baked-delicata-squash-with-sweet-cinnamon-and-nutmeg

Ingredients

2 Delicata Squash
1 tablespoon Coconut or olive oil
2 tablespoons Agave Nectar or Maple Syrup
2 pinches Fleur de Sel Sea Salt
1/4 teaspoon organic cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated or ground nutmeg

The New Year is here and I am guessing eating healthy is one of your resolutions. After enjoying all the holiday desserts and rich food, it is very hard to go cold turkey and eat vegetables without much flavor. I created this side to satisfy your sweet tooth as well as your New Year’s Resolution for getting healthy and losing weight.

Coconut oil is not only good for your heart and brain, it also adds a nutty sweetness to your food. If you do not have any, use olive oil. So many vegetable oils are genetically modified and processed where there is very little nutrients in them.

Many have asked for agave syrup in recipes and I used it to sweeten the squash. You can use maple syrup too which is what I typically use for roasting vegetables.

The cinnamon and nutmeg melt in the oil and syrup creating a gooey coating on the squash. This recipe calls for 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon which gives you close to the 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon a day some studies say is needed to stimulate your body’s insulin receptors and to lower your glucose levels. Your cells are able to respond better to insulin which is very helpful for people with type 2 diabetes and hypoglycemia. Cinnamon can also boost your brain and memory, reduce inflammation and bacteria, prevent clots, and help fight colon cancer with the dietary fiber, iron, and calcium. read more

The nutmeg has so many health benefits as well. The spice can improve digestion, muscle and joint pain, gum and cavity issues, bad breath, clear your acne, as well as improve your sleep and libido!

Sprinkle fleur de sel salt on the squash before you roast them as well as afterwards. The fleur de sel delicate crystals enhances the flavor as well as provides you more nutrients your body craves.

Directions

1) Wash the squash very well. You will eat the skin. Try to buy organic Delicata Squash.

2) Slice the squash in half and scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Now slice the squash to 1/4- 1/2 inch pieces. They will look like crescent moons.

3) Scoop a tablespoon of coconut oil out of the jar. It will be solid this time of the year. You can always put the coconut oil in a Pyrex dish and melt it when the oven is preheating. Drizzle the agave over the squash. Add 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated or ground nutmeg. Add 1 0r 2 pinches Hand Harvested Fleur de Sel.

4) Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until tender. I usually stir the squash after 5 minutes to coat them in coconut oil. Serve with another pinch of Fleur de Sel.

Why You Want to Eat This!

Delicata Squash (Winter Squash)

Excellent source of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene
Rich in Vitamin A which benefits your vision, teeth, skin, and mucous membranes
Good source of fiber, manganese, B6, potassium, Vitamin K, folate, tryptophan and copper
15 % of your daily source of Vitamin C
Low calorie (3/4 cup is 30 calories)
Starchy polysaccharides contain chains of D-galacturonic acid called homogalacturonan which have ?antioxidant, anti-flammatory, as well as anti-diabetic and insulin-regulating properties.? WH Foods
Prevents cardiovascular disease
Good gluten free option for pasta

Coconut Oil

May help with blood sugar issues and diabetes
Weight loss
Bone Health by improving calcium and magnesium absorption and the increased ?calcium and magnesium absorption are of great benefit to middle-aged women who may become afflicted with osteoporosis.?
May improve your memory. There are many studies looking into coconut oil and possible improvement of symptoms with Alzheimer?s patients.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is an excellent source of manganese and fiber. It also has potassium, calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium. Cinnamon may help the body regulate blood sugar levels and can be beneficial in high carb foods liked baked breads. The spice helps the body respond to insulin so it may be helpful for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Cinnamon may be good for individuals with platelet issues or at risk for stroke or heart attacks since Cinnamaldehyde prevents platelets from clogging in the blood vessels.
The smell is invigorating and may help adults and children focus and improve brain activity. ?Research led by Dr. P. Zoladz and presented April 24, 2004, at the annual meeting of the Association for Chemoreception Sciences, in Sarasota, FL, found that chewing cinnamon flavored gum or just smelling cinnamon enhanced study participants? cognitive processing. Specifically, cinnamon improved participants? scores on tasks related to attentional processes, virtual recognition memory, working memory, and visual-motor speed while working on a computer-based program.? read more

Nutmeg

Rich in copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, zinc and magnesium
Rich in B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin A, beta-carotene and cryptoxanthin
Volatile oils of Myristicin, Elemicin, Eugenol, Safrole, Pinene, Camphene, Dipentene, Cineole, Linalool, Sabinene, Safrole, Terperniol
Relieves tooth ache, prevents cavities with anitbacterial properties, decreases bad breath
Nutmeg oil is used for muscular pain as well as joint swelling and pain.
Oil mixed with honey relieves nausea and intestinal issues
Myristicin and Elemicin may stimulate the brain. “Myristicin found in nutmeg has been shown to inhibit an enzyme in the brain that contributes to Alzheimer?s disease and is used to improve memory.” Complete Well Being
Improve asthma issues
Alleviates gout
Relax muscles and helps you sleep
Clears your acne and eczema