I love April’s strawberries with November’s spinach, tossed together in a salad topped with January’s carmelized pecans and a honey-balsamic dressing. Sometimes I just can’t help myself. But for the most part I’m making a conscious choice to eat seasonally and locally. Fresh picked produce is better for my body, my budget and the environment.
Squash is abundant right now. It’s delicious in pumpkin pie porridge, mashed with simple ingredients like honey and butter, or transformed into pasta.
Real Food = Faux Pasta
Yes, I said pasta. Spaghetti squash is aptly named because of it’s resemblance to pasta noodles.
Photo Credit – Kate McCarthy
It has a neutral flavor that makes it a versatile option for many dishes. Pasta marinara is a good choice, but Daniel’s favorite is a rustic recipe with a few simple ingredients.
Autumn Harvest “Pasta”
Ingredients
- Spaghetti squash
- ½ cup sundried tomatoes, diced (if tomatoes are extremely tough soak in water or olive oil before using)
- ¼ cup capers OR artichoke hearts
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil (where to buy olive oil)
- ¼ cup pastured butter (where to buy butter)
- approximately ½ to ¾ cup parmesan
Instructions
For the pasta:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Poke a few holes in squash and place whole in oven.
- Bake for one hour or until soft to the touch
- Remove squash from oven and set aside until the sauce is ready
- Cut squash in half and remove seeds. Scoop out “pasta” and place in a strainer.
For the sauce:
- Place olive oil and butter in a pan over low heat
- When the pan is warm, add sundried tomatoes and garlic. Sautee until garlic is soft (about 5 minutes).
- Remove pan from heat and add capers or artichokes
- Warm “pasta” if needed. Top with sauce and sprinkle with parmesan.
- Enjoy!
To find out what’s in season where you live, check out The Sustainable Table.
about the author: Heather
I love your recipes ~ I’m always looking for healthy ways to feed the monsters, meaning sons AND husband! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Heather! If you happen to give this one a try let me know what your monsters thought of it
Looks like a yummy recipe! I’ll have to try it.
If you find yourself running short on time, you can also cook the spaghetti squash in the microwave. Poke holes in it and zap for about 10 to 12 minutes. Make sure to put some paper towels under it because it sputters.
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Wow! I made this tonight, and it was a smash hit! Thanks so much for the recipe!
Glad you liked it, Kirsten!!!
I just made this for lunch; loved it!
Amazing Heather!! My husband loved it. My 14 mo old has been on a veggie strike but not tonight. The whole family enjoyed this as a main course. Thank you for another wonderful recipe.
Yay! So glad it was a hit, Chelsea!