Life of a Gal Named Liv

In the mood for a fall dish, but short on time? Decently quick and easy, this casserole is a healthy substitute for all those other “fall” dishes with loads of carbs. If you’ve ever tried spaghetti squash, you know it’s an amazing substitute for noodles and tastes just as good- if not better! It’s cheesy and appealing to those picky eaters even though hints of spinach peak through the cheesy texture. Well y’all enough with preparing your taste buds- let’s get to the recipe!

Alright, first things first cook the spaghetti squash for 45 minutes on both sides at 350 degrees. Be sure to poke holes (with a fork) in it- prior to poppin’ it in the oven.

While the second side is in the oven, start finely chopping about 1/3 of an average sized white onion. Get out a large saucepan and over medium heat stir together 1 TBSP of butter, 1 TBSP of olive oil, the chopped onion, and about a clove of garlic. Heat until you can smell it or your eyes start to water- whichever one comes first.

Slowly add in 1/4 cup of flour and 2 cups of milk- while stirring over medium heat. When thickened and slightly lumpy, stir in 1 1/2 cups of grated sharp cheddar cheese. Take it off the heat and stir continuously until the cheese is fully mixed in. Add salt and pepper to taste- yes this is when you get to taste test!

By this time, the spaghetti squash should be done cooking- be careful when taking it out! (at this time also up the temperature to 375 degrees) When its safe to touch, cut it in half and remove the inside “gunk” and seeds- you can just toss these. With a fork, shred the remaining squash into the warm saucepan and stir it in along with 4 cups of baby spinach leaves.

Stir together and spread into a 13 X 9 greased pan. Sprinkle grated or shredded parmesan cheese on top and cook for 40-45 minutes until slightly golden on top.

Let it sit for a few minutes and then enjoy! This is a great side dish that will taste good with basically any meal. Healthy and yummy, this casserole will satisfy your taste-buds and give you that warm “fall” feeling as you eat it.

Happy cooking, Honey