A New Twist on an Old Classic

About a week ago, Mrs. Boss sent me a link to a wonderful recipe for Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin at the blog "Dandy Dishes".  Spaghetti squash has become a regular part of our diet as it's a great substitute for pasta, and it also sort of fits the yam flavor profile (at least how we like yams, which is more savory than sweet).  I've been using it primarily with shrimp scampi, so we were looking to expand the repertoire of dishes we could make with this delightful gourd.

That'll do, pig.  That'll do.

So tonight's dinner started with my favorite roast pork recipe.  I like this because it's simple and delicious.  I usually make it with cauliflower to soak up the gravy, but not tonight!  When I do this recipe, I usually end up adding a bit more corn starch (which does up the carbs) to the gravy because I like my gravy nice and thick. Other than that, I make it pretty much as written (with the addition of some garlic & onion powder to the outside of the roast before browning it).  One other substitution is instead of using "kitchen bouquet" I take the water and add a couple tsp. of beef-flavored Better Than Bouillon stock mix.  I buy mine at Costco because it's too expensive otherwise, and I love the results of both the chicken & beef varieties.

I could get naked and roll around in that cheese, but that would be unsanitary.

Next was the Au Gratin.  This I followed true to the recipe.  I don't know what difference the fresh thyme made, but I bought some when I was out today getting the pork roast, and it sure make the onions smell good when I was sauteing them (I also threw a bit in with the roast).  The only real variation (other than, of course, some garlic powder in the onions when they were cooking) was that I doubled the cheese.  'Cause I like cheese.

Don't drool in the dish!

While that was cooking, I nuked some frozen peas, and bing-bang-boom - dinner was served!  It was actually pretty easy, didn't take TOO long (2 hrs total) and is pretty healthy!  So I'd encourage you to give Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin a try, 'cause potatoes are for SUCKAS.

I'm out!