Reboot Salads + {Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti}

Posted: April 12, 2012

How's everybody doing this fine Thursday morning?  Me? I'm in a good mood, silly even, thanks for asking :)  (Babycakes' new favorite word is "silly"... accompanied by lots of giggling).  Reboot Day 3 went much better.  I was peppier, more energetic, happier, and most importantly: headache-free.  YAY!!!  Someone asked me yesterday where I get all my salad recipes.  She was looking for a resource, a place to go... I told her I make them up as I go along!  To which she responded - "well, I better start writing them down!!"  Soooooo, though so easy it's almost silly :), below are a few of my salad recipes and of course the Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti which was yesterday's dinner.

Reboot Salad #1:

Ingredients:

  • Baby Spinach
  • 1/2 an Orange bell pepper, diced
  • 1/3 cup Sweet kernel corn
  • 1/4 cup refried black beans
  • 1Tbsp roasted red pepper vinegarette

Reboot Salad #2:

Ingredients:

  • Baby Spinach
  • 1 small avocado, sliced
  • 10 grape tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup refried black beans
  • 1/4 cup salsa

Now, the important question:  Have you ever eaten spaghetti squash?  If not, you MUST try it!!  It tastes great, but is sooooooooooooooooo weird how it so closely resembles spaghetti!  What a strange amazing vegetable :)

How to cook a Spaghetti Squash:

First, cut it in half (carefully).  It's really hard, so you have to kindof poke/puncture it first, then try to cut.  Then, scoop out the seeds (sort of like a pumpkin).

Then, because I'm usually too busy to bake it for an hour*, I use the microwave.  Get an 8 x 8 baking dish, and fill it with about an inch of water.  Place the spaghetti squash halves face down in the water.  Microwave on high for 10 minutes.  (*If you DO have more time, bake it on a baking sheet at 350 for one hour, cut sides facing up).

Carefully remove the pan from the microwave (it will be hot!).  Then, I wear an oven mitt and grab one of the halves.  Take a fork and simply "pull" the squash away from the outer skin.  It peels off in little strings that look JUST LIKE spaghetti :)

Top with your favorite marinara and basil, and you have a delicious and HEALTHY alternative to pasta.  Mmmmmmmmmmm!!!

Voila, Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti:

Questions:

  • Have you ever eaten spaghetti squash? What'd you think?!?
  • Do you like homemade salads?  (I usually don't but am learning!)

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Comments

Submitted by Corrie Anne - April 12, 2012 - 8:28am

I've been wanting to try spaghetti squash forever. I need to just get to it!! Those are some beautiful salads.

Submitted by kelly - April 12, 2012 - 9:45am

I bet you and Kevin would love this!! This is right up your alley.

Submitted by Katie @wishandwhimsy - April 12, 2012 - 8:57am

I really enjoy your blog. The recipes featured look so delicious. Thanks for sharing!

Submitted by kelly - April 12, 2012 - 9:46am

So glad you're enjoying the blog! Thanks for stopping by :)

Submitted by Cathy - April 12, 2012 - 10:11am

Hi Kelly - your salads look amazing - interesting that you are eating blackbeans - I LOVE them but wouldn't have thought to have them - I can't believe how great I feel - and my mood - even my daughters commented and said mom you are much happier on this diet than any other :) All my taste buds are getting hit and I haven't had a brownie, cookie or ice cream!!!

I am hoping that you'll be posting your juices starting on Saturday... I'd like to tag along with you the next 7 days :)

Have a great Thursday and thanks for posting!!!

Submitted by kelly - April 12, 2012 - 10:13am

Great news that you are feeling so GOOD and that your daughters are noticing!! I plan on posting the juice menu and shopping list sometime on Saturday. I need some time (probably during Babycakes' nap) to get it all together :)

Submitted by V - April 12, 2012 - 11:15am

Thank for posting on how to make Spaghetti Squash. I have been wanting to try it for SO long, but didn't really know how to (and too lazy to look it up).

Submitted by kelly - April 12, 2012 - 2:21pm

It's so easy to make, it's scary :)

Submitted by Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning - April 12, 2012 - 11:27am

BOTH salads look delicious!!!
I am a huge fan of spaghetti squash. I've been loving it for years, but haven't had it in a long time. It's something that I always buy at the farmers market when it's in season. You just reminded me that I need to pick some up. I usually mix it with a little pasta and a bunch of veggies, smothered in marinara. Or I just nix the pasta and use those saved calories to add in some sausage or meatballs!
Have you ever had it "sweet"? It's really good with cinnamon and sweetener (I use a little honey or stevia). Like- REALLY good. And with some chopped up apples mixed in... oh yum.

Submitted by kelly - April 12, 2012 - 2:21pm

ooooo... good idea with the "Sweet" spaghetti squash. Sounds yummy!!!

Submitted by valerie - April 12, 2012 - 11:40am

I will be making this for dinner tonight and I'm so looking forward to it! I have never looked forward to veggies but day 3 on the reboot and I'm actually excited about eating them ! Yesterday I had a headache but today I feel GREAT!!

Submitted by kelly - April 12, 2012 - 2:22pm

Glad you're feeling better! Day 2 is the WORST!!!

Submitted by Jill - April 12, 2012 - 10:10pm

I really enjoy you blog! Your salads look great! I've had spaghetti squash a few times. I love it and it is a nice change up from pasta!!

Submitted by Lisa - April 18, 2012 - 10:43pm

Loved the spaghetti tonight! The whole family enjoyed it!! Thanks for sharing the idea. I will be making this again.

Submitted by kelly - April 19, 2012 - 10:05am

So glad you AND the whole family enjoyed it!!

Submitted by paula - June 18, 2012 - 1:57am

This looks so good! i am just planning my reboot! I was wondering what the sauce was that you used with this?
loving the blog i have writen down so many recipes they sound yumm!

now just to have the will power to do it!!!

thanks
paula :)

Submitted by kelly - June 18, 2012 - 8:21am

I use Bertolli Organic, in the basil/garlic marinara flavor. Here's a link: http://www.villabertolli.com/product/detail/114814/bertolli-organic-past...

Submitted by Lynette - August 17, 2012 - 9:45am

I love spaghetti squash. My dh and I planted some in our garden this summer and now we've got an abundance of it. Do you know if you can freeze it after you cook it? I like to saute' it with some olive oil, fresh tomatoes (also from our garden), fresh basil, garlic and parmesan cheese. Yummo. Very filling and very low in WW points. Can't wait to look through more of your recipes. Thanks for sharing!

Submitted by cathy - September 26, 2012 - 2:47am

I tried raw julienned zucchini under my favorite pasta sauce for the first time. I didnt even steam it, just gave myself a big bowl and served everyone else spaghetti, topped with sauce and I actually felt happy because I had the same as everyone else. IT WAS DELICIOUS! I let the sauce sit for a minute, and honestly, i couldnt tell that I was not eating spaghetti, and my sauce was wonderful, so that helped, but imagine! a raw veggie in place of a loved carb, and I liked it! try it! I gave some to my toddler, who wanted seconds, and he didnt know it was zucchini, he loved it, too.

Submitted by Anonymous - October 20, 2012 - 4:18pm

I always cook spaghetti squash in the oven at 350 for 30 min. cut side down in half inch of water with seeds in tact. - Vanee

Submitted by abbey - October 20, 2012 - 7:39pm

Made this tonight and it was excellent! Threw in some meatballs for the hubby and he enjoyed it too.(microwaved the squash too) We were so full afterwards!

Submitted by Meirav - October 20, 2012 - 10:35pm

Hi! I'm really enjoying your blog and facebook posts, very inspiring on my own journey after 5 long years of grad school and some nice extra pounds.
Just one note - I know in this day and age it's so much easier and faster to opt for the microwave - but it depletes foods of their nutrients and essential goodness... steaming, baking, stir frying for short periods of time are all better methods. I'm no saint, I use it too, but the spaghettil squash gets a nice nutty flavor to it after baking.
Thanks for the ongoing inspiration!!

Submitted by Susan - December 31, 2012 - 7:27pm

I tried spaghetti squash once. I loved it but my family didn't. They said it was crunchy-which maybe it was a "little" but not enough to make ME stop eating it! *laughing* I did bake it for the full hour so I don't think I goofed on the prep but maybe I did. Anyway, their complaints could have been my fault for trying to pass it off as spaghetti and thinking they wouldn't notice. They weren't fooled. Since then we've stuck with whole wheat pasta instead but if it was just me, I'd do spaghetti squash again.

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