Baked Spaghetti Squash w/ Meatballs

Spaghetti Squash

1 medium size spaghetti squash

fresh mozzarella

marinara sauce

parmesean cheese

meatballs

Set the oven to 385 degrees. Start by cutting the spaghetti squash length wise. Spaghetti squash is hard to cut ( you serously need some muscle) so be sure to use a sharp knife. Once you cut it, drizzle the inside with olive oil. Place it rind up, on the top rack and bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

While the squash is cooking make your marinara sauce.  I added the recipe for the meatballs, but the meatballs I used were left over from the night before.  

Take the spaghetti squash out of the oven.  Scrape off the seeds and pulp. Take a fork and separate the strands by running the fork from stem to stem. Leave the squash in the rind….use like a bowl. Pour marinara, to your liking  and cover with the fresh mozzarella. Place back in the oven for another 5 to 10 minutes depending on how you like the cheese. I like it cooked with a little brown on the top. Take it out and add the meatballs. Enjoy J

Ingredients for marinara sauce: (you can use bottled marinara too if you want)

1 (16 ounce) can of organic tomato sauce

½ cup of thinly chopped onions

1 teaspn of minced garlic

1 teaspoon of dried basil (you can add more to your taste)

½ teaspn of rosemary

½ teaspoon of oregano

1 teaspn of sugar

2 tablespns of Olive Oil

salt and pepper to taste

In a medium sauce pan heat the olive oil in medium heat. Saute the onion and garlic until they are slightly brown. Add the tomato sauce to the pan and stir. Reduce the heat and add the basil, rosemary and oregano. Continue stirring. When the sauce starts to bubble up add the sugar and continue stirring, mixing everything together. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Ingredients for meatballs:

1 lb of ground beef ( you can add italian sausage too if you decide to add it then do ½ lb f beef and ½ italian sausage.)

1 egg, beaten

1/3 cup italian season bread crumbs

2 tablespns of olive oil

Grease a 9x13 baking dish  with olive oil. Set aside. In a bowl mix the ground beef, beaten egg and bread crumbs together. Make sure you mix in the bread crumbs well. Using a melon scooper, ice cream scopper or your hands, shape the balls into golf size balls. Place the balls in the baking dish, bake for 15 minutes, then turn them over and continue baking them for 5 or until they are a little crispy on the outside.