personal spaghetti squash lasagna

Hi, all!

I have been looking for creative way to use spaghetti squash and I kind of wanted to go outside of the realm of "just use it as pasta and put marinara sauce on top!"  

So I investigated on Pinterest and a few recipes for these sweet lasagna boats caught my eye.  As per the usual, I looked a few different ones to see the general preparation guidelines and then made it how I wanted to.  I know, I'm such a rebel.  ;]

Anyway, I used my limited resources and came up with my own rendition that I like to call "Personal Spaghetti Squash Lasagna":

Yum.  Is your mouth watering yet?  If not, look at that melty cheese again.  I bet it is now!

I have to admit that about halfway through one of these babies, I was questioning if I could finish it!  I did finish, but let's just say that I won't be having ANY snacks tonight!  This was SO satisfying!  It fills you up just like regular lasagna and warms you heart and soul!  I would classify this as a comfort food.  A delicious, fairly nutritious comfort food.  And the best part is that like most things I post, there is room for small changes to make it your own!  I already have a few in mind for next time!

Just a random side note, I am providing the recipe for the sauce below.  I had some in the freezer that I thawed out and used.  You can do that, or make some fresh and freeze what you don't use!  

So, without further ado, here is the recipe:

1 small spaghetti squash

1 cup easy meaty spaghetti sauce (recipe found here)

1/3 cup cottage cheese

1/3 cup Italian blend cheese (Mozzarella, Provolone, Parmesan)

1/4 cup fresh mozzarella

Fresh basil

Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cut spaghetti squash in half.  Scoop out seeds and goop.  Lightly spray small oven-safe dish with nonstick spray.  Place spaghetti squash into dish and drizzle with olive oil.  Make sure to smear it around to cover the squash's inside and top surfaces.  Season with salt and pepper.  This is where I messed up.  The directions I found said to bake it face down, but I didn't do that.  I left it face up.  And you know what?  It turned out just as fabulous.

Bake in oven for about 30 minutes, or until you can just scrape the squash into strands.  Remove from the oven and turn the oven down to 350 degrees.  Then scrape those strands out!  Then you can start layering like you would with regular lasagna!  I started with a layer of sauce, followed by squash, then sauce, dollop of cottage cheese, cheese blend, then start over with the squash!  I had enough for 2 layers.  I finished with a layer of sauce, lightly sprinkled some cheese blend, but topped it off with the fresh mozzarella and a couple of leaves of fresh basil!

Bake for another 30 minutes or until hot all the way through and the cheese on top starts to brown, juuuuust a tad!  I turned on the broiler for about 3 minutes at the end to give it a little more color.

And voila:

Your very own personal lasagna!  Just add wine!  ;]

Okay, so it was my day off, so YES, I indulged in a glass of red to go with this warm, delicious, comforting meal.  I think it would also go great with something like brussel sprouts or a nice spinach salad, but like I said, for me, this was PLENTY of food.  Very filling!

I bet you are also wondering what happened to the other half of the squash!  Well, let me just tell you!  You can double the rest of the recipe if you are cooking for two.  I however, am not.  So I lubed the other half up with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper and threw it in the oven at the same time as the half that later became lasagna.  The difference?  I left the other half in the oven until the lasagna was completely done.  I took them out at the same time and waited for it to cool while I ate and then scraped out the strands afterwards!  I threw them in the fridge and am planning to use them in another recipe!

Resourcefulness, people.  Make every grocery count!  :]

So anyway, I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did!  It's such a great lower calorie, higher nutrient substitute for lasagna noodles.  And, in my humble opinion, it tastes WAY BETTER than regular spaghetti!

Share your favorite spaghetti squash recipes in the comments and stay tuned for what happens to the OTHER HALF!!!

Stay fit!

xoxo

meaty lasagna

Oh hi!

Remember when you made that spaghetti sauce and had a TON left over?  Well, problem solved!  I actually usually do this in reverse order (lasagna and then spaghetti with the leftover sauce), but whichever way you do it, this sauce is versatile!  If you haven't seen it yet, click here to view my Easy Meaty Spaghetti Sauce recipe!

Now for the leftovers!  I love lasagna, and I especially love it when I can take a bite and taste the wonderful zing of the tomatoes, combined with the salty goodness of the cheese and just....YUM!  Okay, so I love lasagna.  You get it.  Now try my recipe, already!  It's so hearty and delicious, unlike those slimy, store-bought brands, AND you can control which brands you buy, so you know exactly what is going into your Italian Night feast!  Now stop licking your computer screen....seriously, it's weird.  :]

Chunky, Layered Lasagna

Ingredients:
1.5 quarts Easy Meaty Spaghetti Sauce
6 Lasagna Noodles (I use Archer Farms Whole Wheat Oven Ready--so delish, but use what you love!)
1 small tub (8oz?)Ricotta cheese (again, part-skim, whole milk....whatever you prefer..I mix the two.)
8 ounces Freshly grated mozzarella cheese (yes, freshly grated....fun stuff!)
2-3 ounces Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Dried Italian herbs (basil, oregano, parsley)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spoon a thin layer of sauce into the bottom of 9" x 9" glass pan.  Place two lasagna noodles side by side on top of the sauce.  Spoon another layer of sauce into the pan.  With a teaspoon, place 8 small dollops of ricotta  evenly across the sauce.  I usually alternate rows of three dollops and two dollops, so it spreads out somewhat evenly.  Sprinkle one-third of the mozzarella and Parmesan over the ricotta.  Lay two lasagna noodles perpendicular to the first set of noodles and press down, effectively spreading out the ricotta.  Spread another layer of sauce, then spoon 7 dollops of ricotta down, in the opposite pattern as the first layer.  Sprinkle one-third of mozzarella and Parmesan.  Lay two lasagna noodles perpendicular to the previous layer.  Spread sauce.  Eight dollops of ricotta, one-third of the mozzarella and Parmesan.  (You are catching on so fast!)  Now you're done!  If you like, you can sprinkle the top with the Italian spices for extra flavor.  Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the top layer of cheese is golden.  (Yum!)  Remove from oven and let set for 10-15 minutes before eating.  Serves 5-6.

Enjoy with a fresh salad, baguette dipped in garlic-infused olive oil, and a nice glass of red wine!  Okay, you don't have to follow that last part exactly, but I would highly recommend it!  ;]

If you have leftovers, no worries!  This lasagna makes the perfect packed lunch!  Way better than a boring, old sandwich, anyway.

Stay fit!

xoxo

easy meaty spaghetti sauce

Hi all!  I was out and about taking photos again today, so I figured I would share a couple of the ones that I took!  And while I'm at it, I will share the spaghetti sauce recipe my mom and I made last night.  But first, the photos!

 Okay, so I am a loser.  Whatever.  Here is the sauce recipe.  It makes enough to feed a small army.  Mom and I had dinner last night, made 5 portions of spaghetti for later and still had sauce left.  So feel free to cut the recipe in half, if you would like.  We are using the extra sauce to make lasagna, later this week!  We are all about leftovers in this family....

Anyway, I love this sauce recipe because it is so chunky, wholesome, and delicious!  Not to mention that you can use it in many Italian dishes and you can easily alter it to fit your needs/tastes.  Without further ado.....

Easy Meaty Spaghetti Sauce!
1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 yellow onion, chopped to desired size (i like them long and stringy)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 28 ounce cans diced or petite diced tomatoes (whichever you prefer)
1 12 ounce can tomato paste
About 1 tablespoon each: onion powder, garlic powder, basil, oregano, parsley
1/8-1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Okay!  I like to start by sauteing the onions in olive oil on high-medium high heat.  When they are about halfway wilted, add the ground beef.  I like to season the beef with Lawry's seasoned salt, salt, and pepper.  When beef is cooked, reduce the heat and add the garlic.  Be very careful, because it will buuuuurn!  Stir frequently for about 1-2 minutes.  Add tomato paste and really mush it in with the beef.  (It makes it easier to combine than when plopped in with the tomatoes)  Add both cans of tomatoes and all of the seasonings, except the Parmesan cheese!  You can alter the quantities of seasoning to your tastes.  Reduce heat to low-medium low.  At this point, you can start your pot of boiling water to make your noodles!  The sauce should be good and hot by the time the noodles are done!  About two minutes before serving, add the cheese and stir into the sauce, allowing it to melt.  Serve atop a pile of pasta and top with more Parmesan!  Yum!

I love pasta and I love a good, hearty sauce to go with it.  I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!  Maybe I will post how I make brussel sprouts next!

Stay fit!

xoxo