I forgot how much I liked spaghetti squash! And I don’t like it as a sub for pasta (it’s not anywhere close to tasting like a noodle), but I do like it for what it is – a squash. It’s such a fun vegetable. And sooo simple to prepare, not to mention easy to adapt to whatever dish you feel like making that day. I’ve eaten it with pestos, ragoûts, brown butter / sage sauce, even just topped with herbs and cheese. But this here is my current favorite.
Hi! How’s life? It’s October! It’s not hot! That’s great news! Fall has been ridiculously stubborn this year and I’m so ready for pants. Ok, enough small talk. Let’s get real. I have a migraine and I don’t want to be typing for too much longer, so bear with me. There’s a big payoff by way of colorful carbs at the end, so you’re good.
Who loves summer rolls?!
*hands raise”
Summer rolls are simply one of my favorite things ever. Light, fresh, satisfying… all of the reasons why I love sushi are also why I love summer rolls. I’m a sucker for crunchy, light, bright things that are also satisfying with healthy fats, lean protein and complex carbohydrates. If you’re unfamiliar, a summer roll is a Vietnamese cold roll filled with either cooked seafood or meat, plus fresh vegetables and sometimes noodles or bean threads, wrapped in thin rice paper and served with a dipping sauce. They’re so easy to make yourself, and I usually make them with shrimp or crab along with julienned raw vegetables (cucumber and avocado are musts) and fresh herbs like basil, mint and cilantro. A container of rice paper is fairly inexpensive and seems to last a lifetime, so it’s a great healthy go-to meal if you have enough of the fresh ingredients on hand!
Cheddar brats in puff pastry…with everything seasoning and a horseradish honey mustard sauce, that is.
Holy Smokes.
They’re too good., Too good, y’all. And that says a lot when the original is already super tasty. But this?
This is fire.
I love making fancy versions of yummy, trampy things. Who doesn’t love a pig in a blanket??! Whether they’re tiny at a party, or big for a meal… they’re just a really good thing.
Let me explain to you precisely why I created this recipe.
First let me allow you to paint a mental picture of current Me. I am in extra large sweatpants and extra large John Lennon t-shirt on my couch with my laptop in my lap (ha. just got that). I retrieved such clothing from my basement guest room. So, just to be clear – I am wearing secondhand Abbey clothes.