat to be absorbed properly!! So make sure to use a high quality fat, even coconut oil or grass fed butter, to cook your veggies! And add olive oil and yummy avocado to your salad; I promise you will be fine!! :)