TLS-Approved Recipe: Twice-Baked Spaghetti Squash with Pesto and Parmesan

Ingredients:

(makes about six servings)
1 large spaghetti squash (6-8 lbs)
1-2 T olive oil (depending on how big the squash)
1-2 tsp Italian Herb Blend
3 T basil pesto
1 ¼ cup coarsely grated Parmesan cheese
salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 F. Wash the spaghetti squash, then cut in half lengthwise. Use a sharp pointed spoon to scrape out seeds and stringy insides that’s around the seeds.

Cut ends off squash and rub inside surface with a small amount of olive oil and Italian Herb Blend. Put squash on baking sheet that you’ve sprayed with non-stick spray. Roast squash, starting to check after about 40 minutes and removing when squash is still firm but strings apart fairly easily into spaghetti-like strands. May take longer if squash is larger.

Let squash cool a few minutes if needed, then scrape out strands into a plastic bowl or baking pan and discard skins. Gently mix in pesto and the cup of coarsely grated Parmesan cheese, season with salt and fresh ground black pepper, then pour squash/cheese mixture into a dish and top with ¼ cup more Parmesan cheese. Bake 20-30 minutes more, until mixture is slightly bubbling and cheese is melted and starting to brown. Serve hot.