Spaghetti Squash a la April

Spaghetti Squash a la April

A couple of years ago, I was at the grocery store with my crazy sister April. We were in the produce section getting the usual fruits and veggies when we happened upon the humble spaghetti squash. April at the time was in her "I no cooky" phase and had never heard of such a thing. Her jaw literally dropped when I told her that when you cook the squash it looks like spaghetti. "Oh, I gotta try this," was her reply and she picked one up. Luckily for her, there was a sticker on the squash that told her just how to prepare it. Good thing because knowing April she may have just taken it home and tried to microwave the thing whole--kaboom!!! Anywho, she did take it home, cooked it, and really enjoyed it. This is my version of the sticker recipe. It is soooo simple, easy, and quick. Three of my favorite things, especially with the two little yahoos under foot while I'm cooking (ok, four yahoos if you count my hubby and the doggie).

What makes this dish is the sauce. Use the best spaghetti sauce you can find. I used my home canned spaghetti sauce, which I love, but I have also used (and highly recommend) Smith's Organic Tomato Basil Sauce (yummy).

The recipe
1 spaghetti squash
1/2 cup water
spaghetti sauce
cheese (optional, but yummy)

1. Cut the stem end off the spaghetti squash and then cut in half lengthwise.
2. Place squash cut side up in microwave safe dish. Pour 1/2 cup of water in the bottom of the dish.
3. Microwave for 7-10 minutes, until the squash can be easily pulled away from the sides.
4. Take out of the microwave (be careful of the hot dish and hot water). Pour out excess water.
5. Pull the squash strands away from the sides and mix in the spaghetti sauce. Top with cheese.
6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!!

*You can usually pull more squash off the sides after baking so be sure to add lots of spaghetti sauce at first or just add as you eat.

The result...
I loved it and had seconds.
Hubby ate it and said he liked it too. I was too busy to tell if he was being sincere or not.
Toddler wouldn't touch it. When I suggested he try it he said, "Noooooooo."
Baby shoved it in with both fists. I think he liked it.