Conquering the Mighty Spaghetti Squash!!!

If you've never had spaghetti squash you are seriously missing out!! There are so many ways to enjoy spaghetti squash, plus it is super good for you!! I recently learned that it is classified as a fruit not a vegetable, who would have thunk?! Spaghetti squash is rich in folic acid, vitamin A, beta carotene, potassium, and it is low in calories-only 42 calories per cup. 

There are numerous ways to prepare spaghetti squash but before you can enjoy it you have to cut it. Cutting a spaghetti squash is not an easy task, but in the end it is worth the work!! You will want a very sharp knife and a strong arm to slice into the extremely hard fruit. Be careful not to cut yourself or amputate any fingers!! You can cut the squash length wise like a hot dog or cut it width wise, it doesn't matter. 

Once you have cut the squash there will be seeds and stringy membrane inside, similar to that of a pumpkin. You will want to scoop the seeds and membranes out before you cook it. Once you have scooped out both parts of the squash you will want to put it on a cookie sheet, I prefer to line the cookie sheet with tinfoil to keep it from getting dirty (less to clean up), and bake the spaghetti squash at 400 degrees for between 50 and 60 minutes depending on the strength of your oven. When you pull the spaghetti squash out it should be slightly browned around the edges and pull away from the edges with a fork easily. You will have to scoop out the squash and depending on the size of the squash you should get between four and six servings (1 cup is a serving). The squash should scrape away from the skin easily and be long and stringy, similar to a spaghetti noodle. 

After you have scooped all the fruit out you can enjoy it with a meal!! Spaghetti squash is a great substitute for pasta, or it can be enjoyed by itself, or mixed with other vegetables. One of my favorite ways to enjoy spaghetti squash is to use it for chicken parmesan. Instead of consuming a lot of carbs (noodles) I use spaghetti squash and get an extra serving of fruit!! What are some of your favorite ways to enjoy spaghetti squash?!