ITALIAN SAUSAGE SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut open a spaghetti squash and remove seeds.
• 2. Place halves on a cookie sheet. Brush the inside with olive oil.
• 3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• 4. Turn them face down in the pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes.
• 5. While the squash is cooking, work on the filling. Add the ground beef and sausage to a large skillet. While it's cooking, break apart the sausage. Brown until the meat is completely cooked.
• 6. Remove the meat to a paper towel-lined plate.
• 7. In the same pan, cook the zucchini and mushrooms in the meat juices until tender (about 5 minutes).
• 8. Turn off the heat and return the meat to the pan with the veggies.
• 9. Next, add the garlic and herb pasta sauce. Mix together carefully.
• 10. When the squash is cooked, remove it from the oven. Use a fork to pull the spaghetti strings from its shell (be careful not to damage the shells).
• 11. Add the squash to the pan with the meat and veggie sauce and mix together carefully. Cook at medium heat for about 10 minutes until the mixture is heated through.
• 12. Turn off the heat and add 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese to the pan. Fold it into the filling.
• 13. Use a slotted spoon to fill the squash shells with the meat and veggie filling.
• 14. Reduce the oven temp to 350. Sprinkle the halves with the remaining cup of Parmesan.
• 15. Bake for 10 to 15 min and serve directly from the shells.