My grandmother served this often on Sundays and it was a favorite. Use spaghetti squash to keep the carbs low.  Or if you want the true taste of pasta, use a combination of 1 cup spaghetti and 2 cups spaghetti squash, which will raise the net carbs per serving to about 11.5 g.   For comparison, if you make this recipe with just 2 cups spaghetti pasta, the net carbs will be about 14.4 g.  Using just spaghetti squash comes in at 7.1 g.

I made this using Dreamfield’s pasta, but as of 04-14, it has been proven that this pasta is not low-carb nor is it ok for diabetics to use. My photo still shows pasta, but when making this use spaghetti squash instead to stay low carb.

Grandmother’s Spaghetti Loaf

2 lbs. Ground Beef
2 cups Canned Tomatoes, diced
1 cup Onions, diced or chopped
1 tablespoon Italian Seasonings
1 teaspoon ground oregano
2 large Eggs
1/2 cup Sweet peppers, chopped
3 cups cooked spaghetti squash
1 tablespoon Garlic, minced
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated

Cook the spaghetti squash* until done (al dente). Put in a large bowl. Turn on the oven to preheat to 350 degrees (F.)

Add the rest of the ingredients. Wash your hands and mix with your hands until the ingredients are mixed well together. Pour into a baking dish and form into a loaf. Sprinkle the top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Bake for about 40 to 50 minutes until the meat is done and the top is browned and slightly crispy.

Makes 8 servings

Nutrition Info:
With spaghetti squash: 1/8th of recipe
Calories: 240.4 Fat: 4.1 g Net Carbs: 7.1 g Protein: 28.1 g

For comparison, if you make this recipe with 2 cups spaghetti pasta, the net carbs will be about 14.4 g.

Tip:  You can cook the spaghetti squash in the oven by cutting it in half, putting both sides face up on a cookie sheet and putting it in a 385 degree (F) oven and roasting it for about 40 minutes. Or, you can poke slits in the squash with a knife, wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in the mircowave for about 5 minutes on high. The squash is done when the outside skin is soft. Let cool, them cut it open and remove the seeds from the strands of squash, then pull the strands out and separate them.

Posted on  2/5/2014