Thursday, December 10, 2009

cheesy squoodles (starring the spaghetti squash)

Since my husband has been home full-time, I've been more conscious of the names I give certain dishes. My husband is quite a bit more....selective...discerning...okay, picky than I am, a trait which can easily influence my daughter's perceptions of our meals. While she used to extol the flavor of the spaghetti squash, for example, a few dozen times of Daddy telling why he doesn't like it (doesn't like the taste of squash, doesn't like the texture of it, prefers real pasta, etc...), she has now decided she doesn't like it either.

Sigh.

This is what happens when you live in a household where everyone can be their own authentic selves and give their real opinions out loud instead of smiling and nodding until the kids go to bed, I guess. Or maybe this is what happens when you live in a household where the kids are always awake at the same times you are. When else can you give your real opinions?!

So to my six year old's newly discovered sense of supper independence, my response has been to try to make the foods sound amazingly fun and kid-friendly. Hence, on the menu tonight were cheesy "squoodles": the spaghetti squash noodle.

Ingredients

Spaghetti squash
1 Tbls. Butter
1 Tbls. Flour
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup cheese (colby or cheddar works well)
salt & pepper to taste
1/4 cup Ground beef crumbles (optional)
Chives (optional garnish)

Directions

1. Bake spaghetti squash. (Cut in half, scoop out seeds, place face down in a baking pan with 1 inch water on the bottom. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until soft.)

2. In a skillet, melt the butter on medium heat. Stir in the flour with a fork until it browns a bit. Quickly stir in the milk and cook 2-3 minutes until thick. Add the cheese and stir until melted. Salt and pepper to taste.

3. Scrape out the spaghetti squash, placing the squoodles in a serving dish. Top with the cheesy sauce. Layer ground beef crumbles on top of the cheese sauce (if desired) and top with a garnish of chopped chives.

2 comments:

Jude said...

so I cannot be the only one to say "QUIET" when Cale starts to say something, ummm not so nice about the dinner in front of the kids. It can take them from eating it (maybe not their favorite - but eating it) to not wanting to touch it. So frustrating, love the name of squoodles....but it sounded pretty tasty anyways!

Vee said...

Squoodles sounds fun. My 13 yr old is gluten-sensitive and there are some good (but expensive) gf noodles out there. Try Annie's Rice Mac and Cheese. My Kid has learned to do it and makes it about 5 times a week. Satisfies his need for "carbs". He has discovered spaghetti squash tho, and is excited because it does remind him of noodles and doesn't taste too "squashy". He and I are both picky eaters. Vikki at http://vikkisverandah.blogspot.com