5 nights in a row!

We may have set a new record in the household...5 nights of actually cooking homemade healthy meals at home.  Nope, no eating out.  No picking up a pizza.  No surviving off of oatmeal or cereal for dinner.  And, guess who did all of the cooking other than a little prep work and the baking this afternoon?  I've been working my butt off at school, walking in the door and getting straight to work.  I haven't even completed one television show all week other than Modern Family because I am just too tired.  On the flip side, the food has been great and we've saved a pretty penny.

Rich baked Halloween cupcakes for me this afternoon for my activity at school tomorrow.  Hope the kids don't mind decorating a few that are a wee bit brown.  Whoops.  I can't complain since I didn't have to bake them.

While in a baking frenzy Rich also came up with his own version of a healthy cookie....Oatmeal Pumpkin Delights.  They were not only delicious, but also very filling which is important around this place.  I ate one and didn't want my dinner!

Soooo good!

 Oatmeal Pumpkin Delights

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup of natural peanut butter
• 2 1/2 cups of old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup of pumpkin
• 1/3 cup of egg whites
• 1/3 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of Stevia or other natural sweetner

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Mix all ingredients together on medium until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed (approx. 2 minutes)
• Form into 1 inch balls and smash flat with a spoon
• Spray cookie sheet with baking spray and space dough two inches apart on sheet
• Bake for 15 minutes
• Let cool and enjoy!

 For dinner I whipped up another recipe from http://www.pbfingers.com/....Squash Casserole.  The prep time was a little more than I wanted to deal with tonight, but after Rich devoured half the casserole by himself I think it was worth it.

Cook squash with the sausage, onion, garlic mixture for 8 minutes

Homemade breadcrumbs from two slices of whole wheat bread.

Fantastic one dish meal

Squash Casserole
Serves: 4 people
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces chicken sausage, chopped into small pieces
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 4 cups sliced yellow squash (about 1 pound)
• 2 slices wheat bread
• 6 ounces Greek yogurt (I used vanilla flavored which made it sweet)
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese pizza cheese
• Cooking spray

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Cook sausage, onion, and garlic in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until onions become slightly soft, about 4 minutes.
3. Add squash to sausage mixture and cook on medium heat until squash is slightly soft, about 8 minutes.
4. Place the bread in a food processor, and pulse until coarse crumbs form to measure 1 cup.
5. Stir Greek yogurt and cheese into sausage mixture. Spoon into a casserole dish coated with cooking spray.
6. Top with breadcrumbs. Spray breadcrumbs with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes.
7. Cool and enjoy.