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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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March 8, 2012

Why I’m posting about spaghetti squash…and not my powder room…

Do you ever have one of those projects that is a perpetual failure? Please tell me I’m not alone…cricket. cricket.  Wait….I am talking to the cream of the crop in DIY and home decor so maybe I am all alone. 😉
My powder room makeover, is giving me fits, I tell ya! I have painted over my STENCILED walls THREE TIMES now and am still not happy with it.  Today will be a fourth paint over. sigh.  The aftermath of the tornadoes that devastated our area this past week, has also put a damper on this project.  I’ll share more about the damage and the rebuilding of my little community of Crittenden and nearby Piner with y’all soon.
In the meantime, I thought you might like to learn about spaghetti squash.
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Really who wouldn’t want to know more about this fascinating vegetable over seeing gorgeous pictures of a powder room makeover?! cricket. cricket. Well tough, you’re getting spaghetti squash anyway.

I love spaghetti squash….it’s just a cool vegetable. I was so excited to find this recipe from Everyday with Rachael Ray. It not only was a 30-minute meal, but also fell into the $10 and under category. You can’t beat that combination! As often as I have made spaghetti squash, I am still amazed when I run my fork through the flesh of the squash and it breaks into noodle like strands. It truly can be used to replace your “spaghetti” dishes, which is perfect for those with gluten allergies or working to reduce their carbs.


Spaghetti Squash with Sausage and Greens-Everyday with Rachael Ray
Serves 4



Ingredients:

1 spaghetti squash (about 3 1/2 pounds), halved lengthwise
1/3 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
Salt and black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
12 ounces sweet Italian sausage
1 bunch spinach, stems discarded and leaves coarsely chopped (I used a bag of spinach)
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper



Directions:
Bake squash in oven according to directions accompanying squash, I chose to bake the squash OR place a squash half, cut side down, in a large, microwavable dish.  Add 1/2 cup water and microwave until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat with the remaining squash half. Discard the seeds.
 
spaghetti squash
 
Now comes the cool part! Using a fork, comb the squash into strands into a bowl. Squash will be slightly crunchy.
 

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Toss with the parmesan and season with black pepper.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook until no longer pink, about 6 minutes. Add the spinach and crushed red pepper and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes; season with salt and black pepper. Serve on top of the squash.
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If you’ve never prepared spaghetti squash this is an easy and fun recipe to try!
Be sure to come back tomorrow for Inspiration Friday! See you then!
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I’m sharing this recipe at:
Eat, Pray, Read, Love: Recipe Round Up
Chatty Chics: Wild Wednesday

23 Comments Filed Under: Main Dishes, Recipes

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Comments

  1. Jen @ Creating with the J's says

    March 7, 2012 at 4:50 PM

    Oh my goodness! I think you have given me reason to try spaghetti squash. This has been saved to my favorites–recipes to try folder. All those ingredients, it has to be FAB!!! Thanks for sharing. I hear ya on the DIY pain in the bottom projects. We have one going on here. Good thing I hadn’t mentioned on my blog yet since we’re working on two weeks now.

    Reply
  2. It's All Connected says

    March 7, 2012 at 5:11 PM

    I think I’ve cooked every kind of squash except that one. Thanks for the nudge! ~ Maureen

    Reply
  3. Kelly says

    March 7, 2012 at 5:11 PM

    Yum! That food is making me hungry. It’s lunch time here. It looks good. Good luck with your painting project. I know how frustrating that can be when something takes longer than expected. 3 coats already huh? Gosh, that’s alot. It will all work out though. I just know it!

    Reply
  4. April says

    March 7, 2012 at 5:52 PM

    Loooooks SO good!! ALways up for a new recipe, can’t wait to try it:)

    Reply
  5. kelli@eatprayreadlove. says

    March 7, 2012 at 5:57 PM

    Thank you so much for linking up!
    I have always wanted to try this, and am working to reduce carbs, so why haven’t I done it????
    Will make it soon!

    Reply
  6. Cynthia says

    March 7, 2012 at 6:11 PM

    This look and sound so good I think I have to give it a try.

    Reply
  7. poppilinnstudios says

    March 7, 2012 at 6:52 PM

    Just bought 2 spaghetti squash this morning-perfect timing! I’m going to try the microwave version. Thanks!
    -Lynn

    Reply
  8. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    March 7, 2012 at 6:59 PM

    This is a fantastic recipe especially when I am not cooking potatoes or pasta lately…I love the combination of spinach and sausage..This one I will definitely make…

    Good luck on round 4 of the room!!! I am sure it will be fantastic!

    Reply
  9. Debra from Bungalow says

    March 7, 2012 at 7:51 PM

    I love spaghetti squash. It’s amazing that it looks just like pasta!

    Come on over to my giveaway from cutting edge stencils.
    I’m now on wordpress! Spread the word and help me celebrate! Hope you have a great day!

    Reply
  10. Herballistic Garden says

    March 7, 2012 at 8:39 PM

    This looks divine! I’ll be trying this very soon…thanks! xo wendy

    Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    March 7, 2012 at 8:54 PM

    Have you tried putting Kilz on the walls and then paint, it should cover the stencil

    Reply
  12. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    March 7, 2012 at 9:01 PM

    That looks so good. I am sure you will figure out the powder room soon.

    Reply
  13. Judy says

    March 7, 2012 at 10:19 PM

    I’ve never tried spaghetti squash but you make it look so good. I will have to try it. Thanks.

    Reply
  14. reFresh reStyle says

    March 7, 2012 at 11:43 PM

    I have always wanted to try this, now I can! Get busy on that powder room!
    Debbie

    Reply
  15. NanaDiana says

    March 8, 2012 at 12:14 AM

    I used to make a lot of spaghetti squash but haven’t made it in a long time. I think I need to pick one up!

    Yes…we have all had fails…some drastic. I once knocked out a wall that had just been put up and plastered as soon as the plaster guy left. Let’s just say MyHero was NOT happy then…but WAS happy once he saw my vision completed…even though I had the “vision” to put the wall there in the first place. So, a little paint ain’t nuthin’, baby girl!:.) xo Diana

    ps..Pop by tomorrow- I painted a TV today-xo Diana

    Reply
  16. Jessica Kielman says

    March 8, 2012 at 12:56 AM

    Okay…never had spaghetti squash, but this looks amazing. I only live about 45 minutes away…how about I just jet up 75 and you make it for me????

    I am going to pick some up at Meijer this weekend and give it a shot…I love veggies, so may as well try a new one! Hope everything is getting better up there. My daughter’s school is doing a big fundraiser with our Lexington Chic-fil-a’s to raise money for releif. I don’t think I have ever been so nervous!

    Jessica @ Mom 4 Real

    Reply
  17. Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads says

    March 8, 2012 at 3:33 AM

    This recipe looks delicious! I like the combination of the sweet Italian sausage and the spinach. The first year we had a garden, we grew spaghetti squash. One of my favorite recipes was to make a custard like pie with the spaghetti squash. It had the texture of coconut pie. Now I’m wondering where that recipe is.

    Reply
  18. Leslie says

    March 8, 2012 at 2:49 PM

    I would have rather seen this post than your bathroom today.
    Why?
    No joke, my Sarah suggested we get a spaghetti squish (we call it that) when we were at Trader Joe’s on Monday.
    So, guess what’s in my fridge?
    The recipe looks yummo.
    (I use the sausage at TJ’s that is vegetarian, though, it’s really good!)
    Thank you, will try it!
    Anyway, I can see bathroom makeovers everywhere, and anytime, but it’s not every day I get to see squish.

    Reply
  19. Cristina @ RemodelandolaCasa.com says

    March 8, 2012 at 7:12 PM

    It looks really good! I haven’t made it in a long time, maybe it’s time to copy cat your easy recipe! Thanks Heather!

    Reply
  20. Aimee - ItsOverflowing.com says

    March 8, 2012 at 10:17 PM

    Thanks LOTS for hosting!!! XO, Aimee

    Reply
  21. Chatty Chics says

    March 9, 2012 at 12:38 AM

    Girl, you are toooooo funny! Sorry about the bathroom. You know I understand with all of my mis-adventures! 🙂
    Melody
    ChattyChics.com

    Reply
  22. Wild Oak Designs says

    March 9, 2012 at 4:26 AM

    Yipee for spagetti squash…but boy do I understand about bathrooms!
    Check out what we have been doing for our bathroom….wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

    Reply
  23. Loribeth says

    March 28, 2012 at 11:20 PM

    I’m taking a break from working our bathroom and catching up on your blog! LOVE spaghetti squash!! Jim had never had it before he met me, but he loved it too the first time I made it. This recipe looks really good. I’ll have to try it out the next time we get a spaghetti squash!

    Reply

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Yesterday on the way home from school I had the ra Yesterday on the way home from school I had the radio tuned to my daughter's favorite station and a song that was playing had a line in it that really stood out to me. It made reference to a 'season of the sticks' which I think its safe to say must mean winter. I thought that was such an accurate, albeiet kind of depressing, picture of this time of the year.

While we definitely have more than our fair share of evergreen trees here in Oregon, we also have plenty of trees and bushes that are reduced to sticks during the cold months. But, this morning as I looked out my kitchen window, greedily sipping from my mug of coffee, I marveled at the beauty of the winter sunrise. The sky was all pinks and oranges with frost on the rooftops and a little bit of fog. And, I realized that part of why it was so amazing is because I could see it more clearly through the sticks. The bare branches allowed me a view that I wouldn't be able to see if those same branches were covered in leaves. Being stripped down to almost nothing revealed something magnificent.

We have seasons of the sticks in our lives too, don't we? Times when we feel as though we've been stripped bare and left exposed. It's easy to think that this is a place where all is ugly and dark. And yet, just like the winter sunrise was more visible because of the bare branches, the vulnerability we feel in the winter season of our souls allows us to get a glimpse of beauty that we wouldn't see otherwise. In the lush, warm seasons it's so easy to become comfortable. But in the bare, cold seasons we recognize just how much we need to rely on the One who placed the stars in the heavens and is sovereign over all.

If you feel like your soul has been stripped bare and you've been left exposed and vulnerable, may I encourage you today to ask the Lord to help you to see the beauty in this 'season of the sticks'.

“Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:7
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Here’s to beginnings. Happy new year friends! May you experience the majesty and sovereignty of the Lord in 2023 like never before! ✨
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