Baked Spaghetti Squash

One of our favorite healthy remakes is Baked Spaghetti Squash. I'm going to keep it simple to the way we usually make it, and then explain more options and details after the recipe. 

Ingredients:

1 Spaghetti Squash (usually between 3 and 4 lbs)

2 - 24.5 ounce jars of Mezetta Napa Valley Marinara Sauce 

1- 2 lb block of Cabot Extra Sharp (White) Cheddar Cheese, shredded

Instructions:

1)  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2)  Ready a 13x9 inch casserole type pan.

3)  Cook the Spaghetti Squash however you like, then scoop out the strands as two halves.  You can scoop the first half directly into the bottom of the 13x9 pan. Spread the Spaghetti as evenly as possible to cover the whole pan.  You may need to kind of cut and shred it with a fork. 

4)  Pour the first jar of sauce on top and spread as evenly as possible over the Spaghetti Squash. 

5)  Layer 1/3 to 1/2 of the shredded cheese on top of the sauce.

6)  Repeat the three layers. 

*Warning: it is usually a little trickier to spread out the second layer of Spaghetti Squash.  It doesn't have to be perfect.

7)  Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until sauce is bubbly, cheese is melted and as browned on top as you desire. 

And now for the talky part...

My Mother-in-law's Rigatoni used to be a favorite family dish and my homemade version of Baked Spaghetti (idea from Fazoli's Baked Spaghetti).  In the past years since I have not been blogging, our whole family has realized that (for health reasons) we need to be gluten-free AND a friend of mine introduced me to Trim Healthy Mama (a lifestyle way of healthy eating that is low glycemic and doesn't exclude any food groups, and is meant to personalize). 

So, first I swapped ingredients to make the recipes gluten-free free.  When I started my Trim Healthy Mama Journey, I realized that was way too much carbs and fat together.  I decided to turn it into a Trim Healthy Mama "S" (for Satisfying) meal. And that was when Spaghetti Squash entered the picture. We were already eating it like regular Spaghetti, but baking it like this took it to a whole other level of enjoyment. 

I like to cook my Spaghetti Squash in my Instant Pot. I rinse/wash a 4 lb Squash and use a paring knife to cut slits all over the outside. Then I put 1 cup of water in the pot, place the Squash on the trivet and cook on the manual setting for 45 mins (smaller ones take less time, of course). When I take it out, I use a large knife to cut it in half and scoop out the seeds.  Then I follow the instructions above.

If I get too large of a Spaghetti Squash, my other favorite way to cook the Squash is in the crockpot. You start out basically the same as the Instant pot, but you only need to make 4 or 5 slits in the Squash, and no water needed. Cook on low for 5 or 6 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours.  This takes more planning, but with the Crockpot or the Instant Pot, the results are a squishy, easy to cut in half, cooked Spaghetti Squash. 

The sauce I mention just happens to be easy to find in the town where we live and is sugar free (yes, some store bought Spaghetti Sauce contains a significant amount of sugar).  We have used lots of different brands and flavors of sauce. Make this your own,  use whatever sauce you like!

The cheese is just our favorite cheese to use in so many things.  It's also (usually) easy to pick up in town. It's Kosher Dairy and Halal, naturally lactose free, and Cabot is Certified B Corporation.  And the flavor is like no other cheese I can even compare it to.  BUT you could use mozzarella or a combination of cheeses.  Like I said, make this recipe your own! When you change the sauce, or the cheese, you'll get a whole new dish of flavors. 

If you haven't already put these things together and baked them up, and you decide to try my ideas, I would love to hear what you think!

Delight in the Lord: Making Your Home A Haven Study and Challenge Week 1 Day 1

This is the 11th Annual Making Your Home a Haven Study from Courtney Joseph at Women Living Well.  I have done this before. I have even posted about the study/challenge on my blog before.

I have started to blog again so many times, but I never got around to posting what I wrote. I miss writing/blogging. As I read books about finding what a person is supposed to be doing, I keep coming back to writing. I'm getting off subject here, but I have read old blog posts and newsletters of my own and thought "Wow! What wisdom and insight!"; not always, of course, but sometimes I can hardly believe I actually wrote what I know I wrote!

Actually, this whole thought process does apply.  Courtney's intro talks about being so busy that we do not delight in life (,or in the Lord). You can see from the picture that I bought the journal from Amazon this year, but in years past, I have just used the blog posts and printables to follow along (in the early years, there was not printed journal option). You can watch her talk about the subject in her introduction video on the blog (or YouTube) and read what she wrote on the blog.

I may have even written on here about this before, but as it is something I have struggled with over and over, I am sure it bears possible repetition (if only for myself).  I know that when life seems overwhelming and I am over tired and I don't feel like I can accomplish even the bare necessities... I can look to my time with God and see that it is lacking. I know He wants me to spend time with Him and I NEED to spend time with Him.  Also, I punish myself for not getting things done by not allowing myself to do things like this (writing and blogging and other creative things, even putting time with God on the back burner) that would actually fuel me to accomplish those other tasks that I am struggling with. And I even realized last week that I no longer sing in the shower, or the car, like I used to. And I only sing and dance while I do chores when one of my children plays music near me. I love that they will play D.J. for me sometimes and we even turn it into a game many times of naming the song, artist, release date... or even just have an impromptu Dance Party. I am happy that I inspired a love of music in my children (and the variety of genres they enjoy, and introduce to me, is incredible!), but I am a little sad that have not been the one starting the music lately.  I know how much singing makes joy bubble over from me and changes my mood in a matter of minutes. 

These past years that I have not shared on my blog have had hardships and celebrations... don't all years?!  I would like to share some highlights from those missed years; I will just have to see how that goes.  This year began with all the hope and excitement of a new year that quickly turned to the Covid-19 Pandemic taking over so much of my thoughts and decisions.  The Pandemic mixed with the USA Presidential Election has made for a lot of frustration in my mind. Not that I haven't prayed about it, and not that I have terrible tragedy that I experienced. I actually have so much to be thankful for during this past year. And as much as I have tried to pray in all things and rest in God's peace... I have struggled with feelings of frustration, weariness, uncertainty of what I should do and say in life situations that sprung from the years events, probably anger (the thought keeps coming to me, but I haven't realized it until now), and I know there is more muddled around in my mind that I can't even begin to express right now.

All that to say that I am so glad to be joining in with Courtney and so many others around the world for Making Your Home a Haven. We are writing down things we are grateful for each day, as well as the scripture study and the challenges.  This is perfect for the month of Thanksgiving in my home country of the USA.  I also feel this as a great way to reset before the beginning of another new year.

I plan to post on here as well as on my Instagram account:  @thebasicsoflife_elvisgirl .

The challenge for this week is to buy an extra large candle to light every day. You put the candle in a central place in your home. Each time the glimmer of the candle catches your eye,  you stop to pray and give thanks. My candle is not probably not considered extra large, but it is soy and made in Kansas City and burns for many hours. The Frakincese and Myrrh scent seemed perfect to me to get my mind on the celebration of Christ's birth, too.

The scripture study for today is Philippians 4:4-9.  Those verse are full of instructions for our thoughts and promises for God's peace.  They are verses I turn to often, but usually separate. They are such a powerhouse together as they were initially intended.  Even if you don't join in the study, I highly recommend reading the verses and meditating on them.