Sunday, November 7, 2010

Seconds, anyone?

I love this day light savings time idea.  How is it only 6pm, dinner in the oven, laundry done, completely dark outside?  But it happens every year, not sure why it's so surprising to me today.

We've been trying to save some money by cooking at home instead of going out or ordering take-out.  It's so easy, living in New York, to order anything we want, delivered right to our door.  Thai, sushi, italian, pizza, chinese, indian, burgers....you name it.  Most of the time, we're so exhausted, we just come home from work and order the equivalent to a home-cooked meal.

So with all this extra time today, I decided to try out a new recipe from a really cute blog that I follow, called Cooking with my Kid.  I love everything about this blog!  A woman who decided to teach her child how to cook and document it every day for one year.  This is something I would love to do with my own children some day, but as I'm not even anything close to a foodie, or have a lot of cooking skills, I may just be learning right along with my kids.  That's fine with me!

So I decided to try this recipe for baked spaghetti squash, Brian had never tried spaghetti squash.  After cooking and eating, I would say this recipe rates a 6 or 7 for difficulty (for me) and a definite 10 for flavor!  I used vodka sauce, and fresh basil leaves from my monstrous plant.


I gave it a 7 on difficulty, but only because I'm not too experienced in the kitchen, and it was my first time making it.  I think this was my second time ever working with spaghetti squash!  I definitely recommend trying this recipe, so delicious.

Baked Spaghetti Squash!


You can find the recipe here.

And see below for the lovely bottle of Montepulciano that we had with dinner!  My favorite.



In other news, so excited to have my MIL visiting in a few weeks for Thanksgiving!  Planning a few meals while she is here.  I also took a day off work so that we can treat her to a birthday Broadway show!  We are going to take her to see "Promises, Promises" with Kristin Chenoweth, and a nice dinner in Manhattan afterwards.  I'm contemplating putting up the Christmas decorations before she gets here.  Would that be way too early?

8 comments:

Don said...

How delicious does that spaghetti squash look!? We will have to give that wine a try. We are 2 buck chuckaholics, so we will be stepping out a bit.

Jo said...

Yeah, another family blog to follow! I think Juls would love it if you have your Christmas decorations up when she gets there. It would add to the NYC holiday flavor - but whatever you do will be great. I can't believe this dish made all three of these pans. I've never cooked spaghetti squash either. Good for you.

Lesley said...

Thanks, DAD!! You should make this recipe, maybe use a cheese substitute? Definitely try the wine, I think it's a bit more than 2 buck chuck, hehe. But still under $20 a bottle, maybe it's like $15?

Jo, so nice to see you here!! Maybe I will put up the decorations, it will feel so festive while she's here! And those are mini-pans, individual ramekins! They're about 4" in diameter! You're right, the photo makes them look huge! :)

Unknown said...

MIL here to say the food looks totally YYYUUUUMMM! And what I want from you and the B between now and the 21st is some rest so you'll have the energy to visit and talk. Brian has so much to do . . . you too with your job. So, bottom line, do NOT go to extra stress level trouble just to entertain me. Like the blog! Now if I can just figure out how to choose an identity . . .

Ruth said...

Finally I made it here! After Dad showed me the photo of the spaghetti squash in ramekins, I wanted to come check out the recipe. I will be making this very soon. I have never cooked spaghetti squash!

It's sweet what you wrote about learning to cook with your kids. :) How beautiful!

I would try that wine just for its label! In fact, I think I have had it, maybe at Diane Wakoski's. I recognize that wine glass. :)

Ginnie Hart said...

I LOVE spaghetti squash, Lesley, and that recipe really looks good. But to be honest, I think I'd really have to look hard and long to find it here in The Netherlands. Too bad. :(

Kris said...

I just discovered your blog, Lesley! Thanks for the referral to the cooking with kids blog, too. Looks fantastic! I think I'll try her pumpkin pancakes tomorrow.
Yum!

Anonymous said...

Hi Lesley! Try pinching the tops of your basil, it will force it to grow more leaves and less stalk :) Just pinch the top off above the baby leaves next to the big leaves, I usually count up three sets of leaves, and then pinch!
-Sarah