Spaghetti Squash Delight!

This was a yummy side dish. We had goat cheese and used it instead of the feta, but it could have used the saltiness so we would suggest no substitutes for the cheese. Jason found the recipe on allrecipes.com. We served it with a delicious maple syrup pork chops (recipe follows the squash) which we found on simplyrecipes.com.

Spaghetti Squash Mediterranean Style

Ingredients

• 1 spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
• 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 3 tablespoons sliced black olives
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
2. Place spaghetti squash cut sides down on the prepared baking sheet, and bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a sharp knife can be inserted with only a little resistance. Remove squash from oven, and set aside to cool enough to be easily handled.
3. Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic, and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, and cook only until tomatoes are warm.
4. Use a large spoon to scoop the stringy pulp from the squash, and place in a medium bowl. Toss with the sauteed vegetables, feta cheese, olives, and basil. Serve warm.

Vermont Maple Syrup Pork Chops

Ingredients

• 6 pork chops (we used only 2 but kept most of the flavorings the same quantity and they were juicy!)
  
• Oil as needed for browning
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 Tbsp apple cider or white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• Salt to taste
• Flour as needed to thicken the gravy

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly brown the pork chops in a small amount of oil, then place them in a flat baking dish with sides.

2 Combine the other ingredients in a small saucepan and heat until warm; pour over chops. Cover and bake for 45 minutes, basting occasionally.

3 Place the pork chops on a warming platter and pour the sauce into a saucepan. Thicken it slightly with flour to make a gravy, salt to taste, and serve it over the chops.