Recipe: Butternut Squash Frittata

First of all, please let me apologize for my absence and for not letting you guys in on the news regarding my blog just yet. I will let the cat out of the bag as soon as I am able too and I really hope that those of you that are following my blog (if there are any of you left!) will follow me on my journey!

Second of all I am also apologizing for my lack of posts in 2014. Truth be told, I have had little time for blogging and even though I really miss it, other things in my life have taken a priority. However I really wanted to share this AWESOME recipe I tried last night. It is super good for you, easy to make, different than a "meat & potatoes" type meal and it's delicious! Perfect for a week night dinner for a family or you can adjust the measurements for a smaller portion. If you have never tried a Frittata before, it is simply eggs, potatoes, cheese and veggies. That's all! My Mom has made them for me many times but this was my first attempt and I can say it was super easy.

So here we go, how to make this Frittata....

Healthy Recipe: Butternut Squash, Spinach and Feta Frittata Ingredients 

• 1 package (10 oz./300 g) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained 
• 1½ cups cubed peeled potatoes (375 mL) ( substituted sweet potatoes as they are more nutritious)
• 3/4 cup thinly sliced red onion (175 mL ) 
• 8 eggs 1/2 cup 
• 1% milk (125 mL ) 
• Freshly ground black pepper 
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (250 mL) 
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (125 mL)
• 1 butternut squash, peeled and cubed (4 to 5 cups/1 to 1.25 L)  

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) | 13- by 9-inch (33 by 23 cm) glass baking dish, lightly greased.
Place squash in a large microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap, leaving a corner open to vent. Microwave on High for about 5 minutes or until fork-tender. Drain off excess liquid. Place in the greased dish and gently stir in spinach, potatoes and red onion. 

In a bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Season to taste with pepper. Pour over vegeta-bles and stir gently to distribute. Sprinkle evenly with cheddar and feta.

Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until eggs are set. Makes 12 servings

Nutrients (per serving) 
Calories 151
Fat 8.0 g 
Carbohydrate 12 g 
Saturated Fat 4.1 g 
Protein 9 g 
Fiber 2 g (8% DV) 
Sodium 192 mg (8% DV) 
Calcium 177 mg

(16% DV)
 Iron 1.2 mg (9% DV)
Very high in: Vitamin A and vitamin B12. High in: Magnesium, folate and riboflavin. Diabetes Food Choice Values Per Serving: 1/2 Carbohydrates, 1 Meat & Alternatives, 1 Fat

Here's a shot of the finished product

This was very rich tasting for such a light meal. One thing I changed from the original recipe above (which I got from our Wellness Committee at work) is I roasted the sweet potato and squash in the oven. I placed on a baking sheet, drizzled on some EVOO, sprinkled with sea salt and backed in the oven at 400 F until tender. I did that to give the veggies some extra flavor through the roasting process. But if you are short on time or live for convenience you can easily microwave too.

I hope you enjoy this recipe and again I promise more new to come on the MelMac Blog Journey!




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Ever heard of Ground Cherries?

Hi all!

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend (long weekend for us here in Canada and the US). I literally had the most non-eventful weekend on record. I did visit yet another petting zoo with my God Daughter and Roomie (yes, another one!) and that was pretty much the only thing I did of note. Sorry! I know so boring right! This time we went to Abbey Hill Farms and saw a farm built in the 1800's, got to pet 1 week old bunnies, see kittens, turkeys, goats and llamas!

The Llama wasn't interested in the grains, but we managed to get this shot looking like I was really feeding him (or her, not sure!)

After we hit the zoo, we stopped by a produce stand to get some corn and spotted these interesting looking fellas....

Have you ever seen these before? I know that I have but never really gave them much thought. Well, the ladies at the produce stand informed us they are called Ground Cherries or Physalis as they are more formally known.They are small orange fruit encased in a paper-like lantern that you peel off. We tried one on site and decided to buy some. They are slightly (and I do mean slightly) sweet with a buttery pineapple flavor. Very unique and different from regular red cherries and they look like yellow tomatoes.

 You peel off the lantern

The peel is attached and you just pop it off 

 Looks like a little yellow tomato

Crazy looking picture of me enjoying my ground cherry as a snack at work today

After a little research I found that Ground Cherries are super good for you! They are very low in calories about 53 for 3.5 oz and they are a good source of Niacin, vitamins A and C. They are good for eyesight, believed to inhibit cancer and lower cholesterol. 

Just like most berries, they are a powerhouse of vitamins that benefit your health in several ways and should be a part of your diet if it isn't already. As these tiny fruits are mild tasting, they can be used in salads and apparently make a wonderful tasting jam.

Well, back to another work week....sigh! Why can't all weekends be long ones?

Help I'm...

Happy Friday All!

I have a sort of confession to make, I subscribe to GOOP, Gwyneth Paltrow's website that showcases all things Gwynnie. I know there are definitely mixed feelings out there regarding Gwyneth. She has expensive and superior tastes, her sometimes pretentious comments are off putting and her all around annoyingly perfect appearance is well just annoying; but whatever she's doing is working for her. I think she looks fabulous and she is more beautiful in her 40's than ever before. So for that, I am inspired by her!

For an example of some of the items featured on her website, here's a really cute tiered ruffled skirt featured on the GOOP website:

Looks like something you could get at Forever 21 for like $20-$35 right? Oh no, not on GP's website, it's a whopping $345! Yes, you read that right! Completely unattainable, pretty but ridiculous. However, I am inspired to find a similar skirt that is reasonable and still cute. And I did!

Once in a while GOOP features really cool websites and one that I really enjoyed looking through is Help Remedies. It's a site that offers quick fixes for those annoying little problems that pop up in our everyday busy lives and also mixes in some humor along with the their handy remedies, like this Help I've Never been kissed!

These kits are also reasonably priced $4 + shipping and can be ordered through the website. They come in cute conveniently travel friendly containers and you can mix and match to make sure you have everything you need to be prepared for anything.

Thanks to GOOP for featuring these handy little packets on their refreshingly different website.

*GOOP has not sponsored this post and all opinions on here are my own.

10 Ways to Maintain your Weight -- and why I hate the word "Skinny"

I hate the word "Skinny". Have you ever dropped a few pounds and had a girlfriend exclaim "Oh my God! You're so skinny!". Like it's a good thing to be skinny? And for the record, I have NEVER been skinny in my entire life. Skinny, for me, is a term reserved for under nourished Runway Models; not for us every-day-totally-normal-(but still super hot) gals.

I thought about how I hate this word when I came across the following list from the website Girls Guide To (a totally cool site btw). I wanted to share this list of 10 "lazy" ways to maintain your weight or even drop a pound or two. I wouldn't call it a list to stay Skinny. You won't look like this model by following the tips on this list, nor should you ever want to look like that. But these tips are a really good guideline for maintaining your ideal HEALTHY weight. On the Girls Guide To site these tips are called 10 Lazy Ways to Stay Skinny, but sorry GGT, that is an ugly term we don't use on Planet MelMac. These tips are also similar to what Weight Watchers advises it's clients to follow to lose and maintain weight, so that is why I am sharing them with you.

1. Don't deprive yourself

You really can enjoy all the foods you love. The key here is moderation, because no single food makes you gain weight. Instead, it’s all about the portion sizes you enjoy. 

2. Eat until you feel satisfied, not full
Even though it’s old-fashioned, this rule is actually very helpful: put down your fork between every bite. Not only will you savor your meal more, it will also help you realize when to stop eating before you feel bloated or too full. 

3. Make sure half your plate contains veggies
Vegetables are filled with fiber and water so they keep you fuller longer without filling you out. 

4. Stay hydrated
Did you know sometimes that feeling of hunger is actually just thirst? Make sure you’re getting your eight glasses of water a day to prevent that problem.  

5. Make sure your intake isn't top heavy
I’m super guilty of this one. But, if you restrict yourself all day, you’re much more likely to break down at night and overindulge. Combat those late night munchies by eating more substantially (but healthy) during the day. 

6. Don't eat in front of the TV
When you’re mindlessly snacking in front of the TV or computer, you’ll end up consuming more than you realize. If you must snack, do so away from the TV and choose fiber rich snacks like popcorn, fruit, or trail mix. 

7. Know that exercise isn't everything
Regular exercise is important, but going to the gym doesn't mean you should reward yourself with a monstrous dessert later on. Eating well, and not just exercise, will really determine whether you lose or gain weight. 

8. No eating after dinner
Calories give us energy and you don’t need energy to sleep. 

9. Don't eat out of the bag
When you’re snacking, and not in front of the TV, make sure you’re pouring an appropriate portion onto a plate or bowl. This way you can measure how much you’re consuming before you finish off an entire bag. 

10. No seconds
You really just don’t need them. That fullness feeling can take some time to settle in, so before you reach for another plate allow your body some time to digest. If you wait just 20 minutes, you’ll realize you really aren't that hungry. 

Finally....
To show you that these tips really do work, below is a comparison of me about 6 months ago and now. I lost weight not by working my ass off at the gym or following the latest and greatest diet fad, but by using those tips above and tracking what I ate. It works!