Spaghetti Squash: Save Money with Two Easy Recipes for Christmas or Anytime

For those unfamiliar with spaghetti squash, the vegetable is from the gourd family, is whitish-to-yellowish, and the cooked result is similar in size and shape to spaghetti, hence the name "spaghetti" squash. For those of us familiar with the grocery item, we know they are as flexible as they are delicious, and easy to fix.

Basic preparation of the spaghetti squash and other things you might want to know:
Spaghetti squash range in size from maybe a pound, up to five pounds, possibly bigger. As of the publish date of this Christmas recipe topic, they run around $1.20 a pound at the local Wal-Mart. A pound of spaghetti squash almost serves two people. Always wash produce before preparing or consuming. The sharper the knife, the better. The various preparation methods are what make the different recipes different. Basically, spaghetti squash will always be cooked the same way, unless you know a better way.

Splitting the spaghetti squash length-wise, divide the gourd as evenly as possible. The stem will be the hardest point, so some people simply slice that off, in advance. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and innards (look like loose threads) of the spaghetti squash, and mind scooping too hard on the remaining fruit. Rinse the item once more, and lay flat-side-down on an ungreased cookie sheet. For each pound of produce, bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for fifteen to twenty minutes, minimum half hour - even for only one pound. Once the item has been baked-until-flaky, this now becomes the point where the cook chooses which particular dish they will make with the spaghetti squash. So without much ado:

Money and time-saving spaghetti squash Christmas recipe number one: Chicken (or mushroom) spaghetti squash
For this version of a side dish or even an entree, take the baked fruit out of the rind with a spoon. Watch for steam, even in a fruit that has been cooled and simply scrape to the skin, and into a bowl big enough to toss a salad in.

For each two pounds of product used, add one 10 oz jar of any brand Alfredo sauce, and one can of cream of chicken soup (or cream of mushroom soup), for a surprisingly delicious dish. Cheese is even a good idea. See? That one is easy.

Money and time-saving spaghetti squash Christmas recipe number two: Sweet spaghetti squash
If you thought the previous version of spaghetti squash is easy, wait around. This version only calls for slathering down the freshly baked fruit with butter (any brand) and brown sugar. After the butter and brown sugar has melted, then you scoop out the squashfruit. While it's still hot, add yet even more butter and brown sugar. At this point, in past trials, I've thrown in bits of chopped apple, and even raisins. Crushed nuts also mix in well. Use your own imagination, with nothing more than food allergies in mind.

Source:
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