Yet Another Use for Zucchini

Zucchini Bean and Cheese Burritos

Whats not to like about this recipe-you got zucchini and refried beans!

2 6 inch zucchini
4 wheat tortillas
1 cup refried beans
1 cup cheddar cheese grated
1 cup salsa

Trim zucchini and cut in half lengthwise. Steam each half cut side down until tender-about 6 minutes.

Spread 1/4 cup beans on each tortilla, place the zucchini half cut side down on top of beans. Sprinklke with 1/4 cup cheese and fold up. Place burrito cheese side down in a greased baking dish. Top with salsa and more cheese. Broil 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

This would make a wonderful lunch for the kids and a great way to get some great veggies in them without them really knowing what hit em!

Enjoy

Break from Zucchini today

Wanted to share a picture with you! It was our dinner last night and usually I don't snap pictures just because-but this grilled pizza was a thing of beauty. Crab, roasted peppers and onions with a fresh herb, garlic and feta cheese sauce. I will say it again-gotta love the fresh stuff from the garden.

Hope you enjoy the picture as much as we enjoyed the pizza!

Bonus Post and recipe

Yesterday I made an old favorite salad of mine-my Mom has made this one for year's but it never hurts to share an oldy but goody!

Popcorn Salad-don't laugh its a tasty one

1 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can chopped water chestnuts
1 cup mayo
1 cup shredded cheddar
2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 pound bacon, fried crisp and crumbled
6 strong cup popcorn

Mix all ingredients together except for bacon and popcorn. Add popcorn and combine-just before serving mix in bacon.

Other things that I am going to try adding-of course since everything we eat has to be spicy-how about fresh jalapeno? Or just a red pepper out of the garden?

This is a very neat way to get some veggies into the kids and let them have fun eating it since there aren't many kids that dislike popcorn.

Enjoy--not to worry for those of you looking for more zucchini recipes they are still coming.

Zucchini in dessert?????

Yes I am sure most have had zucchini bread and possibly the delicious zucchini cake-but this recipe to me beats them all--Mock Apple Pie!

If you are just craving a freshly baked apple pie and of course this time of the year apples aren't ready but zucchini is plentiful-check it out!

1 9 inch double pie crust
6 cups zucchini, peeled and cut into slices
1/4 cup water
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar-packed
3 Tbsp flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350. Put one crust in bottom of 9 inch pie pan. In a medium suacepan, cook zucchini slices in water until tender. Drain well. Toss with lemon juice and set aside.

In large bowl combine sugars, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add cooked zucchini and combine well. Pour into bottom crust, place the top crust over zucchini mixture. Pinch to seal edges and poke a few holes with a knife to allow steam to escape. Bake 45 minutes or until golden brown.

I can almost bet that if you serve this to guests and don't tell them it is zucchini they won't be able to tell the difference.

Enjoy!

Zuchinni Zuchinni Everywhere!!!

So I am not sure what happened in my garden-I planted 3 plants of cantalope, 3 of acorn squash and 3 of zuchinni-well it appears that I ended up with either 6 or 8 plants of zuchinni. What does this mean? I have an tremendous amount of zuchinni.

So now I am on a mission to try new recipes to make it taste different so that we don't get sick of it-especially since Frank is not a HUGE fan!!!!!

Last night I made SPAGHETTI ALLA CARBONARA DI ZUCCHINE-it was and easy and tasty recipe and it goes as follows

5 Tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove peeled
3 1/2 cups 1/4 inch slices of zuchinni
2 eggs at room temp
3/4 cup parmesan cheese
12 ounces spaghetti
6 large basil leaves

Boil pasta. Heat oil in fry pan and toss in whole garlic clove. Saute for about 1 minute until it turns light brown. Toss in zuchinni and saute for about 15 minutes until golden brown.

Put eggs and parm cheese in large bowl and whisk together. When pasta is done, toss with eggs and parm-the heat from the pasta will cook the eggs. Next toss with zuchinni and torn basil leaves. Season greatly with pepper and salt to taste.

Enjoy and be sure to check back because I will be posting more recipes with zuchinni!

Yugoslavian Red Lettuce

Here is a picture of the gorgeous lettuce that came from my garden!

I can't wait to dig into a big salad of this tonight for dinner! Or maybe Asian Lettuce Wraps instead with a little venison, radishes and brown rice with a spicy chili sauce!

Enjoy

Gardening Stuff

I just picked my first zucchini of the year-as with everything else this seems very early.

I also cut some of the first of the Yugoslavian Red Lettuce. I don't know if it has any special flavor but boy is it pretty! I will update you have I have a chance to eat it.

I also have lots of tomatoes on the vine and a few peppers-now all they need to do is ripen and mature.

Man you gotta love summer!

Sofrito-Plentiful Garden Sauce

Another use for random ingredients from your garden that I discovered this week:

Sofrito

Sofrito dresses up any dish from meat to pasta.

1 cup(s) red onion
1 cup(s) yellow onion
1 cup(s) green bell pepper
1 cup(s) red bell pepper
1/2 cup(s) parsley
1/2 cup(s) cilantro
1/3 cup(s) shallot
1/4 cup(s) white wine
1/4 cup(s) olive oil
1 garlic
1 tablespoon(s) chives
1/3 cup(s) basil, thyme, rosemary, etc
Combine all ingredients.

Pulse in food processor until almost smooth.

This can be served hot or at room temperature.

Enjoy