yum, yum kidcupcake!: OMG-a recipe!!!!! Oh and of course, Sadie.

I made this up one day. It's a little weird but I really liked it, maybe you will too.
Spaghetti Squash Casserole
There are a few steps to this dish but each one only takes a short amount of time and the casserole is good reheated or frozen

1 large spaghetti squash (approx 2lbs)
1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce
1 bag or bunch of fresh spinach
1 onion (I use yellows but you can use reds if you like), small diced
2-3 Tablespoons of Cashew Butter (can be found in the nut butter aisle)
water for mixing into the Cashew Butter
Bread Crumbs
Oil for cooking and coating the dish
1 clove garlic minced
2 boca burger vegan griller patties or 1/2 lb ground meat
small casserole dish or whatever dish you have that can go in the oven

Preheat oven to 350*F
generously poke holes in the squash with a knife
microwave on high for 15 mins (if you don't have a turntable in your microwave, rotate it after 7 mins)
check to see if it's soft and done with a skewer (it should poke through easily)
cook more if needed

while the squash is cooking
make the cashew cream (cashew is cream is made by whisking water into the cashew butter until it comes to a heavy cream consistency)
heat some oil in a pan and cook the bocas, once done mash them up and add the pasta sauce
if you are using real meat cook the meat and then add the sauce, or drain the oil and then add the sauce, whatever you do with meat.
remove from heat and add the cashew cream, stir well

in a separate skillet heat some oil and saute the onions until translucent
add the garlic until fragrant
add the spinach and cook until wilted
drain any liquid

once the squash is done
slice it in half and remove the seeds
gently scrape it into a bowl with a fork and toss to separate
add the spinach and bit of sauce, toss to distribute

coat your baking dish with a bit of oil and spread some sauce on the bottom
put the squash mixture in
top with remaining sauce (use a spoon to separate the squash so the sauce falls down in side a bit)
top with bread crumbs
bake for 20 minutes uncovered

enjoy!
xoxo

The other day at Berkeley Bowl I found this on the shelf.

The list of ingredients was about 20 long and includes MSG! BARF
I love BB because you can find funny things like this mixed in with top shelf international ingredients and awesome produce that you just can't find in most places.

We joined the Oakland Zoo recently and have gone several times to visit the animals. Well, we've gone several times. We haven't really seen the animals much since the first time we went. Sadie is really only concerned with riding the cars and carousel there. In fact, it's kind of ALL she talks about. Driving the cars.
We went to the member's only night a few weeks ago which was really cool. Except for the two skinned knees Sadie got from running down a hill. Yes, I said "running down a hill." We're not total idiot parents, just as we were about to say "Sades, don't run down hills you can get......" she bit the dust so hard not only did she skin both knees but she slid down the hill a bit on her face too.
I think all three of us may have cried a little. Sadie cried more than a little. But then she was fine and up and running around again in no time.

At the end of August we drove down to Santa Cruz for a few days and stayed at the Dream Inn, played on the beach, cruised The Boardwalk and visited the Roaring Camp Railroads. Of course, Sadie loved the beach and the Boardwalk. The trains were cool for her for about 20 minutes. She laid down on my lap and looked up at the trees while we chugged about but then she fell asleep!
While in Santa Cruz we discovered Saturn Cafe, a veg restaurant with Vegan options. That place rocks, seriously. There's one in Berkeley that just opened up not too long ago. Can I tell you how exciting it was to be able to order a chocolate shake with vegan ice cream?????? I haven't had a shake in a restaurant in YEARS. YEARS I say!!!!!

Oh, yeah? did I tell you I'm working again? Check me out at Atelier Emmanuel. Bringing a little rock and roll to the Frenchies of Downtown SF. It feels really good to be back in the salon. Working 3 days a week is perfect too. Sadie loves sleeping over at Grandma and Grandpa's house on Thursday and we love having a date night every Thursday after work!

Enjoy!
xoxo