M&M Adventures: Spirits of the Grand Tour

Of all the holidays, the one that M+M spend the least time celebrating together is Halloween.

We aren’t sure why exactly, this year we are finding ways to enjoy the spooky season. Early in our dating adventures our favorite thing to do was trade off making dinner for one another, bonus points for taking a risk and trying something we hadn’t made before or that didn’t have a recipe. Our latest date night is a mash up of a cozy dinner at home and outing to The Grand.

One of my made up dishes was roasted spaghetti squash filled with a mixture of italian sausage, onion, garlic, spinach, and mushrooms, and parmesan cheese. My sister actually helped me come up with the idea when I was sharing that “it’s my turn to make dinner and this is what I have on hand.” It can come together in about 45 minutes and still get you out of the house with time to spare if you are rushing home from work to make dinner and get out of the house for an adventure, too. Real life happens to everyone, even M+M.

Spooky Tour of The Grand

The Spirits of the Grand tours lean in on the haunted happenings that have been shared over the years, and the stories have taken on a life of their own. Is the Grand haunted? We are not sure, we also don’t want to find out. The walking tour takes you through areas of The Grand like the lobby, balcony, stage, and back stage dressing rooms.

Our guides were ghost hunters that were able to find some of the spirits that have a presence at The Grand. M+M both have an appreciation of theatre and performing arts and this was a great experience driven opportunity. The Grand has a great line up of shows this year that lean on touring artists, community theatre, and high school performances. We know we will be back for some upcoming shows!

If you want to try your hand at the M+M Spaghetti Squash:

You will want to use a small-medium size spaghetti squash and pierce some holes in the skin. Microwave on high until a knife pierces through skin (anywhere from 5-12 minutes depending on size). Slice in half and scoop out the seeds. Drizzle olive oil on each half of the squash and add salt & pepper to taste, flip cut side down on a parchment paper covered baking sheet. Bake in a 425 degree oven for 20-35 minutes (depending on size).

Chop & sauté mushrooms and onions in a large pan over medium to medium to medium- high heat. Once mushrooms & onion are browned to your liking, remove them from the pan. To the same pan over medium to medium-high heat brown ground Italian sausage (or ground beef, turkey, chicken, or no meat) - season with salt & pepper to your taste. Once meat is browned (if using), add garlic to taste, we used 3 cloves minced.  Add mushrooms and onions back to the pan and stir in a jar of alfredo sauce (this would also be time to add spinach and other veggies you would like). Let all items simmer for a few minutes. Once your squash is done baking, cool slightly and stir with a fork to get the spaghetti texture. You can add the squash to the pan with sauce or serve with sauce over the squash. Top with grated parmesan cheese. This dish pairs well with salad and garlic bread. 

Learn More:

The Grand Oshkosh | 100 High Ave, Oshkosh, WI 54901 | (920) 424-2350