I was introduced to delicata squash by my mom 7 years ago when she brought some to my house after receiving it in her weekly CSA basket from one of her local farms. At the time, both of us didn’t eat a lot of meat and she was excited to share this vegetarian stuffed delicata squash recipe she pulled together with me. My mom has always been good at pulling together meals with whatever she has on hand – I like to think I got those skills from her.

This Stuffed Delicata Squash recipe was originally posted in January of 2011 (see below). Ironically, my mom was here “saving the day” again a couple of weeks ago, just as I picked up a few delicata squash at Trader Joe’s. I love how Trader Joe’s can make an ingredient so popular, especially when it’s a fruit or vegetable. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you, no worries, you can find delicata squash mixed in with the selection of hard squashes (spaghetti squash, acorn squash, butternut squash) at most grocery stores.

The filling in this recipe is made with garlic, onion, spinach and white beans. If you prefer to include meat, swap out the beans for cooked crumbled Italian sausage.

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This post was last published in November, 2015. It is still one of my favorite soups that can be made with lean ground beef and all the veggies in your fridge (specifically zucchini, green beans and carrots). Although we are still experiencing 90+ degree weather in Florida, I crave this light, yet hearty, soup all the time. It’s perfect for light lunches and dinners – it’s nice to make ahead so that you have something to quickly reheat when you are short on time.

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Are you all turkey’ed out or what? I know I am. I had a few good leftover turkey recipes swirling in my head over the weekend (my daughter wanted me to make a turkey pasta salad, mmm), but honestly, I just didn’t get around to any creative leftover creations. We had a lot of turkey paninis and just straight up Thanksgiving plate reruns. It’s all good.

Moving on from turkey…I’m bringing up this Italian Vegetable Beef recipe from the archives. I originally posted this recipe back in December of 2009. Crazy how long ago that was! I remember I made this soup to take to my daughter’s preschool teacher who had just had surgery. When she got back to school, she told me her and her daughters loved the soup so much and wanted more. Yea, a compliment like that pretty much always makes my day. 🙂 Since then, I have made this soup quite a few times. It’s a great change from my typical chicken based soups, the lean beef (or bison) makes it a little extra hearty but still easy on the calories.

I’m sure most of you will agree that a bowl of good homemade soup is total comfort.  Soup has a way of warming up the body while nourishing it with so many health benefits at the same time.  I’m more of a broth base soup person, so I’m not really referring to the heavier creamy soups…not that those are bad, but they just don’t make me feel the same as a soup filled with lots of herbs and vegetables in broth.

Whenever I find that I have lots of vegetables in the veggie drawer that need to be used up, I usually make soup.  This particular day I had a nice variety of veggies….zucchini, squash, carrots and green beans. 

Add some dried herbs, lean ground beef and chicken broth and you’ve got Italian Vegetable Beef Soup.

Healthy Italian Vegetable Soup

1. In large stock pot, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat and add zucchini, squash, carrots, garlic and onions. Cook for about 8 minutes until vegetables start to soften.
2. Add seasonings, tomatoes and chicken broth to pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer.
3. Add green beans and cooked ground beef.
4. Simmer soup for about 20 minutes.
5. Taste for salt and pepper. Serve with Parmesan cheese and cooked pasta if you like.

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Italian Vegetable Beef Soup

• Author: Aggies Kitchen
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings
• Category: Soup
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Italian

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Break out the vegetables for this light and savory Italian Vegetable Beef Soup recipe. It’s loaded with great vegetables like zucchini, squash and carrots. Healthy (and easy) comfort food!

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Ingredients

• 2 tb olive oil
• 2 zucchinis, quarter chopped
• 2 squash, quarter chopped
• 2–3 carrots, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1–2 cups green beans, cut in 1 inch pieces
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• good pinch of salt and pepper
• 1 32oz can of Italian diced tomatoes, with juices
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 – 1.25  lb lean ground beef or bison, cooked and crumbled
• Parmesan cheese, optional

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Instructions

1. In large stock pot, heat 2 tb olive oil and add zucchini, squash, carrots, garlic and onions. Cook for about 8 minutes until starting to soften. Add seasonings, tomatoes and chicken broth to pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer. Add green beans and cooked ground beef. Simmer soup for about 20 minutes. Taste for salt and pepper. Serve with Parmesan cheese and cooked pasta if you like.

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Notes

Note:  amounts of vegetables can be varied.  Use what you have on hand.

Healthy Soup Recipes

Soup is one of my go to meals when I’m trying to trim some pounds or just generally feel healthier. Some soups I tend to make often are  Slow Cooker Italian Sausage and Kale Soup with Sweet Potatoes, Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup, Italian Tomato and Lentil Soup and Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup. I’m ready to try this Beef Taco Quinoa Soup and Fall Vegetable Quinoa Soup!

Follow Aggie’s Kitchen’s board Soup, Stew and Chili Recipes on Pinterest.

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Remember how I mentioned I got a second dinner out of the pork I cooked for Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Pork Tostadas that included brown rice and vegetables? Well, these Sautéed Cilantro Lime Vegetables are the veggies that landed onto that dinner plate.

This vegetable medley of zucchini, yellow squash and red onion is the perfect side dish for so many meals from simple oven baked black bean and cheese quesadillas to Mexican baked pasta (both go-to dinners in my house). One of my favorite ways to cook veggies is by sautéing them over medium high heat with a tiny bit of oil and finishing them off with a squeeze of lemon or lime and fresh herbs.

Super quick and easy – not to mention, healthy and delicious. This is how to get your family to eat their vegetables!

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I experienced a bit of a meal plan fail this week (nothing new, really). I had good intentions going into the week, stocking up the fridge with fresh fruits and veggies for lunches and dinners like I normally do, with a loose plan. But as the week went on, nothing I had planned sounded good anymore or fit into our evening schedule. As I saw this all unfolding, I had to regroup – and make something out of the packed veggie drawer that was easy and easy to eat within our schedule.

It doesn’t get easier than pasta salad in my opinion.

It took a little prep, yes – but I spent a few minutes yesterday afternoon chopping up the three packages of asparagus, zucchini and squash that I was afraid would go to waste if I didn’t do something about immediately. I tossed them in a little olive oil, salt and pepper and filled two baking trays to roast up. I didn’t fuss over any special vinaigrette – though I did start to brainstorm for another time – instead just simply using balsamic vinegar and olive oil and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese to dress the pasta and veggies once everything cooled down. Oh my goodness, this turned out so delicious.

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So yes I know it’s summer and I’m posting about soup. It just doesn’t seem right does it? But after being away from home for almost a week (and after eating lots of good food and drinking lots of good wine and of course let’s not forget the not so good stuff that goes along with travel), all I wanted when I got home was a big comforting bowl of vegetable soup.

If you follow me on Facebook, you probably have heard me mention “detox soup” quite often. This soup would definitely fall in the detox soup category. It’s one of those soups that is nothing but good for you, full of clean veggies and protein and if you are feeling a little “off” will get you back on track in no time.
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I spotted a shrimp recipe on Pioneer Woman’s amazing site recently and couldn’t wait to make it. I love shrimp, and love anything spicy even more so this was exactly something I knew I had to make. Last night, I was ready to fire up the grill to cook up the shrimp when something like a monsoon came over us. Lightning, rain, thunder, wind…all of it, and very typical of summer in Florida…so needless to say, I wasn’t overly excited about standing in the porch watching delicate shrimp cook up on the grill. It was time to improvise…

I had a ton of veggies to use up in the fridge…and a brand new wok that I got for a steal at IKEA. So stir fry it will be.

In a bowl I mixed together some hot chili sauce, a little oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar and a couple splashes of fish sauce. Oh and I pressed about 4 or 5 cloves of garlic in there too. I chopped a ton of veggies…squash, zucchini, onion, red pepper and more garlic. Forget the grill…this stir fry was awesome!

Firecracker Shrimp Stirfry

Yield: 2- 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 TB hot chili sauce (I use Sriracha - adjust amount to your taste)
• 1 TB soy sauce
• 1 TB rice vinegar
• 1 TB oil
• couple of splashes fish sauce
• 4-5 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
• small pinch of salt, big pinch of pepper
• 1-2 zucchinis, chopped in quarters
• 1-2 yellow squash, chopped in quarters
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 red pepper, sliced in thin strips
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced

Directions:

1. Combine chili sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, oil, fish sauce, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl to make a sauce. Toss shrimp in sauce and coat completely.
2. Heat wok over medium-high heat. Add a couple tsp canola oil into wok and sear the shrimp. Once shrimp are just cooked, take out and set aside. Add chopped vegetables and garlic into wok. Cook over medium-high heat for about 5-8 minutes until veggies start to soften. Once veggies are slightly cooked, add back in shrimp and toss to combine, cook for 2-3 minutes more. Serve with cooked soba noodles. Season with more soy sauce, fish sauce or chili sauce to taste.

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While I was in D.C. last weekend I visited the Julia Child exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Now, I’m almost embarrassed to admit this, but I really don’t know much about Ms. Julia Child. I know of her…but have never watched her shows. With “Julie & Julia” out in the theaters today, the book and then finally after visiting this exhibit, I must say, I am intrigued. I may have to dig up some old shows of hers and settle in on the couch one afternoon and just watch…she seemed like such a lovely spirit. Enjoy a peek in her kitchen…apparently it’s all her stuff, donated by her and set up exactly how she wanted it.

PS…Want to join in on the Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club fun? Check out Cooking Light’s Test Kitchen Blog featuring Aggie’s Kitchen and other great bloggers!

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Something about this meal stuck with me…maybe it was the good company, or maybe it was just how good and fresh it tasted. I specifically remember our friend squeezing the canned whole tomatoes with his hands to make the sauce…you would think this would not be new to me…but apparently it’s taken me 8 years to actually make sauce this way on my own. Something about using whole tomatoes in your homemade tomato sauce…once those tomatoes get broken up, the smell of freshness is so overwhelmingly delicious. You’ve got to try it yourself.

We enjoyed this meal with some Summer Vegetable Gratin and of course some good Chianti…

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Summer Chicken Parmesan

• Author: Aggie's Kitchen
• Category: Chicken
• Method: Grill/Stovetop
• Cuisine: Italian

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Ingredients

• 3–4 chicken breasts
• olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 large cans whole peeled tomatoes
• 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
• bunch fresh basil leaves
• shredded mozzarella cheese
• freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 pound whole wheat pasta

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Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to directions on box.
2. Season both sides chicken with olive oil, salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Place over hot grill over medium heat. Cook for approximately 4-6 minutes on each side, depending on thickness. You can tell chicken is cooked through when juices run clear when pricked with fork or knife. Or cut through thick portion of chicken to check. After you take chicken off grill, cover with aluminum foil and let rest, chicken will continue to cook on its own for a few more minutes.
3. Pour canned whole tomatoes and their juices into a large bowl. Using your hands, gently squeeze tomatoes until crushed. Continue to crush until it reaches a thin, but still chunky, consistency.
4. In medium saucepan, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes till fragrant. Carefully add crushed tomatoes to garlic and olive oil. Bring sauce to a boil, then lower to simmer. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 20-25 minutes. Add torn pieces of fresh basil to sauce and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
5. Serve grilled chicken and whole wheat pasta with chunky tomato sauce, sprinkled with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

 

 

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Grilled Portabella and Brie Burgers

Yield: makes 2 burgeres

Ingredients:

• 2 large Portabella mushroom caps
• 1-2 zucchini, sliced thinly longways
• 1-2 summer squash, sliced thinly longways
• 4-5 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1-2 roasted red peppers, fresh or jarred, sliced thinly
• handful of fresh basil leaves
• 2 thin slices of Ile de France Brie cheese
• 2 French hamburger buns

Directions:

1. Place mushroom caps and sliced veggies in a large shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper and let marinate for 15 minutes. Place veggies over medium heat on grill and cook approximately 5 minutes on each side or until you veggies start to soften and you see grill marks. Place sliced buns on grill rack and watch carefully until lightly toasted.
2. Layer mushroom caps on bottom of your buns, top with slices of zucchini, squash and roasted red peppers. Top with 3-4 basil leaves. Spread brie on top half of warm bun and serve.

More meatless options for the grill:

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The other night on Facebook, a gal from my gym posted an update that she was making Thai Curry Spaghetti Squash. I instantly got a craving. It seemed like a really unusual pairing but it really hit the spot with me. I love the spice and creaminess of curry…and love even more the health benefits of spaghetti squash. I couldn’t wait to make it.

The beauty of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter is the amount of access you have to other people all at once. I posted my need for a Thai Curry recipe and my blogging buddy Ninette from Big Bold Beautiful Food gave me a simple recipe to follow. I luckily had everything I needed on hand. In case you haven’t been over to her blog, you really should. She has an amazing talent of making everything she makes look mouthwatering. She’s always cooking different types of food and you will most definitely leave her site feeling hungry

So using some leftover London Broil and vegetables I had in the fridge, I whipped up a delicious coconut curry sauce and served it with spaghetti squash. Craving satisfied.

I can’t wait to make this again!! Thank you Ninette!!

Thai Curry Spaghetti Squash

Ingredients:

• 1 spaghetti squash, cooked and "shredded"
• 1-2 TB red pepper infused oil or olive oil with pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• London Broil, sliced thin and cut in small pieces
• 1 zucchini, quarter chopped
• 1 squash, quarter chopped
• 1-2 TB red curry paste
• 2-3 tsp fish sauce
• 1 TB brown sugar
• 1 can lite coconut milk
• juice of 1 lime
• 2-3 scallions, chopped
• chopped cilantro

Directions:

1. Heat oil with red pepper in a large nonstick skillet, cook onion and garlic for a few minutes until soft. Add London Broil pieces and veggies to pan and saute. Add 1 or 2 TB curry paste to meat and veggies and mix together. Add a few splashes (about 2-3 tsp) of fish sauce and brown sugar to pan. Mix together, then add a can of coconut milk (and some water if necessary). Simmer a few minutes or until your meat is tender. Add fresh squeezed lime juice, cut scallions and chopped cilantro. Serve over spaghetti squash.

Recipe inspired by Ninette Enrique, Big Bold Beautiful Food

Follow AggiesKitchen on Instagram and show us what recipes you are making from the blog! Use the hashtag #aggieskitchen - I'd love to see what you are cooking up!

On a side note…I wanted to share with you an article on our Virtual Supper Club that was featured on Cooking Light’s Test Kitchen Secrets blog!

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1 pizza dough (homemade or store bought)
small can of tomato sauce
dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
shredded mozzarella cheese
shredded mexican blend cheese
2-3 spring green onions, thinly sliced
2-3 links chicken andouille sausage, thinly sliced (I use Amylu chicken sausages I find at Costco)
1-2 zucchini, thinly sliced
1-2 squash, thinly sliced

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Prepare pizza dough on stone. Pour tomato sauce onto dough and spread around. Sprinkle dried oregano, salt and pepper to taste over sauce. Add about a cup of shredded mozzarella over sauce. Then add in layers: sliced green onions, sliced chicken sausage, sliced zucchini and squash. Add salt and pepper to top veggie layer to taste. Sprinkle about a 1/4 – 1/2 cup shredded mexican cheese over zucchini and squash.

Bake for about 20-25 minutes until pizza crust is golden brown cooked through and veggies are browned.

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