Just the Bits

Our egg basket has been looking a bit empty lately.  I have been using them a lot more, so I hope the newbies start laying soon.

The garden is producing, but the red raspberries don't look that great this year.  The blackberries are loaded, so I'm hoping my bird netting will keep the birds out.

It is such a relieving, happy, and glorious feeling to walk out and pick something fresh, and not have to get in the truck and drive to the store and spend hard earned money on our vegetables.  I am already making a list of what to plant next year  (for one, adding English type cucumbers, if you have a favorite organic/heirloom variety please do share).  If things go good this month, we may have new raised beds built for fall planting.

I tried a new recipe to accommodate zucchini into our meal - Roasted Chickpea Salad.  Recipe is online with Green Healthy Cooking.  I made my own homemade ras el hanout seasoning (no sugar) using a recipe online from AllRecipes.  Although, homemade is easily done and less expensive, the real seasoning contains many more ingredients like ginger.  

We really liked the new recipe, and it uses 2 zucchini in the recipe.  I thought it would be too much for the two of us, but it went fast.  I may be looking for a resource for the organic seasoning, or just stick with homemade.  A great way to use up seasonal zucchini.  Oh, and this salad can be a main meal or side dish, and eaten hot or cold.  Add salmon or other meat if desired.

(source:  Vita-cost)

The recipe called for farro, and it was completely out, so I used quinoa in our salad.  I'm wondering how the Jovial einkorn wheat berries would taste in this recipe.  I have yet to even try these.  I have to order them online, as our stores do not sell them.  

Has anyone tried these?  Do you like the taste?  How do they compare to farro?  Any good online resource other than Vita-cost?  They are $5.99 plus shipping in their online store.  I don't place an order until I have a discount code with free shipping involved (and a list of re-order items to re-stock).

 

Zucchini Pizza Casserole

I intended to take a photo of the casserole with cheese (fresh out of the oven), but it smelled so good we scooped and ate right away.

The only thing I did differently, was mix the pepper in with the onion (vs. sprinkle on top the cheese).  Well, that's not the only thing I did differently, I also used sage sausage vs. ground beef, and used home canned pizza sauce vs. tomato sauce.  

It was delicious.  I think it smelled divine, because it was home canned pizza sauce.  

I froze the other half of it, so we had an easy meal for another night.

Just google the name of the recipe, and Taste of Home.  Recipe is online.

Great way to use your zucchini this season (and for us avoiding pasta), and using up some home canned pizza sauce.

Turkey Zucchini Meatballs

I like to freeze these uncooked, because they cook up pretty quickly.  It's a great way to use zucchini too.  I double this and use my large pampered chef cookie scoop, getting about 34 to 35 meatballs.

Turkey Zucchini Meatballs
1 lb. ground turkey, organic
1 cup shredded zucchini*
1 tsp. homemade Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. homemade garlic powder
1/2 tsp. homemade onion powder
1/4 tsp. organic (or homemade) crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

*if using thawed, frozen shredded zucchini, squeeze out liquid before adding.

Shape into balls and freeze or cook.  To freeze, I put them on a try and freeze, then remove and freeze in an airtight freezer container or freezer bag.

To Bake (thawed):
Preheat oven to 400°F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a pampered chef stoneware bar pan.  Bake 16-18 minutes, or until done.

To Bake Frozen:
Bake 20-25 minutes or until done.

I like to bake the meatballs about an hour to an hour and a half, prior to dinner.  Place them in a crock pot on low and top with a sauce.

Sauces we love:
Homemade marinara sauce
Hot pepper mustard sauce
Home canned BBQ sauce
Mixing home canned ketchup with home canned grape jelly

We've also considered using our habanero/apricot jelly in place of grape, as well as our hot pepper jelly.  It all depends on what you like.  It make a super easy meal.

These sauces are terrific with beef/pork meatballs as well.

Recipes that use Zucchini and taste great!

In my search for new recipes I have decided to post the links or book titles of where I find recipes that use zucchini. Since my vegetable garden, and most likely many others, have a lot of zucchini to cook with this summer. Here is an ongoing list as we try them. Of course I am only listing the recipes that the kids have declared tasty. I asked the kids to rate the recipes from 1-5, with 5 being the best tasting.

1. Asparagus-Zucchini Frittata (also uses fresh dill from your herb garden) ~ 4 star
The adults loved this dish, but the kids thought the fresh dill was over powering, so consider cutting the dill back just a bit.

Note:  I now add zucchini to almost any frittata.

2. Zucchini Bread (Mayo Clinic), rated 5 star
This bread recipe does not hold a real sweet flavor. If you are used to chocolate chips in your bread, you may be rating this lower. However, we really enjoyed this healthy recipe.

3. Zucchini-Banana Squares, definitely rated a 5 star overall - Yum!
4. Zucchini Linguini with Walnuts, from The New American Heart Association Cookbook, 7th edition, ISBN: 1-4000-4826-5, page 349 - 5 stars all around! This was a very inexpensive dish to make because we had oregano from the herb garden, and zucchini from the vegetable garden. Next year will will be growing large onions as well. This also tastes good with spaghetti noodles if you don't have linguine. We used whole wheat.

I found a link on-line for this, but they eliminate the mushrooms in the recipe. We do not leave the mushrooms out and we love it. Of course we double or tripe the recipe and add loads of zucchini to it. YUM!

Link to Zucchini Linguini with Walnuts


5. Eggplant-Zucchini Casserole, 5-star! This is also from the New American Heart Association Cookbook, 7th edition. I also found the exact same recipe on the Internet (click on the highlighted recipe title to get there).

I like this recipe, because you put the dry spaghetti noodles right into the pan and bake it. You don't have to boil the noodles in advance. Yum!


6. A variation of Quick Eggplant and Zucchini Casserole, I made this variation, however I did not use the wine, doubled everything but the cheese, and added cooked sliced potatoes to it. I also added basil and oregano and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. I did not have tomato paste on hand so I used one can of Healthy Request Tomato Soup. One of the kids had thirds! What a creamy dinner!


7. Zucchini Brownies, 5 star! Yum! The family devoured these. It took everything to save one for my Mom.

8. "Casual" Vegan Zucchini Pancakes, 5 stars definitely! I did not have Soy milk on hand so we used fat free milk and the texture and taste was delicious! We even added fresh blueberries! You have to make these if you grow zucchini!

9. Zucchini Salsa

10. Zucchini- Corn Saute

11.  Blueberry Zucchini Snack Cake

12.  Zucchini Muffins.  I personally make my own homemade baking mix, and use a recipe from a fellow blogger - Lazy J Bar C (baking mix recipe is on her blog as well).

13.  Chicken Teriyaki.  I simply cook up a mass of vegetables, including zucchini and yellow squash, add cooked, diced chicken, and top it over rice with homemade teriyaki sauce.

14.  Roasted Vegetables. Simply add the vegetables herbs and spices you want.  



Freeze sliced zucchini - I like to blanch mine for 2 minutes in boiling water, drain, and place in an ice bath for 2 minutes.  Drain well and freeze.  I do this with slices and dices of zucchini.

Freeze shredded zucchini - simply shred and freeze.  I measure out by the cup and label it for future use.  I have never blanched my shredded zucchini, and have never had a problem with it.