Southwestern Spaghetti Squash Soup

I usually see spaghetti squash get rave reviews in the blogosphere. There are a ton of recipes out there, and some even use it as a replacement for pasta. I’ve tried it a couple different ways, but I just can’t seem to jump on the bandwagon. So when we got a spaghetti squash in our Bountiful Basket recently, I knew I’d need to find something different to do with it.

I’ve had good luck with other squash in soups before so that seemed a good place to start. The internet delivered this recipe and I decided to give it a try, with a few changes.

Southwestern Spaghetti Squash Soup

• 1 1/3 cups dry, uncooked black beans (or 2 cans black beans, drained)
• 1 spaghetti squash
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 an onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, seeds removed and diced
• 1 jalapeno, seeds removed and diced small
• 1/2 cup roasted green chiles, chopped
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp ground oregano
• 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
• 4 cups chicken broth
• salt to taste
• cilantro
• shredded cheese
• sour cream

If you are using dry black beans, you need to start several hours in advance. Rinse the beans, place in a large pot and cover generously with water. Bring to a boil, then cover and set aside to soak for one hour. In the mean time, preheat the oven to 375. Place the whole spaghetti squash on a baking pan and bake for about an hour, or until a knife slides in easily. When cool enough to touch, cut squash in half, scoop out seeds and discard. Scoop out the flesh and set aside.

Once the beans have soaked, drain the water and rinse the beans thoroughly. Cover with water and bring to a boil again. Reduce heat to simmer and cover. Let simmer until tender, at least one more hour (possibly more). When beans are done, drain and set aside.

In your soup pot, heat olive oil and throw in the onions and garlic. Cook for a couple minutes, then add green bell pepper, jalapeno and green chiles and cook for a few minutes more. Add spices and cook for a minute or so until fragrant. Add tomatoes and stir, then add chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer.

In a blender, combine most of the spaghetti squash with about a cup of the cooked black beans. Add a few ladles full of the soup and puree. Add puree, remaining spaghetti squash (I gave the strands a rough chop first) and remaining black beans to the soup. Add salt to taste (I needed about 1 1/2 tsp of kosher salt, but start with less and work your way up). Soup is ready when heated through.

Serve with cilantro, shredded cheese and sour cream.

The verdict: very good! As Paul said last night, we have found it’s hard to go wrong with Southwestern soups in our house. I will definitely have this on my list of go-to spaghetti squash recipes. By itself. At least for now. Do you have a tasty spaghetti squash recipe? Feel free to share!

Old Wisdom

There’s an old saying. Actually, there are a lot of old sayings, but I’m thinking of one in particular. You may have heard it before.

 

Keep your friends close.

 

But keep your enemies closer.

Roar.

Midnight Snack?

Fact: Jacinta loves her new sleeping arrangements. For the most part she stays in bed once we put her there but there are the occasional late night and early morning wanderings.

Fact: Jacinta has recently learned how to open the refrigerator. Which is, incidentally, why we have run out of apples already this week.

Eyewitness account: The other night I heard the pitter-patter of little feet in the hallway that could only precede a little Jacinta wandering into our room. It was one o’clock in the morning, so Paul dragged himself out of bed and I followed. Apparently she had run out of water because she handed her cup to Paul and he went to the kitchen to fill it. Meanwhile I stumbled into the room in order to get her tucked in and resettled. But first she had to hand me something. It was an artichoke.

 

Strange choice for a midnight snack, but to each her own.

 

As she handed it to me she babbled something unintelligible, but her tone of voice said, “Here Mom, I don’t need this anymore. You can put it away.”

Thanks, Cinta.

Question of the Day

Me singing: He’s got the whoooooole woooooorld in his hands…

Veronica: No, Mom. Don’t sing. (What mother hasn’t heard that before!)

Me: Well okay then.

Veronica: God has the whole world in his hands?

Me: Yep.

Veronica: Well where does he put the world when he is done holding it?

Me: …

New Bed!

Due to the generosity of some friends (thank you!) we recently acquired a new set of bedroom furniture for the girls’ room, including bunk beds.

Yesterday we set them up, and last night Veronica and Jacinta got to sleep in them. There was excitement all around.

 

Her first night in a bed, and she squishes herself into the corner.

I’m not sure where the random clothing items came from, but they are evidence of at least one out-of-bed excursion. We are thankful that was the extent of it. Not bad for the first night free from the confines of the crib!

 

Though Veronica was excited about claiming the top bunk, when it came time to climbing up a little coaxing was needed. But her initial nervousness didn’t seem to keep her from falling asleep when it was time.

And yes, that is a Halloween pillow on her bed. She also claimed that for herself back in October and I haven’t been able had the heart to take it away.

 

Dad checking on his girls. And admiring his handiwork.

 

He was tired after a long day of furniture shifting. There were lots of things that had to come together to make it work!

 

And as if being in the corner wasn’t enough, Jacinta then had to press her face into it.

Kids.

Jacinta’s Got Talent

Jacinta has developed a very special talent she would like to share with you all.

 

She has managed to ensure that whenever she trips while running at high speed – or what passes as high speed for her - she lands on her upper lip. It’s an ability she’s been working on over the last few months.

 

I’ve kind of lost track of how many times this has happened. Honestly I’m surprised she has an upper lip at all anymore.

 

But despite the bit of blood ‘n tears and the fat lip, it’s nothing that a little Pete’s Dragon can’t fix right up.

Poo-fect Fit

This came in the mail today, addressed to Veronica.

 

I can’t help but feel that this is a result of last week’s moving tale.

 

Though I searched the packaging, I could find no evidence of who sent it.

So I guess I just wanted to tell that person…Thank you?

 

I think she likes it.

Oh, and she said to tell you, “Thank you.”

And “Rattlesnakes.”

Update: Someone ‘fessed up. Thanks to Erica for the gift!