I’ve mentioned it before but growing up I was constantly on a diet. From high school on it was rare that I actually ate what everyone else was eating. I am so blessed to have a wonderful family that still sits down to dinner together during the week. I don’t always make it but when I do it is so awesome to actually be included in the meal and be able to eat what everyone else is eating. Now it is not such a concern whether or not my mom put exactly 1 tbs. of olive oil in our meal or if I am eating 3 or 4 oz of chicken in my meal. It seems like such a simple concept but when food is not your friend for so long, you learn to appreciate the little things. My mom is an amazing cook and I think I love to cook myself so much because I grew up around her in the kitchen. This is her recipe I’m sharing. We all sat down to dinner together and I ate it. My family is not gluten free so they had it with pasta and I put mine on spaghetti squash and didn’t notice a difference. The best part of my meal wasn’t the food though, it was the company. I challenge you to sit down to dinner with your family, significant other, roommate, or friends at least 3 times this week. Relax, unwind, and enjoy. You’ll actually enjoy your food more, be more satisfied, and become less stressed….sounds awesome doesn’t it?!
Ingredients:
- 1 lb chicken breast
- 1 medium spaghetti squash
- 1 zucchini
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 green bell pepper
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach
- fresh basil
- 1 small can peas
- 1 can crushed tomatoes
- 1/4-1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbs. olive oil
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Slice your spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and bake, open sides down for 1 hour at 400 degrees.
- Meanwhile chop your fresh veggies and chicken into small pieces.
- In a saucepan saute your olive oil and chicken over medium heat.
- Once the chicken is no longer pink add in your fresh veggies (zucchini and peppers).
- Add in your crushed tomatoes, chicken stock, and fresh baby spinach and continue to saute.
- Lastly add in your peas and fresh basil and let simmer over low heat.
- Once the spaghetti squash is cooked, scrape out the insides using a fork to make “spaghetti”.
- Serve your chicken and vegetable mixture over the spaghetti squash and enjoy!
Makes 4 servings
Does your family ever sit down to dinner together???
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this!! I can feel a huge difference on my satisfaction if I eat on a table with plates and company or if I eat distracted or on the go. I LOVE to have the time to enjoy a good meal it tastes so much better! When I still lived with my parents, we even sat down twice a day for lunch and for dinner. It was our familytime and my parents were very strict about it. I do it myself every day (because you told me so:-)). Not for breakfast, but always for lunch and for dinner. It is the best time of the day
That is so awesome Lucie! It’s so much easier to slow down and enjoy when you are sitting at a table without distractions! Good company just makes it eve better
My family used to sit down together for dinner every single night. I hope we can do that when we have kids, too. Now, we go to either my in-laws or parents on Sunday nights for dinners.
That’s so great that you still have that tradition! Family dinners are the best!
I think it’s one of the best ways to spend time with you’re family. It’s just perfect. Good food, good company!
Nice sounding recipe as well, yum
Thanks Anna! I totally agree with you!
Looks amazing as always… We always sit down and eat together. It is a good thing but is also a bad thing too. Eating is social in my family. It’s how we connect and bond and usually that isn’t with healthy food. My family is a work in progress. I usually bring something healthy
Great point! My family doesn’t always connect over the healthiest of foods ever but slowly they are all shifting to some healthier options too! I always bring something healthier too
Looks delicious, Danielle! Growing up, we almost always sat down to dinner together, which I think is soooo important. Nowadays, Bob and I have dinner together every night. It’s our time to slow down and talk about our days and catch up.
That’s so awesome you still do that! Makes all the difference!
Yum!! I already have ideas forming in my mind of how to make this dish vegetarian
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It would be awesome as a vegetarian dish! Hope you enjoy it!
LOVE THIS: “The best part of my meal wasn’t the food though, it was the company.” I grew up in the family were dinners were the must to attend, but after I’ve left my parent’s house I lost that habit for many years. Now I love eating with my boyfriend. I even wait for him till the late hour to have a meal together. So your point is taken.
And I should eat more hot food. Salads are great, but this chicken meal is so doable.
Thank you for it and for this wonderful Friday post.
Glad you liked it Greta!
looks delicious! Growing up we always ate dinner at the table together. Jeff and I eat dinner together in front of the tv, I know its bad but its our only down time together!
Thanks Kaitlin!
Meals made by Mom always taste the best, and that cacciatore looks amazing. We sat down to dinner quite often when I was growing up, and even now I always go over to my parents’ place to have Sunday dinner. The company is definitely the best, but I can’t argue that I adore having my mom’s meals too
Agreed! My mom is the best cook!
I love having dinner with my family! When I was a kid/teenager, we had a family dinner almost every single night. And now whenever I visit home we always have dinners together. It’s my favourite family ritual.
That’s great! It’s one of my favorite family rituals too!
i sit down w/my parents to eat by the TV but we don’t just sit there and watch, 50% of the time we are talking and laughing together. i agree the company is the best! i also love how these kinds of italian recipes are so adaptable thanks to the existence of spaghetti squash. i usually do my italian meals at home with the sauce/protein/veggies over a bed of black beans. it sounds weird but the marinara and the beans taste so good together!
I’ve never tried that combo! I’ll have to remember it for next time!
Oooo. I saw this recipe on facebook earlier and I’ve been dying for a minute to check it out ever since. I’m making it. Probably a French Oven recipe?!?!
This sounds really yummy! My mom used to make chicken cacciatore… definitely not with spaghetti squash though
we ate SOO much pasta when I grew up. It was one of the only things I knew how to cook until a couple years ago, haha! I really need to try spaghetti squash soon!
I love how simple and delicious this recipe looks!! My family sits down together at least 3-4 times a week and it is definitely one of my favoritie times of the day. Hope your weekend is wonderful, Danielle!
Thank you so much Kim! Hope you have a wonderful weekend too!
NOW THIS is my kinda meal!!!!! Adore this so much! I remember the first time I had chicken cacciatore, I died of happiness, and it’s been a love match ever since!
So glad you like it Gigi! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
This look like a perfect Sunday night dinner!!! I love our family dinners and wouldn’t trade them for the world
Thanks Laura! Sunday nights our my favorite family night too
We definitely do, and I love it!! Wish I lived closer so we could do it more! That recipe sounds great!
Thanks Corrie Anne!