Smokey Black Bean Chili in Squash Bowls

Can you believe it’s almost HALLOWEEN and time to Fall Back? I am so ready for the time change because it’s SOOO dark when I go to work in the morning. I have to admit that it’s a pretty awesome way to start my day by watching the sunrise as I drive into work though….

I am a total believer in eating what you crave. I woke up this morning craving two of my FAVORITE things ~ Apricot Preserves & Crunchy Nut Barn Almond Butter.

I LOVE that the BioNature Apricot Preserves are sweetened with apple juice vs sugar!

I toasted up 2 slices of Nature’s Pride 100% Whole Bread and smothered them in apricot almond goodness!

Mid morning I grabbed a Low-Fat Cabot Cheese and a mini fuji apple.

Lunch today involved more Halloween shopping or lack there of and at stop at the Over The Top Shop for Froyo!!!! Today’s mix included SNICKERDOODLE (YUM!!!), Peach-Mango Tart and Vanilla with sprinkles and crumbled waffle cone.

As I was eating this I was really thinking how it would be AWESOME to have a Cuisnart 45-Mix-It-In Soft Serve Froyo machine at home! Maybe for CHRISTMAS *wink, wink* LOL….I don’t know though – that could be a BAD thing to have froyo that accessible!

Lunch started out with this togo Thai Salad with Peanut Dressing.

However, the spicy broccoli shrimp I got to go with it was NASTY! It was ALL fish sauce and i just couldn’t eat it at all. I skipped lunch and opted for a bigger afternoon snack.

Whole Foods Organic Stone Wheat Crackers, Laughing Cow, Lean Turkey and FIZZY water! I was STILL hungry after so I grabbed an organic orange for dessert.

My co-worker who won the Organic Veggie Box from work broke out a super cool new to me veggie that I had to snap a picture of. Any guesses on what it is?

It’s a RADISH ~ Kinda crazy! I am not a fan of radishes but I had to try it because it looked like a mini watermelon. The flavor was interesting ~ it tastes like spicy cabbage. I like the heat, but, I am still debating the cabbage flavor.

When I got home The Husband was singing ~ “I got a cookie and you can’t have one!” LOL. Look at how AMAZING these snicker doodles are – perfectly round too! He got it at work. Of course, I snapped off a bite ~ MMMM ~ so much to LOVE about these cookies ~ cinnamon, sugar, butter, chewy….Need I say more.

Dinner tonight started out with roasted these cute Organic Sweet Dumpling Squashes I got at the market on Saturday. I decided they would make the perfect chili bowls.

I cut them in 1/2, de-seeded and rinsed them out.

Then, rubbed with a little Extra Virgin Olive Oil and sprinkled with sea salt.

Perfectly roasted at 400 for 30 minutes.

While the squash roasted, I whipped up a Smokey Black Bean Salsa Chili that I saw in the October issue of Cooking Light. The recipe was lightened up by the enlightened chef and sounded amazing ~ Beans, Bacon, Turkey, Spice ~ YUM!

I picked Trader Joe’s Spicy, Smoky Peach Salsa as the STAR ingredient.

Step 1 ~ Puree 1/2 your beans with brown sugar and water.

Stir in your remaining beans ~ I accidentally opened TJ’s Cuban beans instead of black beans ~ so I went with it!

Step 2 ~ Brown your 99% Lean ground turkey in nonstick spray. It’s important to pick the 99% lean to ensure you are getting turkey breast vs thigh meat and skin.

Step 3 ~ remove your browned turkey and add your onion and bell peppers.

and your BACON! Cook about 5-10 minutes until the onion is soft and slightly browned.

Step 4 ~ Add your turkey and spices.

Plus your bean mixture and salsa.

Step 5 ~ Add your beef broth, tomato paste and crushed red pepper flakes (b/c you forgot to with the spices . Stir to combine, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

I subbed ff Greek Yogurt for the sour cream and added, lime juice and cilantro.

To create a fantastic chili topper.

Sweet Dumpling Chili Bowl, plus Smokey Black Bean Chili plus cilantro lime “sour cream”. MMM ~ DELISH! I LOVED how easy this recipe was to make, but, I am not sure that the bacon really mattered. You didn’t really taste it and if I am adding calories for something like that, I want to TASTE it!

Sweet Roasted Squash in every bite! I really do think that this type of squash tastes bit like pumpkin, but, not as strong.

While the chili was simmering, I whipped up a batch of Carrot Pumpkin Cupcakes with Fresh Whipped Frosting. Would you believe me if I told you this is a low-cal recipe?!