Spaghetti Squash with Spinach Balls

I've been wanting to try using spaghetti squash recently and finally did tonight for dinner! It was delicious and didn't taste much different than if you used noodles but it also provided a little crunch.  The spinach balls were so, so good and savory.  This is a perfect substitute for run-of-the-mill spaghetti and meatballs!

Warning: Cutting a spaghetti squash in half is no easy task.  Be extremely careful so you don't slip and cut yourself. No, I did not do this, but I could envision it happening as I was cutting it. UPDATE: Microwave the whole squash a little before cutting it to make it easier! You can thank Marissa, a friend of mine, for that suggestion!

Spaghetti Squash and Spinach Balls

Ingredients:

• 1 spaghetti squash
  
• olive oil 
• salt 
• pepper
• 1 jar spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 an onion, chopped
• 5 white mushrooms, sliced
• 1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 9oz bag of spinach
• 3 slices of bread
• 1 egg
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Carefully cut the spaghetti squash in half. Remove seeds from each side.
3. Season each half with olive oil, salt and pepper. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray or line with nonstick foil and place each half, flat side down on the baking sheet. Bake for 40 minutes.  When done, let rest until cool to the touch.
4. Using a toaster, toast the three pieces of bread until dark brown and create crumbs using a food processor.
5. Bring a large pot of water to boil.  Once boiling, add spinach and boil for 2 to 3 minutes.
6. Transfer spinach to colander and immediately rinse with cold water. Squeeze spinach in small handfuls to remove excess water and transfer to a cutting board.
7. Chop spinach and transfer to a mixing bowl. Add breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, and parmesan.  Mix thoroughly by hand and mold into balls.
8. Heat about a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet.  Brown spinach balls on all sides. 
9. Using a fork, pull the pulp of the spaghetti squash out to create noodle-like texture.
10. In a skillet, add a small amount of olive oil and heat onion and mushrooms until heated through.  Transfer to a sauce pan and add spaghetti squash, spaghetti sauce, and red pepper flakes. Mix together over medium-low heat until heated through.  
11. Top spaghetti with spinach balls and serve.