“Ahhh… ” he murmured and then there was a sagacious pause, you know… the kind where one waits with bated breath, eagerly anticipating the proclamation of good fortune and a long life of utter bliss…
Then my psychic choked, stifled a laugh and said, “You like to… um, drive?!!”
Well, this was certainly not the profound sort of information I was expecting, after dutifully shuffling and selecting 24 auspicious Tarot Cards! It was also humiliatingly clear that even the psychic thought I… er, it was odd! Indignantly I waited for him to enlighten me further… but apparently it wasn’t in the cards. I had expected something, perhaps, with a little more… depth and substance? Perhaps the letter “L” was stamped on my forehead? Could it have been “N” for naive, perhaps “S” for sucker?
Looking back in that old rear-view mirror of life, though, I did have to admit that I do, in fact, love to drive! Not in the “Oh, I love how my car handles!” sort of way, but in the “Now… I get to drive by myself… anywhere I want, blast CBC tunes and actually think!” sort of way. And… I get a lot of constructive thinking done, driving around Cowtown, thanks to the never-ending construction.
The Major and Minor scales get dutifully recited and then… list upon list of random “stuff” blurs past the side windows of my mind:
- Darn.. I forgot to register my son for university! (Yes, I do realize that this is his responsibility, but in my defense… would it ever get done?)
- Need to get the kids to write their Christmas wish lists, asap!
- I loved that broccoli with pasta recipe, I wonder what I could add to that for supper tonight?
- Debussy’s “Reverie”?? Why haven’t I heard that piece before, that’s borderline embarrassing… I’ve got to remember to download it.
- Oh, my god, that sky is just so incredible, look at the pattern in the clouds, doesn’t anyone else see that? Dang, I forget to bring my camera with me!
- Snow tires to be done Friday, doctor on Friday as well, need to book the plumber in for repairs… must remember extra Cello practice on Thursday and Friday.. why, oh, why can’t my fingers move faster on that slur?
- I still haven’t thanked Rhoda Kirwin at “Cooking, Baking and Making” properly for nominating me for the Liebster Award (for “up and coming” blogs)… is it too embarrassingly late to thank her now, after so many days, um, weeks have gone past? It definitely was such a lovely Act of Kindness to do so… She’s also a foodie, an Irish lass (like me!) and has awesome posts like her “Puffle Cake”!
- I’ve got to call Janet, it’s time to catch up with Sharon, I promised Jane and Marty a dinner party… who have I forgotten?
- I wonder if Dave’s mom wants bagels from the market this weekend?
- What day is Dave flying out?
- I’ve got to find time to bake Bliss Bars for Sue’s Christmas party…
- I get to see Twilight with Katie tonight!!! Yay!!! (I know, but I liked the books, what can I say? A girl doesn’t always have to read Dostoevsky?)
then I move on to the more general, observation side of things, like…
- Mr. Christie, you might make good cookies, but your soda crackers have definitely shrunk and still cost the same… you’re not foolin’ anyone!
- I wonder what the best sort of resin for my bow would be and would my cello make a different sound if I switched? Would I play any faster?
Finally, what I really, really wanted to know was.. “Who the hell invented compound time?!”
Yup… some people text and drive.
Not me, I just think and drive… I don’t think I can be arrested for that??
It seems when things get crazy (and they almost always are) the random acts of kindness from strangers and friends impacts me the most. I’ve recently reconnected with one such friend, Shauna (who serendipitously lives near another friend in Palm Springs). Even after she moved to Vancouver I’d receive pretty notes and cards in the mail. Shauna was always a friend I could count on, the kind that stays with you through thick and thin… I was sad that we’d lost touch… and delighted to reconnect, hopefully we’ll meet again in person soon.
Did I mention that Shauna has always been an amazing cook (like so many of my friends)? She once taught a “much younger version of me” how to make this Spaghetti Squash dish and it has been a staple in my kitchen for years. I know you’ll love it too… It will remind you of a spaghetti dish… sweet strands of spaghetti squash mingle and rub shoulders with tomato sauce, zucchini, onion, garlic, peppers… and, of course, oregano and cheeses. It’s a great “spaghetti” for those who need to eat gluten-free or are counting their carbs! Now I will do a random act of kindness and gift the recipe forward to… all of you♥
“It’s Spaghetti” Spaghetti Squash
- 1 spaghetti squash
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 zucchini, diced,
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1/4 sweet onion, diced
- 2-3 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp basil
- sea salt
- coarse ground pepper
- 1 large jar of spaghetti sauce
- (or homemade if you are lucky)
- 200 gm (or more) mozzarella, grated
- 100 gm (or more) cheddar cheese, grated
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- Using a heavy, sharp knife, carefully cut the spaghetti squash lengthwise through the center to create to long “boats” of squash. This is the most difficult part of the recipe, the knife can “stick”, so wiggle to remove.
- Using a metal spoon, scrape out seeds and discard. Place half of the squash face down in an 8×8 glass baking dish. Fill with water about 1/4 “ deep.
- Cover with wax paper and microwave on high for about 4 minutes, rotate and cook on high for another 4 minutes. Turn and cook again for 4 more minutes (a total of 12 minutes) until squash is soft and pulp is darker in color and cooked through. Repeat with the other half of the squash.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil on medium-high heat. Add zucchini, pepper, onion, and seasonings. Stir and cook until vegetables are lightly browned and softened.
- Pour in the spaghetti sauce and heat through. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
- Remove the spaghetti squash halves. Allow them to cool until you can handle them or use oven mitts. Scrape out the pulp of the squash using a fork. It will come out in strands… just like spaghetti! Leave just enough of the squash intact so that the shell halves will hold their shape. Place the shells in a large baking dish.
- Add the strands of spaghetti squash to the vegetable mixture and stir to blend.
- Using a large spoon, fill each of the squash shell halves with the vegetable/squash mixture.
- Sprinkle to cover the top liberally with mozzarella and top with cheddar cheese.
- Bake at 350°F for approximately 15 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned and melted and mixture is bubbly and heated through.
Preheat the oven to 350° F.
Using a heavy, sharp knife, carefully cut the spaghetti squash lengthwise through the center to create to long “boats” of squash. This is the most difficult part of the recipe, the knife can “stick”, so wiggle to remove.
Using a metal spoon, scrape out seeds and discard. Place half of the squash face down in an 8×8 glass baking dish. Fill with water about 1/4 “ deep.
Cover with wax paper and microwave on high for about 4 minutes, rotate and cook on high for another 4 minutes. Turn and cook again for 4 more minutes (a total of 12 minutes) until squash is soft and pulp is darker in color and cooked through. Repeat with the other half of the squash.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil on medium-high heat. Add zucchini, pepper, onion, and seasonings. Stir and cook until vegetables are lightly browned and softened.
Pour in the spaghetti sauce and heat through. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
Remove the spaghetti squash halves. Allow them to cool until you can handle them or use oven mitts. Scrape out the pulp of the squash using a fork. It will come out in strands… just like spaghetti! Leave just enough of the squash intact so that the shell halves will hold their shape. Place the shells in a large baking dish.
Add the strands of spaghetti squash to the vegetable mixture and stir to blend.
Using a large spoon, fill each of the squash shell halves with the vegetable/squash mixture.
Sprinkle to cover the top liberally with mozzarella and top with cheddar cheese.
Bake at 350°F for approximately 15 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned and melted and mixture is bubbly and heated through.
Oh seriously yummy. And yes I have homemade!
I knew you would… been planning to try one of your recipes soon, just haven’t decided which one yet!
Your first two points are exactly like mine. I know my son should organise himself (after all, he is 18) but I know he’ll never get around to it so I absolutely just have to do it for him! And I’ve been asking all 3 of my kids to get their Christmas wish lists ready because I don’t want them finally handing them in at 6pm on Christmas Eve.
On a positive note.. I think they will be much shorter this year:)
Your experience with the tarot card reader gave me a chuckle. I had a similar “worthwhile” experience with the one and only psychic I ever visited may years ago. Isn’t spaghetti squash a wonder? Loved that your recipe has all that cheese baked onto it. YUM!
Lol… just waiting to see if the rest of his predictions come true:) Can’t wait to blog about that;)
I do the same thing when driving…to the point where I drive PAST my intended turn fairly frequently. Ugh. (I guess I give the same basic excuse for shrinking sweaters in yesterday’s blog post!!) I love your CBC reference! I grew up on an island in WA state, just a ferry ride from Victoria, and we only got Canadian TV channels and all my parents listened to radio-wise was CBC. I passed my music appreciation class in college with flying colors because of that station!
Oh, and did you or your kids watch The Friendly Giant and Mr. Dressup? I LOVED LOVED LOVED those programs! And I was AMAZED the first time I saw American Sesame Street – “What? They’re speaking Spanish? It’s supposed to be French!”
I did the same just this morning, drove round the airport twice. It’s interesting how our lives have crossed so many paths… Yes to The Friendly Giant and Mr. Dressup (but it was me that watched those shows)… I loved Rusty:)
Marvelous! Yes, such a great connection!
I am laughing out loud at your dry humor, or may it is just our lives are similar with all of the chaos. You were also reading my mind as was looking for some good gluten free recipes and fresh squash rules compares to the nasty gluten free pasta on the shelves in the supermarkets. Great idea for a nice filling fall recipe. Take Care
Thanks so much, glad I could give you a smile today:)
Haha. I do the same thing whenever I’m allowed to drive alone (without kids or Hubs). It’s kind of like the shower that way – I organize my week, I swear. The spaghetti squash looks so bright and lovely!
Hmmm, I forgot to add that I sing my favorite songs… over and over:) just like in the shower. I was thinking how I drive alone most times now that the kids have their driver’s license..
Looks delicious! Thanks to Shauna for teaching you the dish!
🙂
Reading your kind thoughts and lists of things to do blurring by in your mind sounds so familiar, and you wrote it so well! All these things to do and remember that you sincerely want to do and not enough time to do them. The spaghetti spaghetti squash recipe makes me want to revisit spaghetti squash! I haven’t been a fan of it but yours sounds so yummy!
Thanks! I love writing for sure… I hope you have a go at the recipe:)
Great blog! I love the design and the tone of it. It’s like comfort food and a warm squishy sofa on a cold autumn day! I have to subscribe to this! 🙂
Thanks so much… just what I like to achieve… Now I’m heading over to your blog!
yup your squash looks great and don’t you ever wish you had a kind of mind recorder so that when you are thinking all those good thoughts whilst driving like a crazy woman, you could press a button and get a print out! c
Now THAT would be perfect! I tried my iphone, but the minute I turned it on I froze!! hahaha!!
Oh my gosh! I’ve never made spaghetti squash like this before…that cheese looks fantastic. And I love to drive too. 😉 It’s the best thinking time. Sometimes when things get crazy, I completely crave a long drive.
I haven’t seen it around else where, but I also wondered if it made the rounds back in “the day”. I’ve just always kept it because it was so unique:) The next drive better be on a holiday somewhere!
Oh?
Spaghetti squash?! Ehhh …. IT LOOKS nom nom nom nom .. though I always avoid squash in my life 😛 but cos I love spaghetti, somehow I’ll this one someday 😛
Hahaha, I should put this one under my Nom Nom tab… it’s pretty easy to make:) You won’t hurt my feelings if you don’t try…
Clearly we all operate this way when left to our own devices: a moment of quiet quickly becomes a cacophony of mental checklists and tangential trains of thought, but a lot of Important Stuff manages to get done in those rare moments of mental solitude! I love your way of writing it down!! All the more so because, as John notes, the lesson ends in a delicious heap of molten cheese. Can anything be more curative??
Your entering my life has been a true act of kindness, random or not, my dear, and I am truly thankful for it! 🙂
Thanks, Kathryn… I get the best ideas for my blog as well… I think it’s the random mind wandering… Hmmm, maybe none of this is random.. but I am thankful as well!:)
When you are driving, have you ever thought of who was the first person to turn that ordinary squash into spaghetti? Your recipe sounds so good.
Well, now, no I didn’t!! But now I am!!
1.) I love squash and this looks yummy!
2.) I also love to drive! But, here in Peru I only get to take taxis 🙁 But, one day I will be behind the wheel again. Oh yes.
Hahaha, then you are the “I love how this car handles” kind of guy:) Why can’t you drive in Peru??
WOW.. this recipe is definitely new for me. I’ve never heard of Spaghetti Squash before. I am slightly amazed lol. I might have to try this
That’s what I thought when I saw Shauna make this… it was such a cool surprise that squash didn’t have to be “mushy”:)
Hy,
chanced upon your space while blog hopping..
amazing space you have with very interesting posts..
excellent presentation..
Am your happy follower now..;)
do stop by mine sometime..
Tasty Appetite
Well.. hello, I am delighted to welcome you into my blog:) And now I shall head over to yours… see you in a minute!
Just dropping in for my first time – I love the look and feel of your site… and with all the holiday accents, it’s got me in the mood for Christmas – beautiful! Now is that your doggie? *so* cute!! That spaghetti squash looks right up our alley – warm and hearty – perfect for a snowy Canadian day! Happy Thanksgiving.
Oh… I love “first timers” to my blog… It’s exciting to have new points of view to comment and communicate with:) Welcome, welcome! If you’re saying Thanksgiving then you must be American??
No, I’m quite sure I’m Canadian 🙂 Just wishing my American friends a happy Thanksgiving – I hope you’re having a blessed weekend.
Silly me! Just realized that you are from Calgary so I understand the confusion. Apologies! (the assumptions we make…) so nice to connect with a fellow blogging Canadian. I have a sister in Calgary – beautiful city… the poem you wrote is lovely and it does indeed remind me of the famous Irish blessing.
Ahhh, confusion resolved… I also just located your website, very lovely btw:) It really is nice to connect with another Canadian. It seems we are so much fewer and far between that I just assume.. So glad to have found you:)
WOW! What a delicious one! Thank you, with my love, nia
I love that your spaghetti squash “rubs shoulders” with tomato sauce! It looks amazing! Great writing!
There is nothing quite like a little mind wandering 🙂
Squash looks great too.
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