Squash Spaghetti

Spaghetti Squash Noodles

Ingredients:

·         Spaghetti squash
·         Water

Instructions:

1.       Cut spaghetti squash in half
2.       Put squash halves in a deep pan, cut sides up
3.       Add enough water to pan to reach half-way up the squash
4.       Cover
5.       Bring water to a steady soft boil
6.       Let steam until squash is soft, but not mushy (about 20 min.)
7.       Turn off heat and using hot pads, remove squash to a plate
8.       Let cool slightly
9.       Take a fork and peel away the squash noodles

10.   Put all squash noodles in one bowl to get ready to serve

Spaghetti Sauce

Ingredients: 

·         2 lbs of ground hamburger
·         2 ¼ tsp seasoned salt
·         1 large onion, diced
·         3 large cloves of garlic, minced
·         1 can (29 oz) tomato sauce
·         2 cups of water
·         2 Tbsp corn starch
·         1 tsp vinegar
·         ½ tsp salt
·         ½ tsp black pepper
·         ¼ tsp red pepper
·         4 tsp Italian seasoning (I like ones that include basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, & marjoram)
·         Shredded cheese

Instructions:

1.       Brown hamburger with 1 tsp of the seasoned salt in a large frying pan
2.        Drain grease
3.       Stir in remaining 1 ¼ tsp seasoned salt and the diced onion to meat and cook on medium heat until the onion is soft
*some oil may need to be added to the pan so the onions don’t burn
4.       Add garlic and fry for about 30 sec.
5.       Add tomato sauce and water to fry pan and stir
6.       Bring to a soft boil
7.       Stir in corn starch
8.       When the sauce has thickened, turn heat to low
9.       Stir in vinegar, salt, black pepper, red pepper, and Italian seasoning to sauce
10.   Serve over spaghetti squash noodles with shredded cheese

Commentary:

For all you squash haters, you have to try this recipe.  It will change your mind.  It did mine.

One day, my mother-in-law decided to have us over for dinner and server spaghetti. When I got to her house, she was in the process of cooking a squash and told me that it was for me to use as noodles.  I was a little scared. I then watched as she took a fork to the spaghetti squash causing squash noodles to peel off.  So cool!  After that, I had to try the spaghetti with the squash as my noodles.  Delicious! I'm now sharing this trick with you. It's healthy and cheaper than rice noodles.

Just to warn you, I like my spaghetti sauce spicy. Also, you can add diced tomatoes and/or mushrooms to the sauce if you would like.