Need a no carb replacement for Pasta?

When Tom is traveling I tend to keep to a few basic "food groups".  Primarily those groups revolve around one of my most favorite foods, pasta.  Well, any carbohydrate really but who is counting :-).  I do attempt to not make the same food..err carb every night (and honestly if I ate pasta every night that Tom was gone I would have to go to the gym insanely more times that I do now).   So maybe a year or so ago I was introduced to spaghetti squash which I was promised was just like pasta.  Now I will be honest, it is not exactly like pasta but when you think about it..you usually put sauce with vegetables and/or meat with your pasta anyway so how much do you really "taste" your pasta.   Plus the squash is so much better for you!

Spaghetti squash in itself is an amazing vegetable.  To be able to cook it and then literally fork through it and get strands of vegetables that mimic pasta is pretty cool.  Below is my finished product of last night's meal.

Spaghetti Squash with Chicken Sausage and Vegetables

When you buy spaghetti squash it usually comes with a sticker with instructions on them.  Those instructions usually say cook in an 350 degree oven for 45 mins to an hour until soft.  Well, I don't know about you but when I come home from work the last thing I want to do is wait an hour for my part of my meal to cook.  So I was actually told you can microwave it.  I tried it and it works.  I will admit I have not actually tried to bake it in an oven so I can't vouch for the fact that one may be better than the other.  However, 8-10 mins in the microwave is certainly a lot nicer than waiting an hour.

Spaghetti Squash (In microwave)
1 Spaghetti Squash
1 glass or microwave safe dish that will fit spaghetti squash
plastic wrap
water

Note: I am usually cooking for one and use only 1/2 of the squash.  You may need to microwave whole squash for 3-4 people (still cut in half)

Cut spaghetti squash in half
Using spoon clear out center of squash (seeds etc..think pumpkin insides)
Place 1/2 spaghetti squash center facing down in microwave safe dish
Pour water to cover about 1/2inch of the squash
Seal tightly with plastic wrap
Microwave for 8-10 mins.
Water will boil, check squash (carefully) feel if squash is soft...if so take out and let sit for a minute
Unseal and flip squash over
Use tongs or fork and scrap at the sides of the squash, the squash will separate and look like pasta noodles
Place in bowl or plate and mix with desired toppings and/or sauce

Bon Appétit