Operation Spaghetti Squash
Today I went to Trader Joe’s and could not find a single spaghetti squash. The staff told me that they are out of season and that I couldn’t expect to find any until SEPTEMBER.
Y’all know how obsessed I have been with spaghetti squash lately. Needless to say, I did not take this very well.
Luckily, I had a serving of the precious stuff frozen, which I defrosted in the microwave tonight for my dinner. It was a bit of a watery mess.
Note to self: spaghetti squash does not freeze well.
As Tim Gunn would say, I had to make it work. But tomorrow, it’s Operation Spaghetti Squash.
I made a huge pot of sauce, so I have tons leftover! I love leftovers!
The whole pot made seven servings. I used one jar of marinara, two cans of dices tomatoes, a pound of extra lean ground beef, two small zucchini, one large onion, mushrooms, lots of garlic, and a little balsamic vinegar.
Normally I would just do a pound of beef to one jar of marinara, but by adding the extra tomatoes, I stretched the meat out further so we won’t be eating so much meat per serving. I have three servings frozen for another day:
And two servings in the fridge for Wednesday night. I used the marinara jar as a container for some of the leftover sauce…no use in wasting, right?
So many of you were curious about my cheap wine experiment!
Verdict: Surprisingly decent. I have tasted a lot worse for a lot more money, but then again, I am no connoisseur. Matthew says that it tasted better the second night than the first. It was pretty sweet for a pinot grigio. Would we buy it again? Actually, I think yes!
One thing that I am DEFINITELY buying again:
Have you tried this yet? Seriously, it is truly “last meal” material. Totally worth the 140 calories for a serving. “Moose Tracks” Light Ice Cream is vanilla ice cream swirled with chocolate fudge and mini peanut butter cups. Heavenly!
Before I go, does YOUR local store carry spaghetti squash?! Help a girl out!
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Girl, there ain’t a spaghetti squash in all of Oz.
I have really wanted to try spagh squash for the longest time but I am too intimidated by hacking the thing open and now it looks like I am too late! If you find some, will you tell me where? I would love to get over my fear and try it!
I do not think the UK has ever heard of spaghetti squash. *cries* I heard that there once were a few at Waitrose, but not in Cheltenham.
Good luck, girly!
My store usually does, but sometimes it is really hard to find. I can’t find acorn squash now!
I was so disappointed in the squash selection at the store the other day. Ugh, I guess the season is coming to an end but I am not ready to accept it!
Hope you have a great day hun!
Gotta love spaghetti squash!! and no, it doesn’t freeze well. I just bought one at my local grocery store, but I live across the country in Vermont, so that’s no help to you.
I have found them at the conventional grocery stores (Safeway and Giant are the big ones here in DC). Whole Foods and TJ’s have not had them in a while, nor has my farmers market. The ones in the store come from Mexico this time of year. I typically don’t buy out of season veggies but I LOVE spagehetti squash so much and trying to a lose a few pesky holiday pounds and it is such a good low calorie filling option. Hope you find some!!
sad day. literally the last three times i’ve gone to the grocery store, i’ve forgotten to get spaghetti squash. i specifically wrote it out on a note for the next time i go in a couple days, and this new update just plain depresses me.
Well, I don’t want to taunt you, but YES you know I’ve been getting my spaghetti squash on! SF farmer’s market’s got ‘em!
that’s such a bummer about the spaghetti squash! i just went to the (very) small grocery store in my college’s town, and they had it. how weird.
I’m glad the wine experiment went well. And mmmm, Moose Tracks ice cream looks tempting.
Yay for moose tracks ice cream! It’s definitely one of my favorite flavors.
Wow, September! I have noticed fewer and fewer squashes in the stores but luckily they are still around. I should make some soon before all the spaghetti squashes disappear
Man, you are really making me want spaghetti squash now even though my one and only experience hasn’t been that amazing. Looks like I’m out of luck finding it once our kitchen is done. Next year!
The sauce sounds great, btw! I like that you made the jarred variety more homemade.
I’ve had the same thing happen with spaghetti squash! I cook just for myself so going through a whole spaghetti squash in a few days is hard to do. I love it but since it really doesn’t freeze well, I don’t but it often.
I haven’t been able to find ANY squash except butternut recently- am guessing that the recent bad weather has something to do with it. Even the apples they have are gross, but I miss acorn/kabocha squash
I started eating spaghetti squash around May last year so you might not need to wait TOO long!
Yep, I learned that the hard way that spaghetti squash doesn’t freeze well by itself, but in my spaghetti squash lasagna it works for some reason.
I have no trouble finding spaghetti squash at my store year round – that’s surprising that you can’t find it, but then again, I’ve NEVER seen it at TJ’s. Good luck!
Glad to hear the vino wasn’t bad! I haven’t seen spaghetti squash in the supermarket lately, but then again, I haven’t really looked for it. I am headed there after work, so I will check! Hmm…
I haven’t had spaghetti squash yet this year, but I think I’ve seen lots in the grocery stores! Hopefully you have more luck today
How long does a spaghetti squash last (pre-cooked)? I bought one a little while ago and am wondering if it’s too late to salvage. If so I’ll be sad, now knowing they are out of season.
Good to know your wine experiment turned out well! And I’ll have to look for that ice cream – I LOVE moose tracks!
Katharine, I looked online and the consensus seeems to be that it can keep for a month, a bit longer if it’s been in a cool area. I know from experience that an uncooked one can keep for at least three weeks! You’ll know when you cut it open if it’s ok!
I haven’t seen it in a while!
i just recently tried spaghetti squash and I am obsessed! any idea how long it will keep in the refrigerator since one squash makes sooo make spaghetti?
I also love how you freeze our sauce and label the protions/calories – I envy your organization!
Jasmine, I’ve had spaghetti squash from the fridge up to three days after. It starts to go a little watery after that! I would say 2-3 days to be safe
They had some when I was there yesterday. But I’m on the opposite side of the country so that doesn’t help you.
I haven’t looked for spaghetti squash lately but everytime i’m craving it, my store carries it. Thankfully you had a frozen stash! Next time i’m in the store i’m going to keep an eye out for it… yours looks delish!
no more spag squash!!!? what the heck! the place where i buy spag squash usually has it but now i’m nervous they’re out! gotta check it out and restock pronto! glad that wine did the job girl
What is with that? I have only done it twice and we all liked it a lot. But I really need to do so many that it is kinda hard to make it as a meal! I’m glad you had some frozen!
I need to go buy the last spaghetti squashes!! Looks like a great sauce
I love moose tracks, but have never seen the light version, yum!
I love Moose Tracks! They also have ultimate moose tracks (or some name like that) and it’s made with chocolate ice cream as the base! Love.
New reader here! I, too, share your love of spaghetti squash! I found it at the local Stop and Shop here in Boston, but I’m thinking you don’t have that one
One of the things that I do when I thaw spaghetti squash is strain it and pat it with paper towel before adding other ingredients. I let it sit on the towel for a bit, as well. It helps somewhat!
And can I just echo some of the previous commenters and say that I admire your organization! I’ve just recently made a commitment to monitor my portion sizes more carefully and if I could just manage to be half as organized as you are- I’d actually succeed.
Oh no! I am completely “squash illiterate”, but I guess it makes sense that they are out of season at this point. Hopefully you can find another alternative
Lara,
Trader Joe’s is all about saving its customers money, and for that I am grateful. However, that also means they only stock produce that they can buy cheaply. So when something goes out of season, it usually disappears from Trader Joe’s shelves. Try another grocery store. Our Kroger carries spaghetti squash year round. I think Whole Foods does as well, but it’s super expensive there. Also, try your local Asian Mkt. Cheapest produce I can find!
I think my local grocery stores still have spaghetti squash! I must go and check now, because I love it so much too! And mmmm… that ice cream looks to-die-for. Literally.
I had a feeling the wine would be surprisingly decent. Just like the cheap plonk I bought at Big Lots. (almost embarrassing to type that!)
Yes, I know how you are with freezing foods- we have had that convo! You know I’m the same way. I’ll freeze anything that will comply. Heaven forbid any food goes into a trash can.
Good luck on the spaghetti squash. I’ve been on a kabocha kick lately. And if I want “noodles” I have shirataki. So I haven’t done s.s. for a while. You r sauce looks amazing though.
Hi! Candice from chiaseedme here. I just tried spaghetti squash last week for the first time. I can’t believe I’ve been missing out all my life! I LOVE it! So sorry you can’t find it. I’m assuming my local grocery store still has, but I haven’t looked since last week, so now I’m worried! I hope you find it soon. btw, you AND your blog are so cute!
Honey, lol, it’s not IN season. It shouldn’t be in stores until it is…unless they’re going to fly or truck it in from south america. And that would break many of Erin’s rules, lol!
We have plenty of spaghetti squash here, so… dunno why, but it’s here and tastes like it always does.
At least Moose Tracks is in season, right?
oh, spaghetti squash is hard to freeze…if you squeeze the water out of it it will work! and yes, my stores are carrying it in fl!
I haven’t had any trouble finding it, at the regular store or farmer’s market-like stores. Kabocha on the other hand, my major obsession, I can only get at Whole Foods.
Yeah January and February are pretty horrible all around for “in season” items
Boo
Dinner still looks fab, though. I’m just jealous you have a Trader Joes! haha
Reading this actually made me feel better! I live in North Dakota (but am a southern transplant)and blamed the spaghetti squash shortage on being in the most isolated place on earth…Now I know I couldn’t get it anywhere, so I feel less slighted
.
girlie you gotta go grocery! i get mine at vons or ralphs and they have never NOT been stocked. NEVER!!! i’ll cross my fingers for you
my local store is still carrying spag squash & its pretty cheap at 1.29 a pound! you need to check other venues girl, you cant go without spag squash until september!
I just found your blog…love it! there are boxes and boxes of spaghetti squash in just about every grocery store i’ve been in here in colorado! that’s really strange that your store just ran out…
good luck on the operation spaghetti squash today
Eeeek I love ice cream. I miss the days of my childhood where ice cream was a once in a while treat, but when we did eat it, oooh man I ate a lot of it! Loved being a little kid.
And gah this post makes me sad. Because I am having crazy bad withdrawals with my squash and kabocha. And I have a feeling it is the end of the season- so it wouldn’t matter if I was at home anyway.