Meatless Munch: Butternut Mac & Cheese

I keep seeing all these posts about Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese.
And I think it looks really good.
And I want to try it.

BUT- I'm super in love with Mama Pea's Vegan Mac 'n' Cheese

And all the recipes I see for Butternut Squash mac'n'cheese are pretty real cheese heavy.

So, what to do?

Well, when you have a craptastic day (or just an annoying Monday), and it's cold and you need some creamy, stick to your ribs, cheezy goodness?

You drink a delicious dark beer and proceed to make the best macaroni and cheese EVAR.

First, I boiled half a bag of penne pasta from Trader Joes and stuck a butternut squash in the oven. 

While the pasta was cooking and the squash was cooling, I assembled the remaining ingredients: non diary milk, silken tofu (I've used soft when I couldn't find silken, but I like silken best) and non dairy cheese. 

Once the butternut squash was baked at 350 degrees for 45 minutes (or until piercable with a fork), I cleaned it out, then scooped out the insides and joined it in the Ninja with the silken tofu, coconut milk, salt, pepper and dry mustard.  

The result is this creamy deliciousness. 

I added my butter (not vegan- still using up the overabundance of full fat stick butter from the holidays) to the pasta and then the butternut squash mix and the veggie shreds. 

Ta da.

The richest, creamiest, mac and cheese ever.

Surprisingly, I could not really taste the butternut squash. It just helped add to the richness.

Food experiment=success.

Then once my belly was full of creamy happiness...

I had my weight in Girl Scout cookies and called it a successful Monday. :)

Butternut Squash Mac 'n' Cheese

inspired by Nutrionella and Mama Pea

1 butternut squash, baked-cleaned and scooped (about 2 cups)

8 oz pasta of your choice, cooked

1/2 block silken tofu

2 tbsp non-dairy milk

1 package Veggie Shreds

1 tsp dry mustard

2 tbsp butter (I am addicted to Land'o'Lakes Sweet Cream unsalted butter...but there are definitely healthier versions out there)

salt and pepper to taste

1. Bake squash whole at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until soft.
2. While squash cools, bring a pot of water to boil for pasta. cook according to package directions. Drain and place back in pot.
3. In a food processor, mix together tofu, milk, dry mustard, salt, pepper and squash until full incorporate and creamy.
4. Add butter to pasta and stir until melted.
5. Stir squash mixture into pasta and add veggie shreds. Keep stirring until fully melted and creamy.
6. Dish up and enjoy.

I made this into 4 pretty serious 1 cup servings (this is stick to your ribs people), but if you want it to be a side dish or a lighter fare, make into 8 or 6 smaller servings.

What's your favorite comfort food?

How about Girl Scout Cookie?

I can do some damage on Thin Mints and Tag-a-longs...

Concert Road Trip: Ames & NeedtoBreathe

I'm going to go ahead and preface this post with this:
This whole event happened in March. That is how far behind I am, but I *think* I've finally gotten control of my schedule, carved out some writing time, so be ready to get caught up on my life.

Anyhoo, back in March, my friend Holly and I drove up to Ames (about 45 minutes north of DesMo) to see one of my favorite bands- NeedtoBreathe. They are a rock band from South Carolina. They can have a southern rock feel and sometimes a gospel-y feel. Amazing voices and harmony. We were stoked!

First, we decided to do some concert pre-gaming at the local brewery- Olde Main Brewing.

It's pretty popular place and I was looking forward to trying out the brews and the eats.

It's a pretty big place with upstairs tables that overlook the bar and seating below. That's where Hol and I sat.

Catching Up

I've been a busy little beaver but I have not stopped working out or collecting randomness to share with you! :)

Things I liked on the interwebs:

• This is why Dave Grohl is the coolest.
•  Did you know mustached Americans earn 4.3% more than 'clean shaven' Americans?
•  I love this article
•  Walmart is going healthy?
• Teri is one of the reasons I got hooked on blogging and I'm glad I read this post from her 'Weekender.' Wonderful wise words for daily consumption.
• This daily devotional from Relevant Magazine was my favorite. So beautifully written:

Death, Stars and God's Goodness
By Wendy Harbottle

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
Psalm 8:2-4 NIV

SOMETIMES I DO NOT accept death with such grace. I wonder why the young die, why the healthy die, why the ill hang on so long and why evil people thrive. I am angry with the pain I see in the residue of death. I feel angry when I forget that death is really just an invitation to a much better life: a life where there is no need for tears or tombstones or ambulance sirens.
In the meantime I have to learn what to do when I drive around a corner and grief finds me. So I look at the stars: the stars God strung just to astonish us, the stars He named to reveal His bigness, His majesty and His sovereignty.
I look at the stars because they remind me who God is. They tell me He is not spiteful but awe-inspiring. I remember that He is both the man who wept for His friend and the God who breathes light out His mouth. The stars expose how big God is and how tiny I am. I consider the stars and remember that they only burn so brightly because they are dying. As each star burns out and shoots across the sky, I am reminded that in each death I grieve, there is beauty and mystery, if I only choose to see it.

How I spent my Valentine's Day- Zombie Eats and hanging with my sweets!!

 

Knitting Project I finished:

Little bit of winter weather:

Tasty beers:

Baby Showers!

Hanging with Kids

Workouts:

2/6- Resistance Training
2/7- Kickboxing
2/8- Resistance, Run 5.01 46:10 outside
2/9- Kickboxing
2/10- Resistance, Run 2 19:37 treadmill
2/11- Saturday- Red Flannel Run. Total run 6.84 miles 1:03. Red Flannel was 5 miles at 42:07 (I ran my fastest mile ever at 7:45!!)
2/12- Yoga
2/13- 3 mile run treadmill 28:43
2/14- Kickboxing ?
2/15- Resistance Training, Run 4.01 m 33:46 outside
2/16- Kickboxing ?
2/17- Resistance Training?, Run 3:01m 28:45 outside
2/18- Run 10.01 m 1:32:02
2/19- Rest
2/20- Resistance Training, Run 2.01 m 18:39 outside
2/21- Kickboxing
2/22- Resistance Training, Yoga
2/23- Run 6.01 m 56:02 outside
2/24- Rest
2/25- Yoga
2/26- Run 9.5 mi 1:27:47 outside
2/27- Resistance Training
2/28- Run 4.01 mi 36:19 outside
2/29- Resistance Training
3/1- Kickboxing, Run 3.35mi 32:58 outside
3/2- Resistance Training
3/3- Rest
3/4- Run/walk 2.56 miles. Run 1 @ 8:52, Walk 1.5

Quote:

“Be sober and temperate, and you will be healthy. Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy.”—Benjamin Franklin

What is your busiest time of the year? How did you spend your Valentines Day?