Spaghetti Squash Casserole

I always walk by and stare at the spaghetti squash sitting on the shelf at the market waiting, wanting to be bought, but I never really know what to do with it other than bake or boil it. I looked around for some recipes on the net, but never came across anything spectacular. So what did I do? (What do you think?! :)) I decided to make up my own recipe. I picked apart various recipes I found and decided to mush them all together into one creation! The preparation is a bit tedious, but other than that, it's a piece of cake! (Sadly, not literally. Maye another day it'll be a piece of cake I eloquently, tastefully blog about!!)


Spaghetti Squash Casserole
Preparation Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 60 minutes

Ingredients:
1 spaghetti squash
1 small onion, chopped
chopped fresh basil
1 cup low fat cottage cheese
2 tbsp dried parsley
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup low fat shredded mozzerella cheese
8oz mushrooms
1 small head of broccoli, chopped

Directions:
1. Cut the spaghetti squash lengthwise and remove seeds


2. Place squash face down in a baking pan. Add water so it is about an inch deep.
3. Bake in (preheated) oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
4. While the squash is baking, chop the onion, mushrooms, tomatoes, and broccoli.




5. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic.
6. After a minute or two of pan frying garlic in oil, add onions. Cook for a few minutes, then add mushrooms. When the onions and mushrooms are almost fully cooked (and soft), add the basil, tomatoes and broccoli. Cook just a few minutes until tomatoes and broccoli are warm. Of note, broccoli does not need to fully cook (and it shouldn't) because it will continue baking in the oven.


7. Remove mixture from heat and set aside.
8. In a large bowl, mix cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, and parsley together.
9. At this point, the squash should be done. Remove from oven and let cool just long enough where you can handle it. Scrape out squash from its shell into the bowl with the cheese. It's stringy and looks like... spaghetti! Stir squash and cheese mixture together.
10. Drain excess liquid from vegetable mixture before combining with squash and cheese mixture.
11. Poor into baking dish.
12. Bake at 400 degrees for 60 minutes.


13. Let cool for a few minutes. Dish individual portions and enjoy!