Sausage and Mushroom-Stuffed Acorn Squash

In my quest to find a CSA that provided a nice variety of produce via delivery for an affordable price in the DC area, I happened upon Washington's Green Grocer. So far, my review is mixed. I like the variety and the convenience, but they are less of a CSA-style provider than I had originally thought, with some of their produce coming from as far as Chile and South Africa. Not exactly the most sustainable, local option! I feel torn - has anybody else encountered this?

Some of the goodies from my most recent box were beautiful portobello mushrooms and a precious acorn squash. Happy autumn!

Sausage and Mushroom-Stuffed Acorn Squash
1 acorn squash, halved and seeds removed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 links spicy chicken sausage, sliced
3 medium portobello mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup mozzarella cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400F. Brush or spray squash with olive oil and bake for one hour, until meat is tender.

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook until soft, 5-6 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add sausage and cook until browned. Mix in mushrooms, and continue cooking until mushrooms have released their liquid.

Remove the mixture from heat, and add in cilantro, red pepper flakes, bread crumbs, and salt and pepper.

When squash is done cooking, fill the centers with the mixed filling, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake for 10 minutes, until cheese is browned. Any extra filling that does not fit in the squash can be baked at the bottom of the dish.

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

What's a girl to do when the weather cancels her plans? Why, yes, you're right. Find an indoor activity. A crossword puzzle, some terrible reality tv (could they please stop making these shows so that I no longer have to feel guilty for giving in to temptation and watching them?), and a mystery book later, I decided to head back to the kitchen. 

Seriously, I am loving the chance to do all this cooking. I am afraid, however, that my pants are going to endorse it a little bit less. Which means that either the weather needs to improve or some of you are going to need to step up to the plate and come over for dinner!

This chicken dish came together so quickly, I felt like I had to have missed something along the way! If you want to follow in the footsteps of PF Changs, you can serve this concoction inside butter lettuce or iceberg leaves. Since I didn't have any on hand, I just put it over mixed spring greens, and I can't say that I felt like I was missing out!

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

1 tablespoon of canola oil

1 crown of broccoli, cut into small pieces

4 boneless, skinless chicken cutlets (the thinly sliced variety), diced into small cube-sized pieces
1/2 onion, diced into small pieces

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 cups of cremini mushrooms, sliced (or any other kind of mushroom you have on hand)
ground ginger, to taste

1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/4 cup + 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1-2 tablespoons Sriracha (use more or less according to your spice preference)
1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 bunch scallions, chopped (white parts only)

Directions:

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add broccoli and saute until it begins to soften. Add the chicken, onions and mushrooms, and saute until chicken is cooked through. 

Sprinkle chicken evenly with ground ginger. Add garlic, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and sriracha to the chicken mixture and stir. Stir in chopped water chestnuts, scallions, and sesame oil and let simmer for 5 minutes or until mixture seems to thicken a bit and really come together.

Serve over lettuce leaves (or spring mix!).

Leek, spinach, and mushroom frittata

Visiting New York was a blast - the perfect combination of hanging out, sightseeing, relaxing, and even a ride on the Staten Island Ferry (hey, we needed a breeze!). Hot on the heels of such a fun trip, I got to meet Lindsey's adorable pup, Zoe (I am committed to making her a best friend, that doggie!) and to see Tracy's new Ellicott City digs. All kinds of adventures!

Now I am home, and also in need of a few more vegetables and about 12 more hours of sleep. Enter...frittata! So easy, and so many veggies for something that still feels like a yummy treat.

Leek, spinach, and mushroom frittata
Serves 4

1 small leek, thinly sliced and cleaned
1 bunch baby spinach
2 cup cremini mushrooms , sliced
3/4 cup swiss cheese low fat, shredded
4 tbsp parmesan cheese
thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper, to taste
4 large eggs
4 large egg whites

Directions
Preheat oven to 350.
Heat cast iron  or other oven-proof skillet over medium heat with oil or nonstick spray, and saute leek for 5 minutes until tender.
Add mushrooms and saute until tender. Add spinach and heat until wilted. Spread vegetable mixture evenly throughout the skillet.
Meanwhile, whisk eggs with thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Sprinkle about half of the swiss cheese on top of the vegetables, and then pour egg mixture on top. Put in the oven to bake for 15 minutes until egg is just set.
Remove the skillet from the oven, and add the remaining swiss cheese. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Broil for about 5 minutes until top is golden.