Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Italian Days and giveaways...


CR is a huge spaghetti fan.  Noodles, sauce and ground beef.  It is pretty easy to make him happy.  Sadly, now that we are keeping grains out of our lives it makes spaghetti a little more challenging.  Enter spaghetti squash.

If you haven't seen or heard of spaghetti squash.  It looks like a big melon.  Once you slice it and bake it, the inside is shredded and looks like spaghetti noodles.  

    
They are soooo easy to prepare too!  Heat in the microwave for 1 minute then slice it in half lengthwise.  


Scoop out the membranes and the seeds then place cut side down in a microwaveable dish with 1/2 cup of water.  I had to cook one half at a time since my microwave wasn't quite large enough for both halves.  Cook on high for 12 minutes.

Once it is done, you shred the insides with a fork


.

See?  It looks like spaghetti! The flavor is a little bit on the sweet side.  You could just add salt, pepper and butter and call it a day.  Maybe sprinkling a little pepper jack cheese on top would be good too.   


I had spaghetti with meat sauce on the brain so I made up a tomato sauce.  While the squash was cooking, I sauteed a medium onion and a clove of minced garlic in some olive oil.  


I added a 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes and salt to taste. If you like your sauce chunky you could call it done there but CR is not an onion fan so I put mine in a blender for a few seconds to smooth it out.   


I added some ground beef to the finished sauce.  The odds of CR eating it greatly improve when there is meat involved.   I topped the "spaghetti" with the meat sauce and a sprinkle of parmesan & romano cheeses before blasting it in the micro for a quick second to melt.  


Let's be real, these aren't actual noodles so you aren't going to fool anyone into thinking they are something they are not BUT if that someone has committed to joining you on your No Sugar / No Grains journey it might make a pretty awesome substitute!  CR is pretty picky about veggies and he thought the squash was pretty good which is a HUGE stamp of approval.  


 ....   and on to the GIVEAWAY!

If you shop at Publix very often you might be familiar with their Italian Days specials.  You know they have deals on pasta, sauces and the like.  What you might now know is that I have a $25 Publix card to give away!  You can use it to buy your own spaghetti squash or even some traditional pasta.  I won't judge...trust me.    

The Italian Days event runs from February 11th through March 1st at Publix.  During the even shoppers will be able to enter for a chance to be 1 of the 500 shoppers that will win a $100 Publix® gift card! To enter for a chance to win and to download great coupon savings and delicious recipes, look in-store or visit www.clickcallmail.com.

If you would like to win a $25 Publix Gift Card to make your Italian inspired creation, just leave me a comment with the name of your favorite Italian dish.  Winner will be chosen at random on February 20th.  (make sure you provide your email so I can contact you).



General Mills and Publix provided me with the information and gift card for this giveaway but all tasty recipes were my own!  :)






37 comments:

Unknown said...

My favorite was always spaghetti pie. Have not had it in so long, and may never have it again. So sad. FatSlowTriathlete@gmail.com.

Kate Geisen said...

I'm not in for the giveaway bc we don't have a publix, but ever since starting eating Paleo I've found a new love (ok like) for spaghetti squash. My family is not overly impressed by the squash, but it's made a good potato/rice/noodle substitute for you.

Kate Geisen said...

Oh, and I cut a few slits into the squash, microwave it 8 min, turn it, microwave another 8 min, then slice and scoop. Super easy.

Null said...

Ok, so this really isn't chicken parmesan, but I call it that anyway. I top plain baked chicken with tomato sauce and melted mozzerella/parmesan and it's enough to satisfy my taste for the real thing. A fried, breaded chicken cutlet is still the best base though :)

Katie Abbott said...

Eggplant Parm for sure! Although I have a fabulous recipe that doesn't have any of the breading (or frying). Amazing NSNG dish.

Carolina John said...

Spaghetti squash is so fantastic. Seriously one of my new favs that we discovered last year. We roast it in the oven instead of the micro though. Delish!

Ransick said...

That looks delicious! I love squash and usually cut it in half, butter and season it, wrap in tin foil, then grill it.

Matthew Smith said...

Spaghetti squash? Never heard of it. But, the next time you cook with it, I'm coming over! :) My "go to" italian dish is ALWAYS Fettucini Alfredo! I get it EVERY time!

tweetyscute said...

I love lasagna. I love spaghetti squash for low carb meals


ninajanke at gmail dot com

Melissa @my peach life said...

Oh I love publix and love spaghetti squash. It is so tasty with just a little butter and cheese :)

Karen said...

Yum on the spaghetti squash - it's so good when eating low carb! My fav dish has been lasagna lately.

Thanks for the giveaway,
Karen
lemontart5kb at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I just found this recipe online. Going to make it this week. I expect it to become a favorite.

http://shrinkingkitchen.com/mediterranean-pasta-toss/

mom2booandbobo said...

Spaghetti squash with some fresh Parmesan and garlic salt....Yum!

Thanks for the giveaway!

Loriconnors35@aol.com

Seth said...

Chicken Parmesan, and it's been awhile since I've had it. sethrich[at]hotmail[dot]com

Jennifer said...

Lasagna! celticsdraftee AT aol DOT com

JLT said...

My favorite Italian dish is pizza! jeffltaylor2 at yahoo.com

jasper said...

chicken marsala... even though i'm not a fan of mushrooms.

jaspersjunk08 at yahoo

Lynda Del said...

Lasagna with meat or vegetables would be my fave.
lyndadawinda1074 at yahoo dot com

marcia goss said...

My favorite Italian dish is Cheese Ravioli.
marcia.goss@gmail.com

JC said...

I love lasagna.

Amy Orvin said...

Lasagna is my favorite. Yum!
2dogs5catscrew@att.net

Unknown said...

I tried the spaghetti squash thing and it just didn't work. I guess I like that carby-goodness that is real pasta too much! My favorite dish... homemade chicken parm with cheese filled tortellini. Doesn't happen often!

Julie said...

lasagna is my favorite
thansk
aunteegem@yahoo.com

Julie said...

I love spaghetti and Homemade meatballs with a glass of chianti

Julie

Julie1351@bellsouth.nt

LS said...

Spaghetti!! I love it!!

lsallen88 @ yahoo dot com

Danielle K said...

Ravioli is my favorite :)

danielleaknapp at gmail dot com

Ashley H said...

I love chicken parmesan! Thanks!

Kim Ruholt said...

Always my favorite...Lasagna!

skkorman said...

My favorite Italian dish is spinach lasagna!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

Cassie Whitaker said...

I am definitely a chicken parmesan kind of gal! Love love love! Thanks! =)

dlhaley said...

Spaghetti with meatballs is my favorite.

Leidy Ruiz said...

Lasagna is my favorite! but my kids go crazy for spaghetti and meatballs or chicken alfredo, if it was up to them we will eat this everyday :)

neiddyruiz@gmail.com

Kevin said...

Eggplant parm has always been my fav.

Ashley said...

I love lasagna.

hewella1 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Eggplant parmesean

Beth
bethpulles@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Hi Karen. I've never had spaghetti squash but it looks great. My favorite would be lasagna. I'm know - sounds so typical, but I love it.

Thanks for letting me enter your giveaway.
Hugs… Tracy@CottonPickinCute
cpcblogging(at)hotmail(dot)com

Ashley H said...

I love lasagna! thanks so much!