Spaghetti Squishes

This is one of my absolute favorites!!

Spaghetti is one of my all time favorite meals and I never dreamed I could give it up.... Until this little culinary invention happened. Well, until I did it my way. I’m sure lots of people have made it, but nobody's Spaghetti Squishes taste like mine!! 

You will need:

1 or more Spaghetti Squash (Squishes :D)

Pasta sauce (I usually use the cheap stuff in the can... No need to pay more than $2.00 for pasta sauce!!)

Parmesan Cheese

Havarti Cheese (or any type of cheese you prefer)

Olive Oil

Hamburger

Peppers (I use all different colors)

Garlic

Onion (I usually use yellow, although it does give the recipe a slightly different flavor if you use a red onion)

Mushrooms

Zucchini

Basil

Chives

Salt and Pepper

Directions: 

I start by cutting the squash in 1/2 and placing it in a baking dish that has a lid, hole side up. I then smash and chop some garlic and put it into a bowl, along with some basil, chives, and some salt and pepper. Brush the flavored oil all over the inside and top edges of the squash. Cover and bake. I usually bake it at about 375* and I don't really time it. I actually never time anything when cooking, I just take it out when it looks done or feels done when I poke it with a fork. . 

While the squash is baking in the oven (you will notice it starts to smell a bit like garlic bread.. Mmmm.. I do miss garlic bread...) I start on the sauce. 

I put the hamburger in a heavy bottom saucepan, and when it is almost brown I add a chopped onion. Then after a few minutes I add the chopped peppers. zucchini,  some, smashed and chopped, garlic along with basil and salt and pepper. I add the mushrooms last and let them cook a bit and when they are just starting to look like the heat is getting to them I add the pasta sauce. It would be ideal for me to make the sauce from scratch and eliminate the, sugar and corn syrup and so on, but sometimes I just don't have time. (and I guess I choose to ignore those ingredients because I'm not eating the pasta. Oh god, just typing this out just makes me realize that I really need to start making sauce from scratch!!.... But....baby steps right??) 

I let it simmer away until the Squash is done. I spoon the meat sauce into the "Squishes" and cover them with cheese and a bit of Parmesan and bake them at 375* for about 15 minutes. I broil them with the lids off for an extra few minutes to make the cheese bubbly and browned. 

They are so delicious I can't even begin to explain the taste, and I don't miss the pasta one bit!! 

(The picture below is one that I found, not my own.... I add more cheese :)