Love and Olive Oil

Spaghetti Squash with Tomatoes, Basil, and Parmesan

Spaghetti Squash with Tomatoes, Basil, and Parmesan

Fall is in the air.

The days are getting shorter…

The nights are crisp (by Nashville standards, anyway)…

The first winter squash appeared in our CSA…

Yep, it’s fall all right. And I can’t say that I’m sad about it, either. We’ve had an incredibly hot summer here, and I’m looking forward to the relief of the cool fall nights. I know I’ll probably be grumbling about the lack of daylight in a month or so, and then complaining about how cold it is the month after that… but right now, I’m resigned to the fact that fall is here and I’m ok with that.

That first winter squash was a spaghetti squash, quite possibly the cutest little spaghetti squash I’ve ever seen. Spaghetti squash is one of those things… it may sound like a silly name, but once you actually take one apart it makes complete sense, because it looks exactly like spaghetti. Spaghetti squash may just be the most logically named vegetable out there. Not to mention that when tossed with fresh tomatoes, basil, and oregano, it makes a darn good replacement for spaghetti. It’s like faux-pasta. The Parmesan doesn’t hurt, either.

Spaghetti Squash with Tomatoes, Basil, and Parmesan

Makes 2 servings or 4 side servings. Recipe from Epicurious.

Ingredients:

  • 1 small (1.5 lb) spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise, and the seeds discarded
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 cup shredded fresh basil leaves plus additional for garnish
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
  • 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
  • 1 cup thinly sliced cherry tomatoes

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a glass baking dish, arrange the squash cut side down in about 1/2 inch of water. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 20-30 minutes (depending on the size of the squash) or until it is tender and easily pierced with a fork. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
  3. In a large bowl whisk together the oil, 1/4 cup of the basil, the oregano, and 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan, stir in the tomatoes, and season the mixture with salt and pepper.
  4. When the squash is cool enough to handle, scrape it with a fork to form strands, add the strands to the tomato mixture, and toss the mixture until it is combined. Divide the mixture between 2 bowls, sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon Parmesan over it, and garnish it with the additional basil.
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212 Comments

  1. i’ve been wanting to try spaghetti squash, but i feel like my boyfriend won’t like it…this looks like a good recipe to start with :)

    great giveaway!

  2. I would love to give a tray to this awesome bags. Thanks for the chance

  3. I am so going to try this recipe and I want bags for produce. I usually dont put them in anything and then have them all bagged up in one reusable bags so as not to be squished.

  4. Love Spaghetti Squash! My husband would be so happy if I brought home MORE bags to use for shopping :-)

  5. Pick Me! I would love to win these

  6. I would love to have those bags. What a great idea!!!

  7. Ooooh! What a treat! I dig these bags.

  8. I love my reusable produce bags & would love more! The recipe looks great & thanks for the coupon code – I used it already! Reuseit.com is one of my favorite sites for earth friendly goods.

  9. I would love to win these!

  10. I’ve been needing something like these!

  11. Bags sound great glad they are available.

  12. Reuseit.com is truly awesome! I have made a couple of orders so far and I’m a fan! By the way, I’m very happy to have found this website as well! Great recipes! Guess what we’re having tomorrow: French Tomato Tarts! Thanks and I hope to win another Reuseit gadget!

  13. This all looks great!

  14. Thanks for a great recipe! Reusable produce bags are a must!

  15. I love reusable produce bags…way better than the plastic ones. Bought some from reuseit.com (2×5 flip and tumble), but then gave half to my parents so only have 1 set now, which often isn’t enough. I love trying out new products, especially eco-friendly ones…and have been wanting to try produce savers for a while, but just haven’t done it yet…here’s a possible opportunity for me :)

  16. I have started using recycled bag for grocery shopping…this would be an awesome addition to my new project!

  17. I would love to have reusable bags for produce! Usually when I am forced into using plastic bags, I reuse them as bin liners, but the produce ones are just too flimsy for that. A-ha! A great idea. :-)

  18. I’d love a set of bags! And this is my first visit to your blog; it looks fantastic. I’ll be back!

  19. Wow! Love the site, love the giveaway. I have shared it on my FB page.

  20. Yummm…that looks delicious! I will definitely have to make this soon!

  21. love spaghetti squash!

  22. ummm! i love spag squash.

    PS I made your peach bourbon cupcakes and they were delish!

  23. I am so ready for winter squashes! Basil, tomatoes and parmesan sound like a lovely compliment to spaghetti squash.

    I’ve been thinking I need some reusable produce bags like those after seeing some recently!

  24. I love spaghetti squash! Even more than spaghetti, sometimes. I also love reusable bags for my produce! I always end up taking tons of missorted plastic bags to the farmer’s market with me, but your bags sound better!

  25. I keep seeing spaghetti squash in the market and wondering what I could do with it. This sounds sooo yummy.

  26. love spaghetti squash!
    love the looks of those bags!

  27. I think I am going to add spagetti squash to my grocery list for this weekend. Yum!

  28. I work at a grocery store as a cashier, so I get to bag groceries and might I just say that the reusable bags are the best! We can fit so much in those things, it’s really great! The only thing I ever use plastic for now is the meat. Can’t wait to try the recipe, looks like I found what I’m having for dinner tonight!

  29. I stopped using the plastic produce bags at the grocery a long time ago for most things… but sometimes the green onions/lettuces are damp from the misters so I still bag those- and feel bad about it.. this would be a great solution!

  30. these bags would be perfect for the farmers market – great giveaway :)

  31. Great giveaway! Also – that spaghetti squash looks amazing! :)

  32. look so delicious!

    have a nice time!
    Paula

  33. hi! i’m codruta, from timisoara, romania! i’d love to win the bags! and thanks for this beautiful blog!

  34. I would LOVE these bags! (Even if I don’t win, I am still going to buy some :) )

  35. I’ve been looking for reusable produce bags for the longest time (right now I just use Ziploc bags and wash them after every use.) I would love to win these!

  36. I’m in a CSA as well, and would love to be able to transport my veggies in an easier way, and to not have to worry about things spoiling in my fridge!

  37. I saw the recipe title for this post and immediately bookmarked it so I can make it as soon as see you spaghetti squash around. Those bags look pretty handy!

  38. i’m excited, yet a little bummed to see squash already!! can’t believe we’re already half way through september… those bags look like such a great idea!!

  39. i’ve been wanting some produce bags for quite awhile.. i feel bad every week when i bring my own grocery bags but then use a ton of the plastic produce bags!

  40. Ooh, those would really come in handy! Thanks for the giveaway!

  41. I too have been loving the spaghetti squash in place of pasta. Its very satisfying and yummy!

  42. I love spaghetti squash! Picked one up the other day and I love adding fresh tomatoes and basil.

  43. One can never have too many reusable bags! I can’t wait to try that spaghetti squash recipe either.

  44. I’ve been meaning to buy some reusable produce bags, as I really hate using plastic in any form! I’d love these bags!

  45. Wow!! I’m putting spaghetti squash on my list this weekend!! I cannot wait to try this. Yumm!!!
    Thanks for posting:)
    Erin
    http://www.ekatskitchen.com (check out the Friday Potlucks!)

  46. I’ve always been a bit leery of trying those bags, the sanitary issue always held me back. But if you can just throw them in the washer, I’m in; I’d love to try them.

  47. Looks great, as usual!!

    And those bags are awesome!!!

    :)

  48. Ahh delicious autumn is here…. that dish looks amazing. never thought to do that with squash!!
    Thought you might be interested in my blog. I run a collaborative blog – DysfunctionalBeginnings.com. Literary works about growing up, family, and beginnings in general (expressed in a variety of mediums!) Submissions go to [email protected].
    Let me know what you think!
    Thanks for your support…

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