Set Sail on a Slothful, Saturday
Build a Spaghetti Squash
Pirate Ship!
Wow what a lazy day! But a very NEEDED lazy day. To prepare for the crazy week, I like to cook/bake and prep for the 'ol lunch box scramble. We had a spaghetti squash in the fridge and it was time for a new taste test with my "Little Man."
Supplies
• 1 spaghetti squash
• Aluminum foil
• Deep pan
• Oven mitts
• Cutting board
• Fork
• Tupperware containers
• Straws
• Coloring pages
• Crayons
• Permanent markers
• Tape
• Safety scissors
• Tub, sink, backyard pool
Preparing the squash
Wrap the spaghetti squash in aluminum foil. Place in a deep pan (incase the squash springs a leak your oven'll be saved!) Cook at 350ºF until it gives when you press on it. It took this squash about 1 1/2 hours.
When the squash is ready. Pull it out of the oven and peel off the aluminum foil. Be careful it'll be hot! Place the squash on a cutting board using some oven mitts or a kitchen towel and cut it down the middle lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and discard. Then, take your fork and scrape the insides out. This will pick up the fibers of the squash and SURPRISE it really looks like strands of spaghetti. Place the strands in tupperware and set aside while it cools and later place in the fridge. Or snack while you create. Fyi, you won't need to doctor it up. It tastes great in its natural state.
Crafting the ship
Have your son/daughter choose any coloring page. Block out a section of the coloring page in the shape of a flag and have them color it in as they wish. Have them trim out the flag.
While he/she is working on the that, finish hollowing out the squash completely. When completed, fashion the squash like a pirate ship with those magic markers! My son added one of his favorite wrestling toys to act as the pirate. Take the straw and fold the flag around and tape into place. Place in the hand of the pirate. Place pirate into hollowed half of squash. "Float away little critter..." Now remember you have two halves. So two boats make for some swash buckling fun on the high seas!
This is wonderful "together time" that ends with a great snack in their bellies and a lesson...that PLAYING WITH YOUR FOOD can be Healthy too!
;)
