Spaghetti Squash with Shrimp

Hello friends! It has been quite a while since I have posted a recipe for you. The month of February has been much busier than I anticipated! With two out of town conferences and exciting changes at work, I haven't had the opportunity to spend as much time in the kitchen. However, I have some very yummy recipes for the days ahead.

I am excited to share this recipe review with you today: Spaghetti Squash with Shrimp! This was a delicious recipe that I stumbled upon a few weeks ago. The hubby and I have already made this twice in two weeks. It is so yummy and very easy to make. It also makes great leftovers!

Click here to visit the original recipe. See below for my version, with just a few modifications.

Spaghetti Squash with Shrimp
1 medium spaghetti squash
1/4 cup olive oil
2 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 lb shrimp, shelled and deveined
2 Tbs fresh lemon juice
1 Tbs oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 small tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 package (or 2 large handfuls) spinach, washed
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1 cup crumbled feta cheese

1. Cut spaghetti squash lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and discard. Place squash face down in a baking dish filled with 1/2 inch of water at 375 degrees for 45 minutes, or until soft.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil over medium heat and sauté garlic. Add shrimp, lemon juice, and spices. Sauté until shrimp are pink.
3. Add tomatoes and spinach and cook until spinach is wilted, about 1-2 minutes.
4. Using an oven mitt to avoid burning yourself, gently scrape out flesh of spaghetti squash with a fork.
5. Combine squash, shrimp mixture, pine nuts, and feta in a large bowl and toss to combine. Serve hot.

Thanks to cooks.com for this awesome gluten-free recipe!

A Trip to the Grocery Store

Grocery shopping can be a daunting task when transitioning to a gluten-free diet. I’d like to share my typical grocery trip with you – which parts of the store to stick to and which to avoid.

My favorite grocery  store, as I have shared many times, is Whole Foods Market. It is easiest to find everything I need at Whole Foods. While it is possible to find certain items at other stores (sometimes even at lower prices), I often leave feeling frustrated that they didn’t carry many of the necessities that Whole Foods always has in stock.

The best guideline for gluten-free (and any healthy eating) grocery shopping is to stick to the perimeter of the grocery store.

First stop: produce! While we receive most of our produce in our weekly co-op share, I do supplement with organic items in the produce section. It is important to double check that the produce you are purchasing is organic. Even Whole Foods carries both organic and conventional produce. The PLU number for organic produce always begins with a 9 and is five digits long, as opposed to conventional produce which starts with a 4 and is only four digits long. The PLU number for genetically modified produce (avoid at all costs) begins with a 3 and is also four digits long. Look for produce that is local and organic. The majority of our grocery bill is from produce. This is REAL, living food and should be the bulk of our diets.

After visiting the produce section, I continue around the perimeter of the grocery store towards the meat and fish counter. I only buy fish on an as-needed basis as I feel it tastes best when fresh and do not like to freeze it. I do like to keep a bag of wild caught shrimp in the freezer for last minute meals. They thaw quickly and are easy to make for a quick meal. Whenever purchasing seafood, avoid farm raised in favor of wild caught. (Read why here!) My hubby and I eat meat once or twice a week, and we are very careful to only consume organic meats. I purchase grass-fed beef and free-range organic chicken. Both the beef and chicken keep well in the freezer. Since we do not eat meat with every meal, I only need to visit the meat counter once a month or so.

In most grocery stores, the dairy section is also on the perimeter of the store, usually just past the meat counter. I suggest eating dairy only on a limited basis. As with produce and meats, it is extremely important to eat organic dairy. My hubby and I are not big milk drinkers, so our dairy purchases consist of butter and cheese, with the occasional need for sour cream (check for corn starch or corn syrup!) or heavy whipping cream. In regards to eggs, usually stored next to the dairy, I purchase organic cage-free brown eggs. If you are looking for an excellent cow milk substitute, I recommend trying Almond Milk or Coconut Milk. I have completely eliminated soy from my diet, as it is a common allergen and is often genetically modified.

One of the great things about shopping at Whole Foods is their bulk section. I like to keep many different kinds of organic nuts in my fridge. Purchasing nuts in bulk is a great way to save money. Be careful in the bulk section, though, because there are many processed foods in addition to nuts, dried fruits, and flours lurking there. Some Whole Foods stores carry Almond Flour in the bulk section. It is a reasonable price, but is usually located right next to corn starch. This poses a possible problem with cross-contamination, so I recommend purchasing all Almond Flour through Honeyville Grains online.

I also purchase many canned items (although their fresh counterparts are always a better option): canned tomatoes and tomato sauce (ALWAYS buy organic when using canned tomatoes), garbanzo beans, black beans, kidney beans, and coconut milk. I also keep many organic oils on hand - olive oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, and sesame oil.


In the frozen section, we stock up on frozen fruit, the perfect addition to any smoothie! Frozen organic fruit is an excellent way to eat fruit that isn't currently in season. It is also an affordable way to stock up! 

There are several other items that I recommend for a gluten-free and grain-free diet. These include:

-Plantain chips – I purchase Inca brand plantains or Turbana Plantains (double check ingredients of other brands, sometimes fried in corn oil) – great alternative to tortilla or potato chips

-Lara Bars – see this post on why Lara Bars are great!

-almond milk

-baking items – chocolate chips (Enjoy Life! brand is gluten-free and soy-free), organic and fair trade cocoa powder, coconut sugar (sometimes cheaper to purchase Madhava Coconut Sugar on Amazon), Celtic or Himalayan salt, Coconut flour

While the gluten-free and organic grocery bill is usually more than the typical American diet, it is well worth the benefit to your health. We have found that we now eat out less, appreciate food more, and cook more delicious meals than ever before. I love going to the grocery store and seeing all the beautiful, real, and wholesome food. When we provide our bodies with food that nourishes us instead of depleting us, we will stave off disease, have more energy, and enjoy food more fully!