Sunday, August 17, 2014

Paleo Spaghetti Squash with Mom's Sauce

First of all, I'm slowly trying to update and personalize my blog. I'm not very computer savvy so this is challenging for me. I started with my hovering "pin it" button. Just hover the cursor over any picture and a "pin it" button will appear. Click on it to pin it to Pinterest. Easy Peasy! The latest feature I added is the "Blog Categories" list. You will find this on the right-hand side of my page. I really wanted to make tabs horizontally across the top, but couldn't figure it out. I would also like to see if I can make sub-titles so under recipes I can list appetizers, drinks, soup...

I just thought this was cute and wanted to share it.
 
Ok, on to the recipe!
 
Paleo Spaghetti Squash with Mom's Sauce
 
This is the sauce that I grew up with and now make for my family. The recipe was really easy to convert to Paleo. Of course I had it with regular spaghetti noodles and so did my family up to a couple of months ago. I wasn't sure what my family would think of the substitution, but they all really like it. My husband even prefers the squash! I do know there's no way my oldest son Peter would ever try it. He's married though and no longer my problem. :)
 
When I made this I really should have used grass fed beef, but I'm new at Paleo and still had regular beef in my freezer to use. I also made the mistake of putting garlic salt in the sauce. How bad could that be you ask? It has sugar. I just made this again tonight and used fresh garlic instead. I also used grass fed beef!
 

Ingredients:
1 large or 2 small spaghetti squash
1 lb. grass fed ground beef
1 or 2 gloves of minced garlic
1-15 oz can of organic tomato sauce (plus 3/4 can of water)
1-6 oz can organic tomato paste
1/2 t oregano
1/4 t basil
1/2 t salt
1/8 t pepper
1/2 t celery seed
 

This is the hamburger I use now!
 
To cook the squash, cut it in half length wise, scoop out seeds and place flesh down on a baking sheet. Cook at 375* for 45-60 minutes.

Brown hamburger and garlic in a skillet.
There's no garlic in this because I used garlic salt. Oops!
 
Add the remaining ingredients, heat thoroughly and simmer for 30 minutes. (Don't forget the water).

Favorite spoon!
 
Scrap the squash out with a fork and top with the sauce.


 
ENJOY!
Tips: The squash is really hard to cut. It helps if you have a sharp cleaver, or you can microwave it for a couple of minutes before cutting.
 
If you'd like you can add mushrooms, onion, shallots...
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Here's an update on my Paleo lifestyle if you're interested. I went on 2 back to back vacations in July and ate whatever I wanted. I gained a few pounds but as of Thursday I only had 1 pound to lose. I've been good, but not perfect. I will be helping Nolan move into his dorm room at George Fox University on Thursday and will get serious again when I return. I'm also going to take up yoga. I've never enjoyed yoga, but am hoping I learn to. Flexible I am not!
 
This is where we ate in San Antonio. The creamed corn was delicious, but the meat was so so. I think I'm spoiled by Parker's wicked BBQ skills!

Vacation #2 in Whistler BC. Wonderlust (a yoga convention) was going on. There were a bunch of people in yoga paints carrying their mats around, decorated in really pretty tattoos and wearing flowers in their hair. I told my husband I was going to go home, take up yoga, get tattoos and become a hippie. 
 
So give the spaghetti squash a try if you haven't already and let me know what you think. It's really good!
 
 
Blessings,
Julie Wagner



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