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Monday, October 26, 2009

Spaghetti Squash with Puttanesca Sauce


Spaghetti Squash with Puttanesca Sauce is not one of those throw together after work dinners. It takes time. Mostly, it takes time to cook the squash. I guess if you get home at 5pm and don't mind eating until 7 this could be a weeknight dinner but if you are like me, you walk in the door at 5:30 or 6 and want to have someone (preferably named Alice) serve you a drink, then serve you dinner, then clean it up. Alice doesn't show up at my house but then neither do the cleaning fairies, the little rat bas&%$ds.

For a meal the isn't hard (in fact it is downright easy. Perfect for the lazy cook like me) but takes a bit of time, it sure is yummy.

Spaghetti Squash with Puttanesca Sauce

1 small to medium, depending on your family size, Spaghetti squash
1 jar Puttanesca, spaghetti, marinara or other jarred sauce.
(sure you could make you own but hey it was Sunday, my day of rest)

  • Pierce squash all over with a fork
  • Bake in 350 degree oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hour depending on the size of the squash
  • Cut in half lenghtwise, scrape out guts (seeds and stuff)
  • With tines of a fork scrape the meat of the squash. It will look like spaghetti. Cool huh?
  • Top with sauce and enjoy
One small squash make 4 servings or so.


I chose a small squash with a huge sticker.
Take said sticker off.
Wash squash.
I know you are not going to eat the outsides. I'm just finicky that way.
It has do with the piercing and the possibility of germs getting into the food via the fork to flesh process. Yeah, I'm weird. I know.
Pierce all over with a fork.
Place on baking sheet in a 350 degree oven.
This is the perfect opportunity to go all green and such by not waste electricity or heat up your house for just a single squash,
toss some potatoes or mmmmm....sweet potatoes on that baking sheet.
You know you'll use them during the week.
Be like me. Be efficient and green.
Be lazy.


This is what it looks like when it comes out of the oven and cools.
It should ooze a bit.
Don't attempt to hack this thing open until it cools enough to handle.
It will still be warm in the middle and the sauce will be hot.
Oh, don't forget to warm up the sauce.



You'll want to take the guts out.
Sort of like that Halloween pumpkin.
You know the one.
The one where you attempt to make a ghoulish face but end up with a couple of lopsided triangles and a half-a$$ed smile.
Or is that just me?




It should look kind of like this.
Your product may vary.
Manufacturer makes no guarantees of product attractiveness.



Now, start scraping with a fork.
Purty neat, huh?
Looks just like spaghetti.
Freaks me out every time.



Let's look at the amazing kungfu spaghetti action one more time.
Yep, still cool.



Uh huh, still cool.


Top with your favorite sauce.
(Let's try and keep it meatless, please)
Enjoy
Gawd, it looks so good I want to eat it again.
Oh wait, I can. I brought leftovers for lunch today.
Is it lunch time yet?

Even tho it takes awhile to cook the squash this meal comes together really quick. It is one of those sit around and wait types. While it cooks you could clean house, wash the car, take out the trash, take a nice long bubble bath, read a book, drink a glass of wine or what I did. Drink a glass of wine while reading a book in a tub of steaming water and bubbles. NOT! Or at least not the steaming bathtub of bubbles part.

This makes a wonderful meatless meal for any day that you decide to go meatless. It doesn't have to be Monday. Pick a day, any day.

Love,
M

10 comments:

  1. I am SO gonna make this on Sunday! It looks way too easy and John will love the health factor!

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  2. Guess what we had for dinner last night? So good!

    Last weekend we went to WI and stopped by an Amish produce stand and stocked up on spaghetti squash. They were fifty cents a piece regardless of size!!!! At the store they run 88cents a lb!

    I bake mine cut in half. Wondering if you have tried that before or not?

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  3. how about a recipe for butternut squash soup? I LOVE THAT STUFF

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  4. I think I would really like this one. A lot!

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  5. Cut that squash in half and you can cook it in the microwave. Cover it with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in the wrap with a fork. Start with 5 minutes. Feel the flesh near the rind with your finger when its tender its done. Repeat with other half. Your 1.5 hour ordeal just became 20 minutes for an whole squash. You can also add some angel hair pasta to make it more substantial. Go to my blog for a similar recipe that includes your own simple sauce!

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  6. Mmmm. I love spaghetti squash. It's been awhile since I had it, but I have two acorn and two butternut on the counter right now.

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  7. Since we have to watch gluten this is really good to know. Besides I have WANTED to know how to cook this squash and what to do with it for a long time!

    Thank you!

    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

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  8. I have always been intrigued by spaghetti squash. Gonna have to try this.

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  9. I'm ashamed to tell you that Ragu is the sauce of choice in this family. Freakin Ragu. I love it. Sorry.

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  10. I thought I was the only working mom who did not have those cleaning fairies!

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