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:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Did you make this recipe?
Let us know what you think!
Leave a Comment below or share a photo and tag me on Instagram with the hashtag #loveandoliveoil.
I was so excited to see this gr8 recipe. I was just thinking how cool would it be to have spaghetti squash, with the organic basil plant that I buy at our health food store. Can’t wait to try this.
Been looking at these bags, because the produce is going fast. It is local, but not like other seasons. Love your site, blessings to all. redraven
This giveaway is now closed. The winner has been selected and contacted. Thank you everyone for entering!
Love your posts and pix! And appreciate the opportunity to try for these, yet another item on my “to try” list.
Spaghetti Squash is my fave! Our CSA bag is lacking in coolness and reliability…these are screaming to be use by us!
Haven’t seen anything like these over here in Europe… Would come in handy though!!
will definitely give this recipe a try – it looks great. and would looove to win the reusable bags! =)
Just found your wonderful blog via a friend and really enjoyed it this evening. Great recipes! Maybe we’ll get a spaghetti squash in our CSA bag tomorrow…
Oooo, I want some of these! Pick me!
I love spaghetti squash and I haven’t used my from Barefoot Farmer yet, so I’ll have to use your recipe this week!
I’d love to try out those bags – pick me! pick me! :)
Your blog is my favorite. :) I’m starting my own food blog soon! Thanks for the inspiration.
I’d love to use these bags too!
I just found your blog and am in love! I can’t wait to read more
Could really use those bags! I found you only a few weeks ago and have already tried a few recipes!
thanks
This recipe looks wonderful, love spaghetti squash, it’s a must try.
Those bags sound like a great idea! And the squash looks amazing too!
I am the mean green machine
Those bags look awesome! I always get crazy looks when I pile my produce in my cart and opt out of the plastic bags. Perhaps these bags will help save some of those crazy looks!
Love your blog. Would love to win those cool reusable items.
Spaghetti squash is so good, I always feel like I’m splurging when I eat it! I would love to try the re-usable bags, they look less bulky than the kind I’m using now.
I’ve always wanted to try spaghetti squash, and this recipe looks yummy!
i love your blog!
I love the idea of bags that will keep my produce fresh longer! I live alone, and sometimes it’s hard to use up all my vegetable deliciousness before it goes bad. Thanks!
YUM! That looks so good. I love, love, love butternut squash, and I’ve always been interested in trying spaghetti squash but I’ve never taken the leap before… now I definitely will!
:) Kate
Looks yummy!
Perfect timing with this recipe! I just bought I spaghetti squash this weekend from the farmers market and was trying to remember the best way to cook it! Thank you!
PS Love reuse it.com, I have been using bags from there for over a year now – always keep one in my purse! I do have to say – I am a little nervous about the produce bags, are they super lightweight? Do you end up keeping 5 of them on you at all times?
I’d love to try them!
oh my, i want spaghetti squash now!
And of course I retweeted the contest! Everyone should learn about these bags! Very cool! http://twitter.com/sallaboutme/status/25030057091
I love reusable grocery bags, but always wondered if something would be better to keep the produce separate! Brilliant!!
I love that those reusable bags actually close…the ones I have are just open like a tote bag. Those look amazing!
mmm spaghetti squash…
I love reusables… The ones I pay lots for don’t even work that well!
I have been wanting to try out some reusable produce bags!
I am a new reader to your blog. This recipe sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing!
i do <3 squash, but have always been too timid to cook it myself… shmaybe this recipe will be the one!
I love squash….thanks for the recipe.
This dish makes me so happy and excited for fall :) :) And it’s beautiful, too!
These would be so helpful for spontaneous visits to the farmers market. We go on Saturdays, but sometimes we pass by others mid-week that look scrumptious!
I love it!
How fabulous! The reuseable bags sound so great!
Oh, I want some spaghetti squash.. and some reusable bags too, please!!
These beat those plastic veggie bags, hands down. I’d love to win this set !
I have been looking for a reusable produce bag for a while now! Yay!
Lovely!
How fun! I’d love to try these. Thanks for the chance to win some
Mmmmm this looks good! I am trying to make a point of experimenting with squash more. My mom almost never made it so I didn’t grow up eating it. We are ready for fall here too. It’s been a long, hot summer. We had temps in the 100+ range in June when we normally don’t get that hot till it’s almost August.
My mom has been using a set of bags similar to those for her veggies and fruits but I don’t have my own yet.
I’ve never tried it, but the spaghetti squash looks yummy! I love the bags too :)
Produce bags would be great. I’m cooking for one, so stuff often goes bad before I can use it up.
How serendipitous it is to find this blog post. I was just thinking about reusable produce bags the other day, wondering where I might be able to purchase them, and here they are! I hardly ever use the plastic ones at the grocery store but there are a few veggies I just can’t justify sitting directly in the cart. So super excited. Thanks
I do love spaghetti squash- thanks for the recipe. (and the giveaway too- those bags look great!)
Having these would be so much nicer than justt saving the flimsy plastic ones from the store!