Hello everyone! I hope you’re all doing well this week. It’s hard to believe we are in the middle of May already. Time is flying this year! I’m sorry I haven’t been doing many Breakfast and a Book posts lately, but life has been a little crazy. I hope to pick back up with more of these during the summer when I have a little more time in the mornings.
I’ve had this recipe in mind for some time now. I cook it often, but the difference now is that I don’t have it with eggs like I used to. For breakfast, this can be served with fried eggs or scrambled eggs mixed in.
Spaghetti Squash:
Ingredients:
- 1 large or 2 small spaghetti squash
- 2 bell peppers
- 1 onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1-2 TB oil (I use coconut)
- Herbs of choice (basil/oregano)
- Salt and pepper
- Cilantro for garnish
Directions:
I cooked the spaghetti squash last night so they would be ready first thing this morning. All you do is cut them in half long-wise and scoop out the seeds. Lay them face down in a shallow pan with about an inch of water. Bake covered for about 45-55 minutes in a 375 degree oven. You can use these right out of the oven, but be sure to cool them a bit first. You can also store in the refrigerator for a day or two before use.
Chop up your veggies…
Fry them in oil over medium heat. After about 3-4 minutes, add the garlic and cook for a few more minutes until fragrant.
Now add in your spaghetti squash. Just use a fork and scrape the squash right out. It comes out looking a lot like spaghetti noodles!
Add in your dried herbs with salt and pepper. I don’t measure. Just sprinkle everything generously. Fry for a few minutes until heated through. You can add more oil if you feel it needs it.
I like to garnish mine with cilantro.
It’s delicious any time of the day! You can get creative and add in chicken or whatever you prefer. It’s also a great side.
This Week’s Book:
In the Shadow of the Hanging Tree
by

Blurb from Goodreads:
In 1865 a shadow hovers over the nation: the shadow lingers still…
Born into slavery, Henry’s young life is spent working in tobacco drying sheds on Missouri plantations. Freed at the onset of the Civil War, he’s alone, starving, and on the run from Confederate militiamen.
Five years later, Clara Hanfield, the daughter of a powerful New York shipping magnate, escapes her tyrannical father and travels west in pursuit of John Elliot, the man she loves. John, a U.S. Army lieutenant, was sent to the Dakota Territory where he discovers a government conspiracy to incite an all-out war with the Indians; a war meant to finally eliminate them as an obstacle to the westward expansion.
Henry finds himself caught in the middle.
Aided by Clara, John, and his native ally, Standing Elk, Henry must battle hatred, greed, and the ghosts of his past during this turbulent and troubling time in American history.
My thoughts so far…
I started reading this over a month ago and put it down pretty quickly. The subject matter is hard to read (for me) as it deals with slavery and some of the details were just too much for me to handle.
“Am I gonna get whipped everyday?” Henry asked, his hand reflexively darting to his face with the fresh flare of pain from speaking. “Not so long as you work hard an’ do what you’re told. Now be quiet an’ let her finish.”
Some of the language is hard to deal with, but I know I have to keep in mind that this is back during the Civil War at a very troubling time. I finally decided to delve back into it and it’s actually quite thrilling. The writing is really good. I’m about 1/4 of the way in at this point and some new characters have been introduced, so I’m hopeful I’ll be able to finish it this time around. I’m not going to lie–I was extremely angry more than once already and I’m hoping for some revenge, but I’m not sure if I’m going to get it.
Find this book on Goodreads and Amazon:
Paperback: 268 pages
Publisher: Sweet Candy Press (April 26, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0989709884
ISBN-13: 978-0989709880
I’m so glad I saw this post before heading out to the store. I’m totally making this today!!! Great post, as always. P.S. Love the veggie heart! 💛
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yay! You have to let me know how it turns out, Bonnie. ❤ Thank you and so glad you liked the post. Take care and enjoy! 😀
LikeLike
I loved the spaghetti squash this morning. This was my first experience with squash believe it or not. I really do need to discover more healthy foods to add to my diet.
Not sure about the book. Hope it turns out to be ok for you. Great post! 😃
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the squash. It’s pretty good really and I’m not a squash person lol. 🙂 I’m hopeful to finish the book as well! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve cooked squash, but never tried spaghetti squash. Hubby isn’t a fan of any kind of squash – maybe I’ll try it the next time he’s out of town!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He may like this, Teri! I totally cannot stand cooked squash. The thought of cooked zucchini makes me want to puke and I always just eat it raw LOL. I think the key for squash haters is to spice it up as much as possible and adding the garlic, peppers, and onions helps so much. Let me know if you ever try it! ❤ Thank you. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love squash cooked all ways. Unfortunately, I don’t have it often enough. The veggie heart is pretty cool! I’ll wait until I read your review before I make up my mind about the book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, David. I’m hopeful! 😁
LikeLike
Spaghetti squash has very little taste of its own. It picks up the taste of whatever you cook it with. I think that is why people who normally don’t like squash don’t mind this. As far as the book hoes, I often find some of the books with the toughest subject matter are the best and most memorable stories. I hope you enjoy the rest and get your revenge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, Carla! Thank you. 💗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yum! Breakfast and a Book is back! 💜 I LOVE spaghetti squash and I haven’t done much with it this year. Hm. Why no eggs, M? I ask because I’m not much of an egg eater. Your book sounds really good, too. Maybe this summer, I’ll be adventurous and do a Breakfast and a Book post?! ♥️ xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you like this squash too! I can’t have eggs because I’m still on Anthony William’s thyroid protocol since January 7th. Still going strong and hope to continue through the rest of the year and reevaluate. I’ll do another update on that soon too.
I think it would be amazing if you did Breakfast and a Book! I’m excited! 💗💗💗 Have a good day and chat soon. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks delicious but unfortunately for me I wouldn’t be able to eat it. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww, what can’t you have, Carrie? 💗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh there’s a whole long list but with this it’s the peppers and onions that I know not to touch these days although I wish I could.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww! I feel like that a lot because there are so many foods I can’t have. ❤ Take care, Carrie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, the you want what you can’t have and I think it makes them look even better.
LikeLike
I love this post! Looks good! Thanks for sharing ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Deanna. 😉💗❤💗
LikeLike
Looks delicious😚😍😍😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Pryasha. 💙😘
LikeLike
Now that recipe for spaghetti squash makes me want to try it. Looks delicious!! Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Laurie! I hope you try it. ❤😙
LikeLiked by 1 person
That spaghetti squash dish looks so good… and nice heart veggie photo! 😉
In the Shadow sounds really heavy. I have a few like that to read as well but never seem to be in a mood that allows for it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. 💖 I feel like that’s my exact issue when it comes to some of my reads here lately-my mood. I’m hopeful this one will turn out really good though. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope so too! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know if this is somethign I could try. Spaghetti squash just weirds me out. Don’t ask me why cause I can’t explain it, lol. As others have said, love the veggie heart. It’s so perfectly formed too. I’m jealous.
As for your book, I know that feeling of reading something that’s gonna be pretty heavy on the emotions. I hope you can get through it even if it doesn’t end up the way you want it to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear you, Nel. I’ve never been a cooked squash fan honestly. I can do this one though. Thanks for liking the heart–I was just messing around lol. One of those moods I guess. ❤
I’m hoping the book works out too. Hope you’re feeling better! 🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even messing around you’re such and artist! I’ll look for your review for this book 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person