Healthy Kitchen R and D

Wednesdays in our house are busy days...Sydney has Girls on the Run before school, I go into the office for 6 hours, then there is Jazz after school. So Wednesdays are usually leftovers or takeout. But I came up with a plan... I prepped to use the slow cooker the night before (which took all of 10 minutes)... Then in the morning, I set up the slow cooker, and poured the prepped contents INTO the crockpot, plus added vegetable stock... And when I got home at 4pm, dinner was ready. The house smelled great, and I could focus on catching up with Sydney and helping her get ready for jazz. The recipe makes a lot, and even my meat loving husband gave it rave reviews. I used a seasonal salsa from Trader Joes to really give this an autumn twist, but if you can't get that kind, or don't like it, you can use whatever your favorite salsa is. The quinoa and black beans provide a hearty dose of protein, while the sweet potatoes are loaded with Vitamin A (Beta Carotene)...

Wow guys! Who knew so many of you had bought butternut squash this week! I'm so glad I had an easy healthy recipe to share - let me know how it came out. I love feedback. I'll probably be blogging twice a week (this one doesn't count!) with new recipes and foods to try. I've got so many ideas in my head, I'm not sure where to start... Lasagna, using zucchini instead of noodles and vegan ricotta "cheese" Veggie Quinoa Chili, prepped and ready for the crock pot! So I'm here to ask, WHAT DO YOU WANT? Click here to vote!  And if there's a specific recipe that you need help with, just let me know - I love a good challenge:) It doesn't have to be gluten free or vegan either. Thanks for all of your support! XOXO, Jessica

I have always loved to cook. I remember trying to "create" minestrone soup from my mother's pantry (which essentially meant throwing all of her canned vegetables into a pot with macaroni noodles and wondering why it never turned out very well...).  I remember going off to college and creating concoctions for any friend would would stay for dinner. So it came as no surprise to anyone that I decided to pursue my BS in Nutrition and become a Registered Dietitian (RD). While I regretted not going to culinary school - how COOL would that be to COOK ALL DAY- alas, life took over, and I got a job, and a husband and a dog and a kid.... And then one day I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. My world stopped. Including my world in the kitchen. The chemo and various procedures and surgeries decimated my taste buds. Nothing was appealing, and so to satisfy my food "cravings" I sat and watched the Food Network. It was almost ironic that watching someone else cook was i...