This morning’s subway commute was eerily empty. It always creeps me out a bit when there is nobody else in the car with me. But then, I guess it’s better than being packed in the train like a can of sardines…
Munchables for the day:
Apple, dried papaya/pears, 365 spelt pretzels, PB&J dipped MoJo bar, Honey Graham Z bar, and un ensalada enorme.
Work was nice and slow. Happiness! I love it when I get a full hour lunch break. I enjoyed each and every bite of my packed eats.
I even got off work 5 minutes early! I realize how ridiculous that sounds, but sometimes a mere minute can make the difference between a 10 minute express ride home on the subway and a 30+ minute schlep on a local train. I got home by 7:15 so you do the math…
I was drawing a complete blank in terms of dinner. Nothing sounded good. Nothing! (Hate that)
Have you ever started to prepare a meal knowing full well you weren’t really into it…and then it totally surprised you?
Well, that’s how this dish went. I made a “vodka tomato sauce” (of sorts) out of smashed up cherry tomatoes, tomato paste, and plain greek yogurt…took one taste and chucked it into the trash can. Trust. That’s where it belonged. It was way nast. Then I remembered a recent WF purchase.
Quorn meatless and soy-free meatballs to the rescue! Pretty good nutritional stats, huh?
I thawed a few and added them to a huge (and I mean HUGE) plate full of spaghetti squash (tutorial here).
Also in the spaghetti squash pasta: cherry tomatoes and a few dollops of salvaged tomato sauce (not from the trash can, I still had the separate ingreds). Check out those gorgeous spaghetti squash “noodles”!!
What would a pasta be without nooch?
Heavy handed? I should say so…
The dish was outstanding, which was unexpected, and thus all the more pleasing. There’s nothing like low expectations to really boost your opinion, eh? The quorn meatless meatballs were different than anything I have tried before. I liked them, but there was definitely something kinda funky about them that I couldn’t quite put my finger on…they were really salty (hello, 390 mg sodium per serving). I think the part that weirded me out was how well they replicated real meat. First of all, I’m not used to that taste, and secondly, it’s not a flavor I really care to recreate. But for those who are into meat alternatives that taste fairly authentic…quorn is the product to go with.
I had a mayj squash baby after this dinner, and yet, I still had room for a 4×4 HUNK ‘o cornbread.
Yes, I took a bite before taking a photo…my bad! 😳
Anyways, I hope everyone has a FABULOUS Thanksgiving tomorrow. Eat, drink, and be merry! And do a bit extra for me.
“Have you ever started to prepare a meal knowing full well you weren’t really into it…and then it totally surprised you?”
YES! 95% of all meals I make I have no interest in them. I know, it’s weird. But then I start eating it, and I happily get into it. To the point that I go get seconds. Weird, I know.
As for your nooch…heavy handed. But would there be ANY other way to use nooch? I think not.
Thank you for the spaghetti tutorial 101. I have never cooked a spag squash frankly b/c I have been clueless. You have just given me the Idiots Guide to Spag Squash so I can happily proceed.
Texture question…how would it relate to spiralized raw zuke noodles? WHich I think those soften, tenderize and almost take on a cooked like texture after you slather them w/ dressing or sauce. Well, mine do at least.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday, Elise. I am proud to know you and call you a friend and am thankful for ppl like you around the b’sphere this TG.
xoxo
averie
i LOVE your salad creations at lunch 🙂 girl.. i hope you have an amazing thanksgiving
I am thankful that you were able to put out two blogs tonight for our reading pleasure so that while I wait in the kitchen for the peanuts in their shells to finish their three our boiling process, I have some fab light reading to accompany me. =)
Happy Thanksgiving rubia! I am thankful to have had you as a friend for so long. Nevermind how we got acquainted, ahem Pauley Pavilion after Sigep’s 2 buck chuck dinner, but I’m grateful for the outcome and the many memories we continue to share and build upon. I will eat extra for you and give you feedback on how your dip was received by the Sale fam bam.
Save the lives of those who are less fortunate than us, that they were unable to stay away from the hospital this holiday. You are a great treasure and I hope you know it! Besos!
I still need to try the Honey Graham Z bar!
I think I might make your cornbread for my solo tday feast!
I love your squash tutorial.. I always cut mine the other way.. yours seems to work out better!
I totally have those nights where nothing seems appealing.. your din din ended up looking great, though, even if it was a tad salty (chug some h20) lol.
Have great Thanksgiving, Elise, and be on the lookout for your coupons! 🙂
Mmm cornbread.
And heavy handed on the nooch? Is there such a thing?!
YUM–I freaking LOVE spaghetti squash with nutritional yeast! I have a stock pile of 3 big spaghetti squash just waiting to be used up (they were only $1 each at the farmers market! Love it).
Happy Thanksgiving, Elise! I will be thinking of you my lonely Thanksgiving Buddie 🙂
Courtney
the spaghetti squash looks fab! i really want to give it a try, thanks so much for the tutorial i always wondered how to make it but now i know!!
jenna
The meatballs sound great! Meatless meat balls that taste too much like real meat? Sounds like a meat lovers dream! (How many times did I just write “meat”?!) Great stats, too.
Happy Thanksgiving, Elise!!
I always cut my squash the other way… but since I bought a spaghetti squash today, I’m going to try it your way and see how that works out! (I am always too impatient to let it cool down before forking out the strands, and end up burning my fingers.)
How is it possible that it takes me over half an hour to get home even on the express?? Life is not fair. :p
Hope you’re having a happy Thanksgiving!
<3 <3
Ugh – I hate standing in front of the refrigerator without an idea of what I want to eat. I usually munch and munch until something tickles my fancy 😉
That hunka burnin’ love aka 4×4 chunk of cornbread looks mighty fine. If I had my way, you could have been in Detroit yesterday eating homemade bread smoothered in hummus with me!
Why were you eating greek yogurt???
OOOOWIEEEEEE. ive never seen qourn meat balls!! i want to try those!!!!!!!!
HUGSSSSSS