Welcome to what is now a food blog?
I don’t quite know.
Does it really matter?
So, this year will be my first time hosting Thanksgiving.
It’s all on me, folks. And I am so fucking excited.
And I guess I’m pretty blessed to be part of the generation that gets to host Thanksgiving after the invention of Pinterest.
I’ve got all sorts of awesome ideas rattling around.
But one of our guests is a vegetarian and so I’m in the process of testing out veg-friendly entrees on his behalf.
I refuse to serve him just a bunch of side dishes, so I want to find an amazing entree that is warm, comforting, hearty, and autumnal.
Veg Test Round One:
Spaghetti Squash Ratatouille Bake
WHAT WE NEED
1 small-medium spaghetti squash
1 small eggplant, chopped
2 ripe tomatoes, chopped
1 onion, cut into small wedges
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
2/3 cup button mushroom, sliced
2 tbsp tomato paste
3 tbsp water
1tsp olive oil
1 tbsp shredded basil to garnish
2-4 tbsp crumbled goat cheese
WHAT WE DO
PREHEAT OVEN TO 400˚
Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan. Add the onion, garlic, and eggplant, stirring frequently for 3 minutes.
Add the peppers and zucchini and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Now, get all of your frustrations out by stabbing the shit out of that spaghetti squash, all over, with a fork. Then maybe stab (pierce) it 4-6 times with a paring knife as well. Then pop that puppy in the microwave for 20 minutes and faghettaabouttit. Once done, let it sit for about five minutes before slicing it lengthwise and removing the seeds.
Now mix your tomato paste and water together and add to your pot, bringing to a boil. Then reduce the heat and let simmer 10 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and mushroom and let simmer for another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once ready, drain the ratatouille using a wooden spoon or spatula– what I’m saying is: get as much liquid out as you can by pouring, there’s no need to use a colander. Once you have gotten as much liquid out as you can, add the spaghetti squash to your ratatouille pot. I used pretty much all of my squash for a drier end result, but you could use less for a more stew-like bake. Totally up to you, dude. Stir it up so that it’s all incorporated and then you can put it into one big casserole dish, or several smaller ones for you and your cats.
Using a spoon, make a divot into the bake and crack and egg. If using one big casserole dish, or crock, make several divots and add several eggs.
Sprinkle goat cheese and bake for 12 minutes.
Garnish with basil and probably more goat cheese.
YUM.
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