BAKED SPAGHETTI & SPAGHETTI SQUASH WITH OPTIONAL GROUND BEEF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scrap out the seeds with a spoon; discard seeds. Brush the inside of each half with a little olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place cut side down on a baking sheet and bake for about 40 minutes until fork-tender. Let cool for about 15 minutes, or until squash is cool enough to handle. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
• Cook pasta. Break the spaghetti noodles into two-inch pieces and add to boiling water. Cook until al dente (follow package directions; boiling time can vary). Turn off heat, drain pasta, and return it to the pot.
• Using a fork, scrape the spaghetti squash strands into the drained pot of spaghetti. Gently toss spaghetti noodles and spaghetti squash with 2 teaspoons olive oil along with good pinch kosher salt and fresh-ground black pepper, until noodles and squash are well-incorporated.
• Vegetarian version
• Have a 13" by 9" baking pan ready.
• Spread half the sauce in the baking pan. Add half the pasta/spaghetti squash noodles. Top with half the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Add remaining sauce, remaining pasta/squash, and the rest of the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Sprinkle with parmesan. Proceed to BAKE step below.
• Half vegetarian/half ground beef version
• Have two 8" x 8" baking dishes ready.
• In a medium saute pan over medium heat, brown ground beef along with seasonings (salt, pepper, and/or garlic salt) if desired. Drain. Mix in 1 1/4 cups of the marinara/Italian tomato sauce.
• Spread half the plain (non-meat) marinara sauce into one 8" x 8" baking dish and half the meaty marinara sauce into the other. Spread 1/4 of the spaghetti squash/pasta mixture in each pan. Sprinkle each with 1/4 of the mozzarella and 1/4 cheddar. Spread the remaining sauces onto each, then divide the remaining spaghetti squash/pasta mixture, between the two, and divide the remaining cheddar and mozzarella between the two. Sprinkle each with the Parmesan. Proceed to BAKE step below.
• All ground beef version
• Have a 13" by 9" baking pan ready.
• Spread half the meat sauce in the baking pan. Add half the pasta/spaghetti squash noodles. Top with half the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Add remaining meat sauce, remaining pasta/squash, and the rest of the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Sprinkle with parmesan. Proceed to BAKE step below.
• BAKE
• Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, until cheese is bubbly. Serve.