Schmidty Spaghetti Squash

Schmidty Spaghetti Squash

Say that three times fast!

There are a number of recipes we have read and tried over the years in preparing spaghetti squash …. but we have decided most are way too much work. We would rather just eat our spaghetti squash vs. fuss too much over how to cook it. Below is our tried and true easy-peasy way to cook and eat this delicious home-grown goodness. Our kids love this by the way. Try it –  you might like it!

1.) We start by just poking the raw whole squash with a carving fork. It’s more of a tiny stabbing motion. You just want to get through the skin a half an inch or so into the meat.

2.) We then just put it right on the rack of our oven at 350 degrees (F) and leave it there to cook for 45 minutes to an hour (depending on how fresh and the size of it).

3.) You want to turn it about half way through ideally – but it cooks fine whether you do or not… says the person that didn’t turn it at all last time…. Once you start to smell yummy-ness or see some browning at all on the skin – your squash can come out.

4.) I usually give it a few minutes on the stovetop and then cut it in half on a cutting board. I hold each side in an oven mit or towell and scrape out the seeds.

5.) Once the seeds/center is cleaned out (chickens and pigs love these bits) you can then take a fork and shred the squash into a dish.

6.) You could stop right there and add some butter or curry sauce and have dinner … but we like to make a nice pork sausage spaghetti sauce on top with cheese (we usually do mozzarella or parmesan) and throw it back in the broiler for a few minutes to warm it all up and melt the cheese.

* You can also cover it with foil and throw it in the fridge and cook it in the oven the next day.

That is it. Enjoy! This makes great leftovers and our kids love it. Be aware that this squash really doesn’t taste like pasta. We also like it a bit crunchy… It is so mild that it is the perfect vehicle to other yumminess like sausage and sauces…  and if you have  nice green salad to go on the side – you are set. If you love bread, this meal will not make you feel bad for having it with your sphagetti!