My reasons for working out on a regular basis are wide and varied, but when I put pen to paper cursor to word doc, these 5 reasons rise right to the top:
(source)
1. So I can eat all the glorious, olive oil brushed, prosciutto laced, cheese stuffed paninis from adorable, affordable, accessible new French places in town that I want, dangit!
Some co-workers and I hit up Tartine…an adorable, affordable, accessible new French place in town…for lunch today, and the Prosciutto Panini I ordered was so crispy, I’m certain they heard my first bite down in Texas. I must know how they do this. These are the things that keep me up at night.
2. See #1.
3. For my physical health. Gotta’ keep the ol’ ticker and other vital organs in tip top shape.
4. See #1. For my mental health. I’m not a running is cheaper than therapy! type person, but you can’t argue with a feel-good flow of endorphins brought on by a good sweat sesh. Self made medicine, for the win!
5. So I don’t have to wash my face before bed. No, I know…but it’s true. Having to wash your face before bed is seriously the pits, but if you workout in the evening then take a shower – voila! – no splish-splashing when you’re half asleep at 10pm later that night. Sometimes it’s all I need to think about to push myself into that workout I’m dreading…
Like tonight, for instance. Oooo, that sandwich at lunch was absolutely mouthwatering, but definitely heavier than what I usually devour around noon on a normal day. When 5pm rolled around I was absolutely dragging – feeling heavy and lethargic.
The thought of hunching over the bathtub scrubbing my face in 5 hours, inevitably getting my hair, t-shirt and bathroom floor soaking wet, proved too much to bear though, and was just the push I needed to get out the door for a 4 mile run on the trail.
It was slow, but it was good. And HOT! I don’t think I’ve told you, but we have been rocking 80 degree weather here all week. The Midwest likes to keep you on your toes like that. 
Despite the heat, I decided to turn the oven on tonight for dinner featuring a roasted delicacy – Double Stuffed Acorn Squash.
I picked up a perky acorn squash at the Farmers’ Market last weekend, and knew exactly what I was going to be doing with it.
Stuffing it!
Stuffing it with spicy red wine & cheese infused chicken sausage, a chopped honeycrisp apple (that was hard to sacrifice) and some whole-wheat stuffing mix made moist and extra-flavorful with chicken broth.
Piled deep and high within the squash that I roasted ’til it was golden brown and oh-so tender,
then popped under the broiler ’til it was golden brown.
Each bite of this double stuffed squash – that is, squash stuffed with stuffing – was a new flavor experience.
The squash was sweet, the apple tart, the sausage spicy and the stuffing savory. It was perfect!
Stuffed Acorn Squash
Serves 2
Ingredients:
1 acorn squash
Extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper
2 sausage links (can be chicken, turkey or pork – I used Trader Joe’s Red Wine & Cheese Chicken Sausage)
1 small apple, peeled and chopped into 1/4″ cubes
1 cup chicken broth, divided
1/2-5oz box Stove Top stuffing
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Pierce acorn squash several times with a knife, then place on a microwave-safe plate and cook for 2 minutes. Cut the squash in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds, then microwave for 1 additional minute.
- Lay squash halves on a baking sheet, skin side down, then brush with extra virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the thickest part of the squash goes in easily.
- Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium-high heat, remove sausage from casing and sauté with apples until sausage is cooked through, breaking it up as it cooks. Turn the heat down to medium-low, and continue to cook until apples are soft but not mushy, ~3-4 more minutes. Add up to 1/4 cup chicken broth to keep apples from burning.
- In a separate, small saucepan, bring 3/4 cup chicken broth to a boil. Pour in half the box of stuffing, stir, then place a lid on top and turn the heat off. Allow the pan to sit for 5 minutes, then fluff stuffing with a fork.
- Combine stuffing with sausage & apple mixture then mound onto cooked acorn squash halves. Place under the broiler until stuffing is golden brown on top.
This dinner was light, yet filling, and will make for some really great leftovers too.
Off to get the rest of this ready for bed process taken care of. Tooth brush – you’re next!
See ya’!
~~~~~
What is your #1 reason for working out?
Haha I love your reasons! I love that you don’t try to hide the fact that you are exercising partially to indulge in treats, many people try and disguise that fact and claim that they really just enjoy working out because it “feels good”– yeah right!
That looks like a fantastic dinner! It’s refreshing to not see pumpkin in blog-land for once
I’ve never tried acorn squash, but I sure am tempted now.
haha I never thought anyone else could possibly hate washing their face as much as I do! Seems I was wrong
I went looking through your recipes, and WOW can’t wait to make those potsticker burgers!!
Seriously I love your blog! My husband does as well. More yummy foods on our menu this year than ever!
Thank you Alisha!
I feel the same way as you regarding number 5. There’s nothing better than realizing you don’t have to wash your face at night. Unfortunately, I usually workout in the morning, so don’t experience this too often.
I can’t agree more! I’ve been trying to wash my face and brush my teeth at 8pm lately (to make me stop eating too
so that I don’t have to summon that MOMENTOUS willpower to get up and wash my face at 10/11pm!
BTW Kristen I just discovered your blog today (thank you Pinterest) and absolutely love it, and I have two acorn squashes sitting on my counter right now! Will be trying this recipe soon!
I just made this and everyone loved it. I think it’s even better the next day. I cut them smaller, in 1/4s, and it was a good size. I also made some vegetarian. It felt like a very special dinner, but was very easy. Thank you!
I am making this for dinner now (during naptime). I used leftover maple breakfast sausage, apples, shallot and celery for the filling and brushed the acorn squash with some maple syrup before roasting. Let’s see if my kids will eat this – I know my husband and I will love it! Great website, I enjoy your local stuff
Ooo, I HEART maple sausage. Sounds like a great addition in here!
[...] Since I wasn’t able to think for myself and come up with my own recipe for dinner today, I made another recipe from Iowa Girl Eats. [...]
We had this for dinner last night.
I usually like to google for an Alton Brown recipe when I’m going to make something new – but your version won out on simplicity!
Picked up some ground pork from Fareway & added Galena Street spices & lots of red pepper flake.
Even though my carnivore of a husband said he would have eaten the sausage mix by itself, I really loved the squash.
Keep up this blog – I love it!
I tried this, but with left over chili in the middle!! YUM!
Thanks for all the squash cooking tips, I’ve failed so many times before! But no longer
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I m making this! I have an acorn squash in my fridge now-perfect.
Kristin, you’ll have to explain the “washing the face” trauma you endure, honey. I don’t get it. Your bathroom looks the equivalent of Washing a Cat when you’re done? You lean over a Bathtub? I just KNOW we’re wild-and-crazy here in Cleveland, but I just lean over a sink with a wet washcloth, gritty scrub (yum!), and the warm water running.
WHAT’S UP??
This recipe looks amazing! I wish I had your motivation to work out! I eat what I want which is nice and still have a pretty fast metabolism, so I am okay for now, but I am approaching my mid-20′s and its slowing down. BUT… I HAD to comment on the face washing thing! I HATE washing my face at night! It gets water everywhere and its just annoying. I think I will try the working out thing at night…
HAHHAAHAH
your so honest! And keep up the good work!!!
I guess my main reason for working out is that I love to eat treats too, and that I want to lose weight. And I love the feeling of endorphins too! Gotta love those.
Another reason for me working out is I’m getting older, and pounds tend to stick around longer than they used to when I was in my twenties.
Have a great day!
Great post! I agree with the reasons you chose to workout and stay healthy. One thing I’ve found to be extremely helpful and useful as a supplement to my current diet/exercise plan is Fullbar (www.fullbar.com). Not only do their products help you lose weight, they also help you maintain your weight loss.
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I’ve been reading your blog for past couple weeks and I love it! Also, my number #1 reason for working out is to be fit, because after fitness comes so much more!
I just made this and it is delicious! Thanks for the recipe!! It tastes just like thanksgiving!
Well put! Think thats why I workout too! and, I plan to do more too now!! THANKS. LOVE UR BLOG!
Your blog post was great. It should be a way of life so we can enjoy all the delicious foods on your blog. btw, hate washing my face at night too.
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