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Spaghetti or spaghetti squash – which came first?

Crockpot Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti Squash with Barbecue Pulled Pork and Brown Rice

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 Pasta History

The history of pasta noodles goes back to Etruscan tomb carvings in 4th century BC, but it’s believed to go back to 2000 BC in Western China. Learn more about China noodles and the Silk Road, ancient trade routes that connected China to the Mediterranean Sea, from the book, On the Noodle Road: From Beijing to Rome, with Love and Pasta.

American pasta became popular after Thomas Jefferson brought a macaroni machine back to America when he was the minister of France.

Squash History

Squash crops are estimated to have been grown in Mexico 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. Native Americans ate squash and pumpkins. However, the verses of Numbers 11:1-6 (NIV) in the Bible mention “cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic”. Could melons in this verse be referring to squash? Watermelon, squash, and melon come from the same family. It’s possible that squash has been around a lot longer than thought to be. Food for thought.

Crockpot Squash

One thing is certain – we have come a long way in America with how squash is cooked as far as tools. Ancient people used earthen pots and woven baskets as cooking tools and cooked on hot coals or with hot stones. Squash were boiled, roasted, or dried. Squash seeds, which look like pumpkin seeds, could be dried and was basically eaten as a snack.

Now squash can be cooked by using a variety of kitchen appliances – stove, oven, microwave, and crockpot.

Crockpot Meals
Spaghetti Squash Cooked in a Crockpot

Boiling is generally how squash are cooked. The squash in the recipe below was cooked in a crockpot. It’s an easy way to have dinner ready without much preparation.

I had previously made the pulled pork and brown rice recipe in the crockpot and used leftovers for the spaghetti squash recipe. Spaghetti squash has a sweet flavor which blended well with the barbecue recipe. However, you could change the recipe up by adding ground hamburger or turkey and spaghetti sauce. I’ve made it that way before, and it tasted delicious. Another option is to add spaghetti sauce and your favorite stir-fry veggies.

What are some other spaghetti squash recipes that you have tried and liked?

 

Thank You for Visiting Kitchen Hospitality!

 

4 Comments

  1. All of your crock pot recipes require someone to change the setting on the crock pot in the middle of the day. That doesn’t work for those of us who work outside of our homes. I am looking for recipes that I can put in the crock pot in the morning then leave it alone for the day while I am at work. Will you be posting any of those type of recipes or can you refer me to a site that has them?

    1. Author

      Thank you, Pam, for your comment. Actually, I think most of my crockpot recipes are adaptable and can be cooked on low all day. The exception would be dessert crockpot recipes. Those don’t take as long to cook. I will definitely make a note of this and check the recipes, updating that information. Yes, I will post recipes that can be left on one setting all day.

  2. I would never have thought to cook a spaghetti squash in a crockpot. Great idea. My favorite topping for spaghetti sauce is a combination of Italian sausage and peppers cooked with some tomatoes.

    1. Author

      It’s actually very easy. I love the Italian sausage, peppers, and tomatoes idea. YUM!

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