Quick and Easy Tomato Alfredo Spaghetti Squash

Hey everyone! It's been a looooong time since I've had enough free time to make a good post, but since it's Dead Week at Purdue, I've finally been able to catch my breath.
As any other college student will tell you, Dead Week is a time of quick cheap meals, little to no makeup, and maybe the occasional change of clothes. With the stress of classes and finals, nourishing yourself for optimal performance is likely the farthest thing from your mind. However, getting your share of nutrients can have a huge impact on how well you can focus and retain information!
While I've been holed up all day with Pediatrics and Public Health notes, I took some time away from the books to cook something super filling, packed with nutrients, and really delicious: my favorite staple, spaghetti squash!
I know that pretty much all my recipes on here have been about spaghetti squash, but when you're eating healthy on a very tight budget, it's the way to go! At only 70 cents per pound at my local grocery store, it's one of the cheapest vegetables, and does a fantastic job keeping me full for hours. Its versatility can't be beat, either. I've tried it in casseroles, pasta dishes, stir fries, and even as a breakfast boat!

This recipe is a delicious mix of marinara and alfredo, and can be whipped up in about 15 minutes.

Here's what you'll need:
1. 1/2 cooked spaghetti squash
2. 1 can diced tomatoes (I used No Salt Added)
3. 1/3 to 1/2 cup light Alfredo sauce (I used Classico)
4. 3 large handfuls of fresh spinach
5. Salt and pepper to taste
6. 1 tsp minced garlic
7. 1/4 cup diced onion
8. Basil, oregano, and thyme to taste (I used about 1tsp each)
9. 1 tbsp butter or oil

Start cooking your spaghetti squash. For the sake of time, I microwaved mine.
In a skillet, cook the garlic, onion, and butter/oil over medium heat until the onion is soft and transparent. Drain a little bit of the water off of the diced tomatoes, and add to the skillet. Bring to a boil and turn to low heat. Add your spices. Let the liquid reduce until there's about 1/3 cup left, then stir in the spinach and alfredo sauce.
Once your squash is done cooking, use a fork to scrape the flesh out, and add it to the sauce. Mix the ingredients together until the squash is well coated. Serve immediately.

Hope you like this recipe, and good luck with finals!


How to cook your spaghetti squash:
Cut in half and discard seeds. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes
OR
Cut a few slits in it and microwave for 8-10 minutes. Cut in half and discard the seeds.

Love pumpkin seeds? Spaghetti squash seeds are just as good! Learn how to roast them here.

Stretch Your Back to School Budget

College students are notorious for being tight on money. I know I'm always looking for ways to make my dollar stretch, especially after my tuition went up and my budget did not. Thankfully, there are lots of ways to make your money go farther on your back to school shopping adventures!

Groceries
Now, I know that I'm at an advantage in that my cooperative house includes weekday meals in my rent, but there are still times when the meal isn't necessarily healthy or a good idea for me to eat (I'm lactose intolerant. I don't think my sisters would want me eating that creamy potato soup). I always need to get something to eat on those occasions and on the weekends, and groceries are probably my biggest college expense behind paying for tuition. So how can I still eat clean and stay within my budget?

1. Keep Cheap Staples
I always have a small bottle of olive oil and vinegar, quick brown rice, whole wheat sandwich thins, preservative-free deli meat, eggs, almond milk, oatmeal, a can of beans (always rinsed before use), organic spinach, tomato, onion, apples, bananas, and carrots, as well as at least one bag of frozen veggies and frozen fish fillets. These products are relatively cheap, and you can do a lot with them. I can get frozen veggies for as cheap as $1.20 at the local grocery store, and they often boast more nutritional value than the fresh varieties, since they're picked at peak ripeness!

3. Buy Local and Seasonal
Fresh produce can get crazy expensive, but buying local, seasonal fruits and veggies can really cut down on the price, as well as the amount of pesticides used on the products.

4. Spend More Where it Counts
I keep a list of The Dirty Dozen produce in my purse. The Dirty Dozen lists off the produce that has the most pesticides in it, and these should be purchased organic whenever possible to avoid harmful chemicals. If it's not on the Dirty Dozen, I don't buy it organic if it's not in my budget to do so.

2. DIY Cleaning Products
Instead of buying expensive disinfectants, I mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide, 1 part white vinegar, and 2 parts water in a spray bottle. These combined ingredients work better than bleach at killing bacteria, and it's much safer, too! Need a scrub? Mix in some salt or baking soda.
I also make my own jewelry cleaner by making a paste out of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide (you can also just use water), and using a toothbrush to get into cracks and crevices. My engagement ring sparkles more than when I first saw it!

Beauty
1. Spend More on Your Basics, Less on "Fun Items"
You can find some good foundations at the drugstore, bu they won't be the $4 ones. My favorite is Revlon's Colorstay 24 hour foundation. I use it for more special occasions or when I need long lasting coverage and oil control.  I've also yet to find a primer or other dupe that does as good of a job as my Mary Kay favorite (but if you know of one for an oily girl like me, I'd love to try it out!)
When you want to get something a little less necessary, like setting spray or a new lip gloss, go a little cheaper. I love elf products for this reason. They're usually $1-$3, but are still decent quality for the most part (their eye liners are awful, though).

2. Review Before Buying
If you're interested in trying out a new product, Google reviews for it first. You might be really excited about a buzz-worthy new blush, but the reviews might say it blows. The Drugstore Princess is my personal favorite reviewer.

3. Hidden Gems
Some of my favorite beauty finds aren't actually beauty products at all. For excellent oil control, I use a little dab of milk of magnesia on a cotton ball. A generic bottle is around $3 and it lasts for months (and you can always use it for its intended use, too).
I use olive oil for my hair and nails. For nourished nails and cuticles, rub clean, naked nails with a cotton ball soaked in olive oil. I also leave it in freshly shampooed hair overnight about twice a week. I just finger comb the oil in, braid my hair, then rinse and style in the morning. My curly hair gets dry and frizzy so easily, and the oil helps keep my ends healthy.
Vinegar is a great anti-fungal ingredient to add to foot baths before an at-home pedicure. I wear closed-toed shoes and sneakers a lot, and this helps prevent athlete's foot.
Instead of buying a separate scrub, I mix baking soda into my favorite cleanser and body wash a few times a week. You can also mix it into your shampoo for super soft, squeaky clean hair.

4. Skip the Brush Shampoo
Instead of buying the expensive makeup brush cleansers, I clean my dry brushes with a mixture of vinegar and hot water. It kills bacteria without ruining the natural bristles.
For my foundation brush, I can just get away with using some of my face cleanser.

5. Dollar Store Deals
Great things to get at the Dollar Tree: emery boards, manicure sets, pumice stones, toe separators for pedicures, cotton balls, rat-tail and wet-hair combs, benzoyl peroxide acne cream, clear lip gloss.
Things I regret from the Dollar Tree: Nail Polish, Eyelash curler.

6. Perfect your Technique with Cheap Products
Not sure you can pull off a liquid liner cat eye? Try it out first with a cheap liquid liner until you know you can rock it. If it's not your thing, you haven't invested much. Also, don't borrow a friend's liners or mascaras if you want to try something. Buy your own to prevent infections.

Got these Joe's Jeans shorts for $12 and the tee for $6 at Plato's!

Clothes
1. Goodwill Can Be Your Best Friend
My mom and sister started me young shopping at thrift and consignment stores, and I'm still hooked. If you have the time and patience to sort through embroidered denim jackets from the 90's, you'll probably find some pretty cute clothes! I've even found brand new items for pennies. Goodwill is especially great for DIY fashion projects like cutoff shorts, and for finding basic comfy tees.  My favorite consignment store up in Minnesota sells designer clothes for super cheap. I got a pair of J Brand black jeans and Citizens of Humanity classic flares for only $60. I almost always find something for $8 at Plato's Closet, too. Look up a few stores around your campus and check them out!

2. Student Discounts!
Stores that discount include J. Crew, Charlotte Russe, Banana Republic, The Limited, Necessary Clothing, Ann Taylor, Club Monaco, Vineyard Vines, Kate Spade, and many more. Just ask!

3. Become a Skilled "Saler"
Buy your clothes off-season, and rummage through the sale sections first. I like to stock up for winter clothes in the summer, and vice versa, because stores sell them for big discounts. With extra coupons and other deals, I can get clothes for up to 75% off!

4. Look at TJ Maxx/Marshall's for your trendy clothes. They're hit and miss, but I've found some adorable tops. I also buy my sunglasses here. I love brand-name quality, but I refuse to spend more that $12 for something I'm highly likely to lose, break, or scratch.

Furniture/Decor
1. Browse Pinterest for DIY projects and make your own decor! It's fun, affordable, and you'll have a story to tell.

Glittery Bottle Pinspiration! Matt was making homemade jerky in the background. Yummy!

2. Thrifty Pieces
I love shopping for old pieces of furniture at thrift stores and flea markets, then refurbishing them myself. One of my favorites is this old desk chair I bought for $19, sanded, and covered in about $5 worth of teal paint. I now have a classy statement piece I really love!

Thrift stores and flea markets are also fun places to find home decor, funky lamps, vintage vases, and other cool pieces you wouldn't find at Pier 1 or Target.

Happy shopping, and good luck saving!

Have any more dupes, tricks, and tips for saving money?? Let me know!

Southwest Inspired Stuffed Peppers

Stuck in a clean food rut? With a seasonal plethora of local produce, summer is a great time to experiment with new veggie recipes for cheap! Tonight I tried my hand at these baked peppers stuffed with quinoa, black beans, avocado, tomatoes, and corn. To add extra bang to the stuffing, I mixed in a really easy lime-cumin dressing.


This recipe is gluten free, vegetarian, and only 368 calories per pepper! Nix the cheese, and you have a vegan-friendly meal for 342 calories. If you want to make the recipe cheaper, just substitute brown rice for the quinoa. It's still delicious and filling!

Stuffed Pepper Ingredients:
6 bell peppers, any color
3 cups quinoa (or brown rice), cooked
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
1 can corn, drained
1 avocado, diced
1/2 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese

Dressing Ingredients:
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp oregano
1/3 cup lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp garlic powder

To make the dressing, just mix all the ingredients together.

Preparation:
Preheat your oven to 350 and prepare your quinoa as directed on the package (I use a 2:1 water to quinoa ratio in a rice cooker). While your quinoa is cooking, cut out the tops of your peppers.

I used colored peppers, but green ones would also be good, just a little less sweet

Mix together the beans, tomatoes, corn, avocado, and green onion with the dressing. Add extra cumin, garlic powder, and chili powder to taste, and mix in your quinoa once it's cooked.

Stuff each pepper, using a small spoon to press the mixture into every crevice. Put all the peppers in a baking dish and bake for 20 minutes.

I had a little stuffing left over, so I just threw it into the dish.

After 20 minutes, garnish the peppers with cheddar cheese, then cook for another 10 minutes. Let cool a couple minutes, then enjoy!

Let me know what you think, and what you did to make the recipe even better!

Bread to the Nations

Today's blog post is short and sweet, but it's so dear to my heart that I had to share.

If you're a busy college student like me, you might struggle to find the time to personally seek out ways you can help others. I know I've really had a hard time with this last year, even when I planned philanthropies for my cooperative house. Well, here's an opportunity for you to help families in need without even leaving your room!

A friend of my family has been working with a nonprofit organization called Bread to the Nations, and my mom and I have found a chance to use or hobbies and talents to support this ministry.

"Bread to the Nations is a Christ-centered nonprofit organization working in Carrefour, Haiti. [Their] mission is to restore God’s model to families and communities in Haiti by strengthening the church and strengthening families."

"Bread to the Nations works with and through the God-ordained institution of the local church to fulfill basic physical needs, maintain the family unit supported by the local church as God’s intended model for raising children, and to prepare and empower the next generation of Haitians to develop and utilize their God-given gifts and talents to work as productive citizens and faithful followers of Christ."

One of their outreach programs called Medika Mamba, (literally "Peanut Butter Medicine") is helping Haitian children recover from Kwashiorkor and other severe forms of malnutrition through an entirely Haitian product. Because Haitians make the product, Medika Mamba not only helps children, but also stimulates Haiti's economy.

 There are a few ways you can help: 

1. Make a financial donation directly do the organization.

2. Join the organization and go to the front lines yourself

3. If you could use an update to your wardrobe, shop at RPL Designs on Etsy. At least 10% of every purchase you make will go directly to Bread to the Nations and Medika Mamba. Don't see anything you like? Check back later! We're always making something new! 

Please take a couple minutes to look into this amazing ministry. Maybe you'll be called to help, too!

Guiltless Mocha Meringue Kisses

This summer I tried making meringue cookies for the first time, and it's opened up a door to light and airy delight for way less calories than your average cookie.
I wondered if I could successfully combine two of my favorite things, dark chocolate and coffee, into a delicious fluffy cookie. It turned out amazing, and I ended up eating more of the batter than the finished product. If you love anything Starbucks, you'll adore these little bites of heaven. This recipe makes about 3 dozen meringue kisses (or 60 meringue bites), at only ~50 calories per cookie. So have two or three, and don't feel a twinge of regret!

Here's what you'll need:
3 large egg whites

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup sugar
3/4 to 1 cup mini dark chocolate chips
1 1/2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
Parchment paper
Gallon-sized Ziplock bag (optional)

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, add the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt. Beat on high speed until the egg whites
make soft peaks. Continue to beat in the vanilla extract and slowly add the sugar 1/4 cup at a time until the meringue makes stiff peaks. Turn off the mixer and gently fold in your coffee granules, cocoa powder and chocolate chips.

Stiff peak

Next, scoop your meringue into the Ziplock bag and push it into one bottom corner. Cut off the corner so it makes a 1/2 inch opening. Gently pipe bite-sized or 1 tbsp amounts of batter onto the cookie sheets. Alternatively, just spoon dollops of meringue onto the sheets.

Bake in the lower half of your oven for 12-15 minutes, until the tops are firm and dry. Check often so they don't over bake. Let them cool completely on the cookie sheet before removing with  a spatula. Voila! Beautiful, light little cookies that melt in your mouth!

Om nom nom nom

Beating The Burnout

My brain is shot from 32 weeks of 3rd-year nursing school. I just don't have the energy for studying anymore. What's worse, I'm completely addicted to the internet. I end up looking at pictures of corgis and thousands of recipes, then find that I just lost 30 minutes. I still have exams to chug through before I can go on a little mental vacation, so what's a girl to do to get out of the burnout bind?

1. Bite-Sized Chunks of Discipline
If I really need to get determined to study something, I'll set a timer for 30 minutes. For half an hour, I am not allowed to get off track, surf the internet, reorganize my desk, file my fingernails, make grocery lists, gawk at my split ends, text my bff, check my tumblr, plan tomorrow's outfit, or grab a snack. Bored? Too bad, self. You're gonna sit your butt down and work this chapter out.
When those 30 minutes are over, take 10-15 minutes to just relax. Grab your snack, check your facebook, look at pictures of corgis in bow ties, drool over recipes on Pinterest. Whatever. This is "you" time. When the break period is over, take another 30 minutes to really sit down and focus.
Depending on how shot my brain is, I can usually do this for up to 3 hours without needing to take a big break. Breaking your studying into chunks is scientifically proven to help you process information better, and it will help you feel more in control of your study habits.

Really enjoy those 10 minutes of cute animal time

2. Schedule in Sleep
Your brain won't work as efficiently if you haven't gotten some good sleep. Power down the laptop and get 8 hours of shut-eye.

3. Learn Your Rhythm
Everyone has a certain time of day when they're most productive at certain things. For me, I'm the most mentally energized in the late morning. That's when I try to get most of my studying done, because I know I'm less likely to get distracted. Think about when you usually are most focused, and schedule in your study time then.
Other times might be better for exercise. A study done at Purdue University found that students who worked out at the recreational center twice a week had higher GPA's than those who didn't. It might just be because it's a great way to relieve stress, but it could also be the increased circulation to your brain that helps you better process information.

4. Feel the Buzz
Caffeine is the oldest trick in the book for sustaining mental performance, but it sure does work! Try to stay away from energy drinks, and stick to coffee and tea. Also, limit yourself to 6 cups of coffee or less. While coffee has a lot of health benefits, it can also cause anxiety if consumed in excess. The last thing you need is a racing heart when you're already freaking out about exams!

5. Reward Yourself
If you've managed to get a lot of studying done, don't let your hard work go to waste! Have an evening with your girlfriends, or just veg out with your favorite tv show. The worst thing you can do to try to beat your burnout is to force yourself to keep studying when you're absolutely miserable. If you've worked hard, you deserve to relax a little and give your brain some time to solidify all that information.

Good luck with your finals!

Health Tips from the Spanish Lifestyle

The beach in Valencia

I had the amazing opportunity to go to Spain with my family over spring break. I learned so much from this trip, and I noticed a few cultural differences that seemed to make the Spanish culture healthier than the American lifestyle to which I'm accustomed.

For one, Spaniards aren't so fast-paced about everything. They don't usually start work until 9 or 10am. They take a two to three hour work break in the afternoon, and really take their time in the evenings over a light meal with family and friends.
 In the US, we really hate wasting time. We're always rushing to do things. We push our kids into days packed with school and extracurriculars. College students drink pots of coffee to pull all-nighters. Adults work overtime at the office to get a promotion. I've noticed in myself that I have a hard time just savoring free time. I always have something I should be doing, and it crowds my mind. To put it simply, I just don't know how to relax. It's almost a foreign concept to me. Even crocheting is busywork incorporated into my relaxation time. Since I've come home from Spain, I've become more conscious of how worked up I feel after a long, hard day, and I'm starting to worry about the affect it's having on me. Maybe it's time for me to clear up my schedule a little bit and just learn to chill out already.

A relaxing day in beautiful Toledo

Secondly, Spanish eating habits are more metabolically friendly. They eat their largest meal in the middle of the day. In some non-touristy areas, they even served five-course meals for lunch! When we eat a big meal then go to bed, whatever we don't need for tissue repair is often stored as fat. Eating most of your calories in the morning and afternoon gives your body time to use them.

Jamón, manchego cheese, and Spanish wine for tapas!

Third, tapas are pretty much the best idea ever. You order a few very small plates of food, and split them with your family or friends. Then, you order a second round or go to a different restaurant or bar. The time it takes to get that second round of food gives your brain time to process how full you really are. You end up eating less because your hormones have time to catch up with your stomach. Another great thing about tapas is the variety. Instead of chowing down on one delicious dish, you can try several! Next time you go out with your friends, try splitting a few appetizers instead of ordering individual plates. Maybe the tapas idea will strike a chord with you, too!


I had a great Spring Break, and I hope this post helps me share some of the trip with you!