Southwestern Stuffed Acorn Squash

from eatingwell.com/recipes

Rene, our new office manager, has a lot of experience in dealing with food sensitivities.  Rene has a compilation of great recipes where certain ingredients are substituted to avoid irritating foods that she is willing to share.  Often when I mention foods to try or to avoid, patients are left to come up with their own recipes and that can be hard if cooking isn't their favorite thing to do.  If you're not sure what to cook, look for her recipes.  They are healthy and work for people who have food sensitivities.  (She makes a killer coconut garlic yogurt dip.  Sounds weird right?  It works, and its tasty.  Try her recipes.:))

Braised greens, quinoa, and mushrooms

2 tablespoons grapeseed or canola oil, divided

1 12oz package quinoa or 1 ¾ cups

2 cups water

1 ¾ cups low sodium vegetable broth, divided

1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 cup onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

8 oz sliced button mushrooms

3 cups greens of your choice – collards, spinach, kale, mustard greens,

¼ teaspoon cracked red pepper

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Add quinoa; cook 3 minutes or until toasted, stirring frequently.  You will hear the grains popping and crackling.  Gradually add water and 1 ½ cups of broth.  Note – the toasted quinoa will spatter.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover and cook15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.  Stir in ½ teaspoon salt and black pepper.
2. While the quinoa simmers, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat.  Add onion and ½ teaspoon salt, saute 2 minutes, or until tender.  Add garlic; saute 30 seconds or until fragrant.  Add mushrooms and saute 3 minutes or until tender.  Add greens, cracked pepper and remaining ¼ cup broth.  Cover and cook 10 minutes or until greens are tender.  Stir in salt.
3. Spoon in 1 cup quinoa on plate and top with ½ cup of yummy greens mixture.

Spring is here! All our goodies from the garden are starting to come up, and some of the first – greens!

I was going through my magazines and found some great sounding recipes.  Particularly the roasted beet and chicken filled endive spears! For all my "liver" patients, this one is worth trying!  Enjoy!! :)