Zucchini Recipes

Here is the first post in a series...I will be posting our favorite recipes for certain fruits and veggies.  We will start off with zukes!

Santa Fe Style Quinoa

(Cook 1/2 C quinoa in 1 C water until fluffy (see package for instructions). This will give you 2 C quinoa.)

2 C cooked quinoa
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium zucchini, chopped
1 C tomatoes, chopped
1 can corn, drained (or 2/3 C fresh or frozen)
3 T oil
3 T melted butter
1/2 C chunky tomato salsa
1 1/2 t Spike seasoning
2 t Mexican spice blend
1/2 t onion powder
1 t cumin powder
1 C Monterey jack cheese, shredded

Pour oil into a large skillet. I use a big cast-iron one. Add the peppers, onion and garlic. When they begin to become tender, add the zucchini. As it becomes tender, add the tomatoes and corn.

Stir in the beans, quinoa, salsa, and seasonings and anything I forgot to mention individually. When it is hot throughout, you can either serve as is, or top with cheese and put in the oven until the cheese melts (just a few minutes). Or you can refrigerate this and serve it cold.

Caramel-frosted Zucchini Bars

Zucchini Bread

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1/2 t. baking soda
3 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1 cup vegetable oil (or part oil and part applesauce)
3/4 t. baking powder
2 cups grated zucchini
1 t. vanilla
1 cup raisins-optional
1 cup chopped walnuts-optional

Beat eggs. Gradually add sugar and oil. Combine dry ingredients.  Alternate adding zucchini and the dry mixture. Stir in raisins, walnuts, and vanilla. Bake at 350 for 60 minutes.  This makes two loaves.

Crunchy Zucchini Circles
3 small zucchini
1 egg
2 T oil
6 T unseasoned fine bread crumbs
3 T. Parmesan
1/4 t. salt
1 t. dried basil
1/2 oregano
1/2 t. onion powder
Slice zucchini 1/4 inch thick.  Beat egg in small bowl. Put oil in frying pan and heat to medium. In a medium-sized bowl mix bread crumbs, Parmesan, salt, basil, oregano, onion powder.  Use a fork to hold a zuke slice. Dip into egg and then dry ingredients. Put zucchini in pan.  Cook 5 min. and then turn them over and cook 5 minutes more.  You can also put the zukes on a baking sheet and spray them with oil and then bake them in the oven.  We serve these with Ranch dressing.