Eric and I have been quite obsessed with HGTV and DIY Network for some time now. We know all the shows. All the hosts. Bryan Baeumler fan girl/boy right here! We can recite all the annoying commercials by heart (ugh). We watch repeated episodes multiple times to the point where we could recognize the homeowners on the street. Eric is tormented by the fact that we’re renting right now and can’t really do anything major to spiff up this place. Not that it’s a bad place to live, but it doesn’t really feel overly personalized for us. It doesn’t quite feel like home. He’s so desperate to build things he didn’t complain once when putting together an Ikea cabinet the other week! How does that even happen?
The point of this story, however, is that the DIY shows are brainwashing me.
Proof? I’m entertaining Eric’s idea of gutting an old house from top to bottom. That’s on his bucket list. His dream is to buy the crappiest, oldest, creepiest house on the block and gut it to the bones. We recently went to look at a 100-year old house that hadn’t been updated since the original owner moved in. Green cabinets, knob and tube electrical, scary stains in the basement, rotary phones. It was straight out of a horror flick. Isn’t that every girl’s dream? Can I even survive that kind of torment? Who knows. Watching them make it look so easy on TV makes me feel like it’s possible though (or insane, depending on the day).
I hate to be a dream crusher, so I’m entertaining this idea. Plus, I love when he’s happy and doing what he is passionate about. I just don’t want a house gutting to be a marriage gutter, you know what I mean? I recall the renos we did in our previous house and it wasn’t always puppy dogs and rainbows. There were tears, fights, hefty bills, excruciating trips to Home Depot (loathe), dust, and more dust. Did I mention dust? Maybe renting isn’t so bad after all.
I’ll keep you posted on what we end up doing. In the meantime, feel free to share your own home renovation stories with me! Are you living through any right now?
Something that isn’t a marriage crusher? This recipe right here. Smiles and happy bellies all around with this meal. As per my theme of Vegan Glow in September, this meal was super easy to throw together. In fact, I think I’m going to put it on the rotation every week! It’s also a great way to boost your vegetable intake significantly.
When the squash is done roasting, season it with chili powder, cumin, oregano, and more salt and pepper. I go wild with the spices. Then layer on a hefty serving of black bean guacamole. I repeat: go wild.
aaaaand feast!
Tex Mex Spaghetti Squash with Black Bean Guacamole
Yield
2-3 servings
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
A satisfying and healthy dinner for two! Recipe inspired by Whole Foods.
Ingredients
For the spaghetti squash:
- 1 medium spaghetti squash
- extra virgin olive oil
- ground cumin
- ground chili powder
- dried oregano
- salt & pepper
For the black bean guacamole:
- 2 avocados, pitted and flesh scooped out
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 1 small tomato, seeded and diced
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed (about 1.5 cups cooked beans)
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, or to taste
- fine grain sea salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- red pepper flakes, to taste
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice off the stem of the squash and place the squash cut side down on a cutting board. With a chef's knife, carefully slice through the squash lengthwise to create two long halves. Scoop out the seeds and guts with an ice cream scoop. Brush some olive oil onto the squash and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place squash halves cut side down on the baking sheet and roast for 30-50 minutes, depending on how large your squash is. When the squash is tender and you can easily scrape the strands with a fork, it's ready. I like to check the squash after 25-30 minutes to make sure I'm not over cooking it. Be sure not to cook for too long or it will turn mushy.
- While the squash is roasting, prepare the black bean guacamole. Mash the avocado flesh in a large bowl. Fold in the onion, tomato, drained and rinsed black beans, and cilantro. Season to taste with lime juice, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Remove squash from the oven, flip over, and scrape the flesh with a fork in vertical motions. Do this until you've scraped all the strands off the skin. Now sprinkle on some chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper (as much or as little as you want). Top the squash with guacamole and serve warm. You can also plate the spaghetti squash, if preferred.
Tip:
For a step by step photo tutorial for roasting spaghetti squash, see this post.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
Oh man, I can’t wait to try this!!
My parents bought a giant old run-down house on the grounds that my dad really wanted to fix it up himself…that was thirty-two years ago. They’re now trying to get it ready for sale, and my mom’s having to get rid of all the things she’d collected in anticipation of the interior decor phase of the renovation. We’re all hoping that instead of an infill developer, an ambitious young couple with a plan and some extra cash will buy it, gut it and make it into a giant old nice house.
We bought our house two years ago and it came with a gutted master bath. It wasn’t a huge deal project wise, but it to FOREVER, and then became so time consuming. It felt like every free weekend and spare time we had was spent on the bathroom. I agree with a previous commenter that you should set ground rules so you are both on the same page. Also make sure you schedule small amounts of time away from the project so you can keep some of your sanity. If you are up for it and can make it happen go for it. It would be so rewarding in the end and your house can be exactly how you want it.
I am putting this meal on the menu for next week, it looks delicious.
Oh, my! This looks amazing! I have most of the ingredients on hand, leftover from Taco Tuesday, heading to the kitchen now. Thanks so much for sharing!
I am always trying to find new ways to eat my spaghetti squash. Usually I just add some tomato sauce and beans and munch. This is a nice twist on it.. love it!
i would’ve never thought to combine spag. squash & guac, but why not? two absolutely delish things & ya can’t go wrong!
A rotary phone? I love it!!
Our kitchen reno was nightmare-like…2 weeks without a functioning kitchen and oh, the mess…but I would liken it to childbirth; you forget the pain when you see how beautiful it all looks. Good luck with whatever you decide :)
Wow. Your first paragraphs are so outside my frame of reference that it feels like I’m getting a glimpse into an alternate universe.
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE DINNER MISSY?! xoxoxo
I just picked up a spaghetti squash and have been contemplating how to doctor it up for an exciting meal. This looks like the perfect way to spice things up! LOVE the black bean guacamole. I will never say no when there are avocados involved!!
LOL! It doesn’t surprise me that Eric has a dream of gutting an old crappy house – that man was born to be on HGTV!!! You guys are both awesome at it, and I have no doubt that you will live in your dream home some day! As for this recipe, you are speaking my language! I am loving all things squash right now and have some serious cooking plans for the weekend. And PS, I miss you, and think we should get together soon!
that guac looks bangin!! :)
I know what i’m eating for dinner tomorrow night!!It looks delicious!! I love guacamole, beans and spaghetti squash but i never thought to mix them together!!wow!!
Gosh that looks sumptuous! Do you think you could use a different type squash if you can’t find spaghetti squash? I’ve been seeing lots of butternut and acorn squash at the store, but no spaghetti squash!
PS. I feel your pain regarding the reno, only with CARS. My fiancee is a car guy and dreams about getting some old, rusted (but classic!) car (you know, the kind that the mob used to transport bodies, probably) and wants to fix it up. :) Hobbies and dreams are good things, says I! Of course, I’m not dealing with a creepy rotary phone infested old house. ;)
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve bought a spaghetti squash, let it sit for weeks and walk by it…taunting me. I need to get over that…and make this.
I just made a huge batch of black beans a couple weeks ago and froze some. I think I need to thaw them and add to this!
Hi there, Vegan Girl…
So my hubby and I are in the middle of a renovation. We bought a house built in 1926, and so far we’ve ripped out the kitchen, ripped out the floors and put down new hardwood (turned out great), and we’re getting ready to put in new trim and door casings, and a few windows here and there. I would say, budget-wise just be prepared to go over by sometimes as much as 50%. It just happens. Schedules shift with workers and things always seem to take longer which means more days of labor wages. Also, as you’re picking materials/finishes you decide you want to go up a notch and that mean, cha-ching, more money. It’s just the way it goes. It also helps if you’re a little younger! We did this once when we were in our 40s. And now me at 53 and hubby at 49, well, it’s a little harder on the older joints, backs, stress levels. We’re getting there, but it can be really stressful. So, assuming you are a bit younger, and are continuing to make money, then go for it! But, it can be wearing and oh my goodness the dust! Another word of advice is to be sure their are basic features in place: solid foundation, a good site, no termites. Good luck living the dream!
Holy crap that looks good! I’m making it next week!
it is my THIS WEEK resolution
to MAKE THIS for real.
q: is there a way
to make links open in
a NEW window?
i love to click around your site
but
no likey losing my spot.
eh? : )
Okay, so my childhood best friend and I just reconnected over a much-needed phone call yesterday, and before then, she had no idea that I went vegan a few months back. She was all “I don’t know how you can do it, what do you eat?” And I tried to explain how wildly diverse my diet is–that it even includes plenty of (cleaned up versions of) our childhood and teen-years staples! Knowing she’s a hardcore Tex-Mex girl–we both are, really–this dish will totally win her over. Cannot wait to share.
Just about to buy our first house – and I’m rather put off the reno work already :-) Thanks guys! On a separate note, wish I could find spaghetti squash in the UK…
wow! Im so happy i found your blog! As an Irish person living in Belgium I have lots of time to cook – newly arrived! A friend told me about your blog and am so impressed. Looked at it for the first time 3 days ago and have made about 3 things so far! This is delicious! Im also loving the fact that there is a much wider variety of squash here than in Ireland. Unfortunately no WHole Foods though! Keep on blogging!
Hey Aimee, Thanks so much for your kind words! So glad you are enjoying the blog :)