A delicate looking herb with a penetrating fragrance, thyme is an herb we should all take time to investigate and enjoy. And with about sixty different varieties including French (common) thyme, lemon thyme, orange thyme and silver thyme, this herb is sure to add some spice to your life. Thyme leaves are curled, elliptically shaped and very small, measuring about one-eighth of an inch long and one-sixteenth of an inch wide.
Spaghetti squash, another winter squash variety, is a low calorie, low carbohydrate substitution for pasta. It has a stringy, mild, slightly sweet flavor and is perfect base for olive oil or tomato sauces. Stuff it, roast it, bake it, puree it, you name it. Serve it with breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, or dessert.
To prepare spaghetti squash, cut in half lengthwise and remove the seeds with a spoon. Bake or boil it until tender, or wrap it in plastic wrap and microwave on high for 10 to 12 minutes. Once squash is cooked, use a fork to rake out the stringy flesh (which spaghetti like) all the way to the rind and serve.Recipes: spaghetti squash with a firm, dry rind free of soft spots and cracks. Squash should be heavy for its size with a firm, dry, rounded stem, which helps keep out bacteria.