As the air gets a little crisper, who doesn’t crave butternut squash? This risotto recipe is a yummy way to satisfy your pre-fall cravings!

There is some prep work, so don't expect to make it all at once while you’re famished after that hot yoga class! If you can do some of the prep work in advance, you’ll thank yourself!

Cool Tip: To peel butternut squash, use a vegetable peeler, then cut it open, scoop out the seeds and cut it into pieces.

Diet Restrictions: For all of you veggies and vegans - use vegetable broth instead of chicken. The recipe does include a little bit of cheese, but you can leave that out for a vegan option.

Serves 4. Makes about 6 cups
Hands-on time: 45 minutes. Total time: 1 hour

INGREDIENTS
- 3 cups peeled, diced fresh butternut squash
- Extra-virgin olive oil or olive oil cooking spray
- Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 4 cups low-sodium organic chicken broth
- ½ cup onion, diced
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced (2 cups)
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 cup arborio rice
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tbsp fresh sage, minced
- ½ cup fresh or frozen peas (thawed if frozen)
- ¼ shredded fontina cheese or Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped walnuts, toasted

INSTRUCTIONS
Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees F. Toss squash with a little oil or mist with cooking spray; season with salt and pepper. Spread squash in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until tender, about 25 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Set squash aside.

Meanwhile, bring broth to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat; keep warm.

While broth is heating, sauté onion in 1 tbsp oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat for 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté until they start to soften, 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute more. Add rice and stir to coat with oil and vegetables.

Add ½ cup warm broth; simmer and stir with a wooden spoon until the liquid evaporates, about 2 minutes. Stir in another ½ cup warm broth; simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is almost all evaporated. Continue adding broth in ½-cup increments, adding more only after previous addition has been absorbed. Taste rice after three-quarters of the broth has been added. Rice is done when it’s tender but still slightly firm and white in the very center (not chalky). Continue adding broth until only ½ cup remains.

Add thyme, sage, peas and cheese to pan with last ½ cup broth; stir until cheese melts, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat before all liquid is absorbed. Gently fold in cooked squash and walnuts. Season risotto with salt and pepper. Garnish with additional thyme if desired. Serve warm.

Nutrients per 1 ½ cup serving: Calories: 359, Total Fat: 9g, Sat. Fat: 2.5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.5g, Carbs: 60g, Fiber: 6g, Sugars: 4g, Protein: 14g, Sodium: 163mg, Cholesterol: 8mg

Eating clean can make you feel so good. It can also be challenging if you go it alone. CorePower Yoga takes some of the mystery out of eating healthy and mindfully in the Seasonal Wellness Cleanse. Programs are starting soon nationwide!

Recipe featured in Clean Eating Magazine which is an excellent resource for recipes and tips.
 

What is your role at CorePower Yoga?
Accounting Clerk…most notably making sure the bills get paid on time.

What is the best part of your job?
The PEOPLE! I’ve worked corporate with 400 employees to small businesses with up to 20 and this is my first experience working with such consistently bright, shiny people.

How do you spend your time on the weekends?
Camping! Did the Sand Dunes a few weekends ago and Ouray (Colorado) back in July. It’s the perfect way to combine my love of nature and keeping it physically active.

How did you find CorePower Yoga?
Craigslist of all places.

What does a typical Tuesday look like for you?
Up just before 6am and sitting at my desk by 7am. In Yoga Sculpt by 4pm at the Colorado Blvd Studio!

What is your favorite yoga posture, and why?
Camel…it seems to challenge me the most right now. It’s the only pose that after about 10 seconds makes me feel like I am going to throw up, so I know I need to master it!

Tell us something surprising about yourself.
I have a third degree black belt in Karate.

What is your favorite dessert?
Throw chocolate on strawberries, oranges, kiwi, raisins, etc…I am all over it!
 

Sometimes, there is simply not enough time to squeeze in an hour-long workout or yoga class. If this sounds familiar, we have the perfect solution: a 15-minute circuit workout!

Circuits and cardiovascular workouts do the most to burn fat during exercise. These workouts quickly deplete the energy stores that muscles prefer to use and force them to burn fat for energy. The following circuits combine upper body, lower body and cardiovascular exercises.

All you need for this basic workout is a set of 3 or 5 pound weights.

Basic lunge with lateral raise

With weights in hand, and arms by your sides, step your right foot forward and on an inhale, bend your left knee to 2 inches away from the ground. Lift your arms to shoulder height with your palms facing forward; exhale and straighten your leg; return your arms to your sides. Switch legs after 10 repetitions.

Basic squat with bicep curl

Stand with feet hip distance apart, weight in your heels. Draw your elbows into your sides, and exhale while you curl dumbbells toward your shoulders. Inhale and bend your knees into a squat and relax arms to sides. Straighten legs and repeat 10 – 12 times.

Chest push ups

Start in a high plank position with your hands flat on the ground wider than shoulder distance apart. Lower your body toward the ground by bending your elbows to 90 degrees. Straighten your arms to return to high plank. Repeat 10 – 15 times, and remember to drop to your knees if your back begins to sway.

Cross over lunge with hammer curl

Stand with your feet hip-distance apart with weights in your hands, and arms at your sides. Step your right foot 3 feet behind your left leg and bend both knees. Keeping upper arms still, raise your forearms until your thumbs touch your shoulders. Inhale and straighten legs, and release arms to sides. Repeat 10 times and switch sides.

Horse squat with standing chest press

Stand with feet about 3 feet apart in a straddle position – heels turned in, toes out. Arms are bent with weights, and elbows are drawn in toward your waist. Bend both knees to lower into a squat and straighten arms overhead. Straighten legs, and squeeze elbows in as you exhale. Repeat 10 – 15 times.

Looking for more new & fresh workout ideas? Check out CorePower Yoga's BootCamp program, offered at many different locations nationwide!