Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs

Here is a quick Whole30 Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs for you. I find the easiest way to cook the spaghetti squash is in the Instant Pot. It can be cooked ahead of time and heated in the oven while the meatballs cook in the sauce. I prep the meatballs ahead of time also, they can be kept in the refrigerator for a few days or put in the freezer. I have not baked the meatballs from frozen, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. You would have to adjust the time and add a little water to the sauce so it doesn't burn or dry out.
This was a big hit with my family. Everyone loved the meatballs. They aren't as tender as meatballs that have a bread crumb in them to me, but no one in my family said a word about it. My youngest isn't the biggest fan of spaghetti squash though. The meatballs would work with zucchini noodles also.

Tomato Basil Spaghetti Squash

I love spaghetti squash. It's so easy to prepare, and so good. This spaghetti squash has some homemade ghee on it. The ghee has fresh basil, fresh garlic, and Fleur De Sel. I put these in an ice cube tray for the freezer. Perfect to top a steak, fish, or vegetables.  

This was a small one so I just washed it, pierced it with a knife in a couple of places, then put it in the microwave for about 6-7 minutes. Until soft. Once cooled enough to handle, split in half, discard seeds. Please make sure you make holes in the squash first if you put it in the microwave whole. Because it could blow up, and the door of the microwave could fly open for the sheer force of the harmless looking squash, and squash guts could splatter all over the kitchen. Not that I would know anything about that.

Crock Pot Spaghetti Squash

Yumm,  Spaghetti Squash. I admit I don't like using it as a pasta replacement as much as zucchini noodles. But I know so many people do, I love eating it just as is. Some days though I don't want to heat up the oven, or I'm already using the oven for something else. I know you can microwave Spaghetti squash, but this crock pot method is so easy.
You can also put the whole squash in the crock pot without cutting it, just pierce it all over and wash it. Add the water to the crock pot.

Spaghetti Squash... medley?
For babies
Simply seasoned
Coconut Curry Spaghetti Squash- A favorite one Give Peas A Chance 

Other noodle "replacement" posts

Zucchini/ Squash for Spaghetti

Daikon for Curry Noodle bowls

Carrot and Daikon for Pho

Zucchini for Chicken Paprikash

Coconut Curry Spaghetti Squash

I made this dish one day when H called and asked if we'd pick him up and take him to McDonald's before he had to get back to school. So I threw this together in literally less than ten minutes. I had leftovers, so of course it was fast. But even if you make this from scratch, it's so worth it. I promise. Just that afternoon I was posting on Facebook about how yummy Coconut butter was and that I was brainstorming more ways to use it. So the opportunity arose when he called; talk about no time to think either! This sauce is much like the Sunbutter Satay sauce I have posted here.
This will serve 2-4 people depending on how much you are serving, if it's all you are serving or if it's a side dish. I didn't make that much but even the serving I made was so much!
Make your Spaghetti Squash in the crock pot, recipe HERE, if you haven't prepared it in advance or don't have leftovers.

Click here for more Whole30 posts.
More Give Peas A Chance on Chowstalker.

Spaghetti Squash Medley

We love this stuff, Diva requested it this week so I thought OK why not. She asked for small ones so we all could have one served in a "bowl" half but I just got a big one.

Related posts

For babies
Simply seasoned

Other noodle "replacement" posts

Zucchini/ Squash for Spaghetti

Daikon for Curry Noodle bowls

Carrot and Daikon for Pho

Zucchini for Chicken Paprikash 

Spaghetti Squash Medley

 1 garlic clove

1/4 cup chopped red onion

1/4 cup chopped bell pepper

1/2 chopped carrot

3 tablespoons butter

1 spaghetti squash

Depending on the size of your squash you may need more or less butter.

Black White and Spice or your favorite spices or salt and pepper.

Cut the squash in half, remove the seeds and place it cut sides down in a baking dish. Add a 1/2-1 cup water to the pan. Roast the squash until fork tender or put it in the microwave for about 10 minutes. I cover it with wax paper for the microwave and foil for the oven. Take a fork and scrape out the squash, it will be stringy like spaghetti.

Saute the vegetables in butter.  Season to taste and toss in the spaghetti squash.

Dinner... Roasted Spaghetti Squash

This was a couple of nights ago? I don't know seriously it's all just running together. But anyway roasted spaghetti squash, tomato slices and pork chops marinated with yumminess like molasses and garlic.
It was so good, the girls ate a TON. I served the spaghetti squash for DH and I in half the skin/shell, just for fun. The girls ended up with our squash portions. I guess presentation is important to them, or it was just fun.
Below are the girls plates. I actually didn't eat my tomatoes, Diva and DH ate them for me.

Roasted Spaghetti squash with butter, salt and pepper. Simple goodness.

Related posts

Spaghetti Squash... medley?
For babies
Simply seasoned

Other noodle "replacement" posts

Zucchini/ Squash for Spaghetti

Daikon for Curry Noodle bowls

Carrot and Daikon for Pho

Zucchini for Chicken Paprikash 

Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash

Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti squash season is practically over! I hope to enjoy them more before they are all gone until the next season. One of the easiest ways to cook these is in the Instant Pot.

Spaghetti Squash (Instant Pot Method)

1. Wash the outside of the squash.
2. Cut each squash in half.
3. Scoop out the seeds.
4. Put 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot.
5. Put the trivet or a steamer basket into the liner.
6. Place each squash half into the Instant Pot liner.
7. Cook on MANUAL, HIGH/MORE, for 4-6 minutes.  
8. Once the cook time is over, do a quick release and test each squash to make sure it is tender.
9. Add more cook time if needed.

You can also cook these whole in the Instant Pot. You'll have to cook them for about 10 minutes though.

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Spaghetti Squash Puree

We had roasted spaghetti squash so I pureed some for Pixie girl. No salt or anything just plain old squash and some water. As you baby's pallet grows you can add tomatoes, basil, butter, spices... whatever you'd like to jazz this up!

Related posts

Spaghetti Squash... medley?
For babies
Simply seasoned

Other noodle "replacement" posts

Zucchini/ Squash for Spaghetti

Daikon for Curry Noodle bowls

Carrot and Daikon for Pho

Zucchini for Chicken Paprikash 

Roasted Super Stuffed Squash

It's Fall, I want it to be. Why? Because Fall means cooler weather, boots, gorgeous leaves changing and crunching underfoot, hot drinks- Pumpkin Spiced Lattes, Wassail, and Chai, and wonderful Winter squash.

Whole30 Thursday Week Two

A whole week has passed, and I haven't passed out from wanting quick absorbed sugars. :) I remember when I did Paleo a couple of years ago. Goodness I was dipping into the coconut butter quite a bit, I haven't opened the jar this time! Think I'll make it the whole month? I'm praying so!
 Click here for more Whole30 posts.

March 7

Breakfast- Scrambled eggs and sliced jalapenos (Scrambled in ghee)

Lunch- Steak, spinach, and mushrooms. That's a huge steak. Pixie and I shared lunch.

Dinner- EVERYONE loved dinner. I'm finding that my family just loves our regular dinners, and this is something we've had often, it's already Whole30 compliant so that's awesome for me. Come to think of it, breakfast and lunch are "usual's" and they are also complaint. It's my snacking that's an issue and weeding out other meals, like Chicken Pot Pie. Anyway- Chicken marinated with a cilantro lime marinade that's so quick and easy. Salad on the side, with spicy mango salsa. 

Snacks- Mandarin oranges, red bell peppers, and cashews.
(also some leftover mango salsa and chicken)

(Winter Squash) Pumpkin Puree- Instant Pot

Instant Pot Pumpkin Puree ready for the freezer.

It's Pumpkin season y'all! Before we go any further, I mean: it's winter squash season y'all! We are huge fans of winter squash around here. So many varieties to choose from, SO yes, make pumpkin puree. But don't forget all the other wonderful varieties which are great for both savory and sweet applications!

Any of these winter squash can be made in the Instant Pot, oven, or slow cooker.

The Great Pumpkin Experiment- Wild Rice and Pumpkin Soup, Baked in a Pumpkin

(I have updated this recipe; scroll all the way down past the photos. I am sorry I don't have a jump-to-recipe button. I don't know how to put one in.)

I love pie pumpkin season. I make a bunch of pumpkin puree and put it in my freezer. Today I went to the store with Piglet, and we got three pie pumpkins/sugar pumpkins. I made puree with two of them, and one of them I made this soup with/in. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but it was GOOD. The pumpkin tasted a little bit like a cross between acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squash in this soup. (In other words, it tasted like squash- well, it is, isn't it???) Both the older girls liked, not loved the soup- they did say the pumpkin tasted like spaghetti squash. Pixie girl wasn't as convinced; she actually wasn't hungry because I let her snack before dinner. I had to keep trying to give her bites- three- before she started eating a little. The presentation is fun but in the end a 4-pound pumpkin is a bit much. It would be great if we were having company. 

Notes for next time:

Cube the pumpkin and sauté or roast it in butter with the onions and garlic, and make it in a pot. This was fun but it took way too much time and effort to bake in the pumpkin.

 Add a sprig of rosemary, or to change it up, curry powder and coconut milk. 

Pre-cook the rice!  I didn't boil the rice, but I should have, it would have cooked faster for me. 

Let's get this Day 11 Chicken, mushrooms and the explosion

Things are going well today. You're probably sick of hearing what I've eaten- this won't last forever :) it just helps me to see what my eating habits are. I really need to be better about eating breakfast so I'm not famished by lunch. I also am seeing that if I don't eat breakfast I end up eating my third meal late at night before bed.

I did good other than I had regular soy sauce today.We were out so I didn't have my Coconut Amnios. I had some roast beef and unsweetened almond milk mid morning I wasn't that hungry when I got up. Sashimi- salmon, tuna, yellowtail and snapper with dikkon radish and carrot for lunch. It was hard not to pick off the girls plates. They had this amazing fried rice and chicken wings from Pj's Rice Bistro nom nom. Dinner was yummy broiled chicken (recipe below), broiled steakhouse mushrooms, tomatoes and spaghetti squash with a little coconut oil. I also had an apple.

Let's get this- Day two and some shortcuts with food prep

I feel yucky. My body is so used to junk. I think I'm craving sugars, something chewy and yeasty- grains, brownies... Georgetown cupcakes. I'm not hungry, it's not like there's food I can't have. I'm going to keep plugging and see how this goes for the next couple of weeks. After I've done this for a couple of months I might add legumes. I'm not sure, we'll see. I feel like my blood sugar is low. It probably is not having refined sugars. I need to eat more fruit. But my blood sugar has been feeling this way for the past three weeks. This is nothing new. I just can't break off a piece of chocolate to bring it up. I have to make smarter choices.

For breakfast I had three eggs, sauteed mushrooms, onions, jalapenos and bell peppers- I also used hot sauce. Leftover Cirtus chili center cut pork slices and strawberries with Jalapeno Lime salt. Let me clarify I had whatever my 2 year old  didn't take off my plate. My oldest had this for breakfast... and some of my strawberries. For ease during the next three days I sauteed extra veggies to keep in the fridge for a quick omelet, to throw in a sauce, lettuce wrap or salad. It's a wonderful shortcut if you want omelets during the week but don't have time to chop vegetables.

Curry Chickpeas (Pressure Cooker)

Hello everyone! I know I've been posting a lot of Instant Pot/ Pressure cooker recipes lately but bear with me. Not only is this little pot quick and easy to use, there are some jobs it just shines at. Braising, stews, soups, pot roast, anything that cooks with a wet environment. "Boiled" eggs come out perfectly tender and not dry. They also slip right out of their shells. There are so many recipes I want to try and convert to Pressure cooking. Not all can be done, but it's always fun to to develop new recipes and tweak old favorites like this one to see if it can be done better. I put this in the better column for sure!

Pasta bake 2 (Creamy)

Pasta bake, a family favorite. I do several versions. It's so easy- I put everything into a baking dish and it's done. 

I use either this Red sauce, or this one. A jar of sauce would work also.

A pizza version- pepperoni, cheese, other pizza toppings.

Veggie- adding summer squash, spinach that's been cooked and liquid squeezed out etc.

Sauce poured over prepared spaghetti squash and baked with cheese on top.

Add vodka and cream to the sauce.

Fresh basil, diced tomatoes and fresh mozzerella.

So many possibilities. This works with whole grain pasta's also.

The key to making this dish quick is keeping sauce on hand. I make HUGE batches of sauce to freeze, I keep a list to see how much I have on hand also. Yes, I am a bit... particular. :O

3 to 3 1/2 cups sauce (red)

16 ounces uncooked short pasta

1 1/4 cups water

3 tablespoons butter

2 cloves minced garlic

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

garlic powder

1/2- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

salt

pepper

2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided (you can use any cheese you like, fresh mozzarella won't melt smooth for this sauce though.)

1 cup milk

3/4 cup cream

(pepperoni, if you want)

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

In a sauce pan, heat the butter until melted and foamy, not browned. Stir in the garlic and flour, cook until the flour is lightly browned. Add remaining spices. Whisk in the cream and milk until smooth. Whisk in cream cheese and 1 cup shredded cheese until creamy and smooth.  Remove from heat.

Pour the red sauce into a 9x13 inch pan. Sprinkle pasta on top, stir to coat. Pour the water on top of the pasta. Pour cheese sauce on top. If you want to use pepperoni, sprinkle some on top of the pasta and sauce.

Cover the pan tightly with foil. Bake for 45 minutes. Check to see if the pasta is tender, stir. Sprinkle cheese on top and put it in the oven for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Let this set for 10 before serving. Sprinkle with fresh basil and or parsley.

Oven Roasted Crispy Chicken Thighs

These Crispy Chicken Thighs are much like the ones posted HERE, the only difference is that I was too lazy to de-bone them and I didn't want to fry them on the stove splattering grease. So I put them in the oven. It worked beautifully. I love cooking chicken with the skin on then cranking up the heat to get a good crispy skin. So follow the link or scroll on down for the recipe.
This chicken is Whole 30/Paleo/Primal compliant that means it's also sugar, dairy, and gluten free. Because I serve it to my kiddo it's also nut free.

Whole30 Week 3

March 14
Breakfast
2 fried eggs (fried in homemade lard, sometimes I fry them in homemade ghee)
Bell peppers
didn't eat the banana

Lunch
Cheese- this is there for Pixie, we shared this lunch.
Steak
Cucumber
Mango salsa- spicy so I ate it all
Pineapple- neither of us felt like eating it, so I packed it up for later, DH ate it.

Dinner
Salads with a Lao "Yum Salad" inspired dressing, there's no oil or palm sugar in it. Just soft boiled egg yolk, fish sauce (Red Boat), lime juice, cilantro, jalapenos. You can see it pre blender in the salads picture and on the far right. My salad is in the lone salad picture. The rest are my families. I didn't eat any mango either. Too ripe for my taste!

At bible study I had a few bites of cake, and oatmeal cookies. (*hides*- Happy Birthday Bruce, sigh)
Leftover steak and an egg for a snack

Red and Green Curry Paste (Kaeng Phet)

This is a Thai/Lao curry paste. I used my tiny food processor to make these, now that I have a better food processor, and a Vitamix blender I can get my curry paste a lot finer. Curry paste isn't hard to make if you have the ingredients and it tastes phenomenal if you make your own.
Fresh galangal root, kaffir leaves, onion, garlic cloves, onion (shallots if you have them on hand), lemongrass and depending on red, green or a yellow curry you add different spices. Process it in the food processor and freeze in an ice cube tray. Or use a mortar and pestle to pound it into a paste.
Pop them out into a zip top bag and you have fresh curry paste when needed.
Red- add red chilies, I also add paprika- for color not any other reason. (Not a smokey paprika)
Green- add cilantro, green chilies
Yellow- green chilies or yellow, turmeric.

 Red.

 Green.
To use this I take about a cup of coconut milk, 2-3 cubes of curry paste, nam pla to taste, protein- tofu, chicken, pork etc, and vegetables like onions, green beans, bamboo shoots etc, fresh sliced chilies, Holy basil, kaffir leaves, palm sugar/sugar and cook it up.
Heat 1/2 of the coconut milk. Add cubes of curry paste and cook until fragrant. Add protein and cook until almost done, if using tofu heat until warmed through. Add remaining coconut milk and vegetables- those that need the most cooking time first. Stir, season with nam pla and sugar to taste. Cook vegetables until crisp tender. Add kaffir, chilies and basil. Serve with rice.
More Curry posts on Give Peas A Chance
Crispy Duck Geang Phet
Coconut Curry Spaghetti Squash
Thai Curry One Pot Wonder 

Random Pictures

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A turkey and cucumber ranch sandwich, pears and Cheetos for Diva...











Popcorn chicken, crackers and cheese, red velvet cake, and strawberries.










Pixie trying to get a hold of the chocolate fondue dippings... cream puffs, pretzels, strawberries, oreos, bananas and pound cake.








drrooooolllll, I heart King Crab Legs...












Oven "fried" chicken and spaghetti squash.












Vanilla bean French Toast












I uploaded these next two pictures three times and they refuse to upload the right way, just tilt your head to the left and they should look decent.
But they both have molded eggs which I cut in half filled with deviled egg filling and put back together, one is a fish the other is a car. Carrot sticks, ranch dressing, Cheetos and string cheese. The theme was orange and white...