Zucchini Eats

Howdy!
A couple of you have asked for the zucchini recipes I was mentioning in my menu last week.
We all know that this time of the year, we end up with bunches and bunches of summer squash.  I kind of treat both zucchini and yellow squash the same.  I use them both in many recipes.

I have been teased many times about being the Bubba (Forrest Gump) of zucchini - because there probably isn't a way I have not fixed them!  We eat a ton of it during the summer and I preserve in ways for the winter as well.


SAUSAGE/ZUCCHINI SKILLET
This is was my Mom used to fix and I have continued.
1 roll ground sausage
2 medium zucchini
1 small - medium onion chopped
1 tomato
Shredded cheese

I brown the sausage and onion together - then add sliced zucchini and cook until tender.  Thinly slice tomatoes and place on top of mixture in the skillet and top with cheese.  Heat slightly and cover till cheese melts.
*You can replace the sausage with bacon.  Cook up 1 lb. of bacon to crispy.  Sautee onion and zucchini in 'some' of the bacon grease.  Toss back in broken up bacon, sliced tomato and cheese.
You won't believe how good this stuff is.  This is one of our favorites.
I literally believe we could eat this every week!

 

ZUCCHINI BOATS
Here is the original recipe
2 medium zucchini - microwave for 1 - 2 minutes
6 Tbsp. shredded cheddar cheese
2 Tbsp. cream cheese softened
2 Tbsp. sour cream
1 1/2 tsp. chopped jalapeno
4 Tbsp. panko bread crumbs.
Halve zucchini lengthwise and scoop out seeds and microwave.  Mix together cheese, sour cream and jalapenos and divide into the 'boats'.  Top with panko.  Bake at 400* for 25 minutes or until lightly browned on top.

I change this up a bit.  In my opinion the cheese mixture is NOT nearly enough.  We all know that zucchini are somewhat bland - so they need all the topping they can get.  I think the topping mix, as is, would be good for 2 very small zucchini or maybe one medium.  I more that double the cheese mixture.
**I have been known to throw in a nice amount of real bacon bits as well!
** I have also added crushed dried onions to the topping as well.
You can play around with this and blend to your own taste.

Pizza boats are also good.  Add some cooked sausage or pepperoni or any pizza topper you want to your boats - cover with pizza sauce and shredded cheese and bake as above.
there is no limit to what you can INVENT!



ZUCCHINI SALAD
This is really not a recipe - just something I throw together.
I dice up zucchini, onion, and tomato into a nice big bowl - add Italian dressing and seasoning.
That's it!!!  It is so refreshing and light.
You can also do this with cucumbers if you have an abundance, or mix the two together.

Again this is another one that you can add bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower or any fresh veggie you have.  Add the dressing and you have a nice big bowl of salad to munch on for days!

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There are just so many neat things you can do with zucchini.  I love adding them to stir fry, spaghetti sauce, thinly sliced on pizza, or sauté and add in tomatoes (this is a great taste sensation) for a side dish. 
I dehydrate them to add to soups in the winter.  I make pickles with them.  I make mock pineapple and have even added them shredded to make jam.  I shred and bag up in appropriate measures and freeze for baking sweet bread and muffins in the winter.  I even make a cream of zucchini soup.

I could go on and on.  There is just NO limits to what you can make.  Zucchini takes on the flavor of whatever you are cooking it with (it really doesn't have much taste itself).

Get crazy and experiment a little.  You will be amazed at the versatility of the wonderful, incredible, edible zucchini!!
ENJOY