Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Zucchini FUN....

FOR FUN!!!!  Did you know; zucchini is technically a fruit because it contains seeds.  It is treated as a vegetable in the culinary world and is very versatile.  Zucchini used alone doesn't have much taste but when used in breads, stir fry, casseroles, cookies, brownies, it adds moisture and takes on different tastes.  Zucchini is high in nutrition and low in fat.
You can grate zucchini and freeze it to use all year .  When you are ready to use it thaw it and drain it in a colander and use it just like it was fresh. 
What to do with all that Zucchini !!???   Here are a couple zucchini recipes you might want to try.
Zucchini Stroganoff  (aka: Homemade Hamburger Helper – my grandkids don’t even know there is zucchini in it and they love it)
1 lb. Hamburger
1 small onion, grated or diced
Salt & Pepper
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can milk
2 c. uncooked egg noodles
2 c. grated zucchini
1 T. fresh basil, chopped
½ c. sour cream or cream cheese (optional)
Brown hamburger & onion,  season with salt & pepper.  Stir in soup & milk.  Add noodles & zucchini; cover, simmer for 10 minutes.  Stir. Cover & simmer 10 more minutes.  Stir in basil & sour cream or cream cheese if desired.  Serve. 

Zucchini Brownies

2 c. peeled, grated zucchini
2 c. flour
1 1/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. cocoa
1 t. salt
1 1/2 t. soda
1/2 c. oil
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla

Stir together and spread in greased 9x13 pan.  Bake 25 to 30 minutes at 350.
I have found if I really want to make these yummy I frost them with chocolate frosting or sprinkle with powdered sugar. 

Crispy Zucchini Rounds
1 small zucchini, sliced
1/2 packet of crushed crackers, any kind
1egg, beaten
salt & pepper

Dip zucchini slices in egg and then in crushed crackers on both sides.  Place close together on sprayed cookie sheet and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.  Bake at 400 for 30 minutes turning after 15 minutes.  Serve as a side dish, or as an appetizer with ranch dressing for dipping.  

Zucchini Crisp
8 c. zucchini, peeled, seeded & sliced like an apple
3/4 c. lemon juice
3/4 c. sugar
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. nutmeg
Topping:
1 1/3 c. brown sugar
1 c. old fashioned oats (or Quick Oats)
1 c. flour
2/3 c. butter (I melted it)

Combine together; zucchini, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon & nutmeg. Mix well. Pour into a 9 x 13 baking dish. Mix together; brown sugar, oats & flour. Cut in the butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over the zucchini mixture. Bake at 375 for 45 to 50 minutes. I put it in 2 pie dishes instead of a 9x13. I served it warm (10 seconds in the microwave) with ice cream.

Oven Baked Frittata 

1 c. Bisquick
1 c. grated zucchini
1 small onion, grated
1/2 c. oil
1 c. grated cheese
1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
4 eggs

Combine all ingredients, except the eggs, and mix well. Beat the eggs until fluffy. Stir the eggs into the other ingredients.  Pour into a sprayed casserole dish.  Bake at 350 for 30 to 40 minutes, until the center is cooked and the top is golden brown. Serve warm with catsup, salsa or just plain. 

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Fruit Dip

The other day I went and helped my friend, Lauretta feed lunch to about 60 farmers.  She had me make this yummy fruit dip.  One of the farmers put it on his pulled pork sandwich, he thought it was horseradish sauce....he figured out that it wasn't.  It is best on FRUIT!

FRUIT DIP
15 oz. Cream of Coconut (21 oz.)
8 oz. Cream Cheese (12 oz.)
8 oz. Whipped Topping (12 oz.)
Mix together the cream of coconut and cream cheese.  Fold in the whipped topping.  Chill (about an hour) and serve.

Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole

I have company coming and I want breakfast ready when we get up. So I looked through a bunch of recipes and this is how I am gonna do it.  If I had red peppers I would add a layer of them too.....but since I don't I won't this time.

Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole
12 eggs
1 cup milk
1 t. dry mustard
1/2 t. garlic powder
2 t. salt
1 t. pepper
2 lbs. hash brown potatoes (frozen is fine)
1/2 c. diced onion
1 lb. bacon or sausage, cooked and diced or crumbled
 2 to 3 cups cheddar cheese - shredded
Beat together:  eggs, milk, garlic powder, mustard, salt & pepper until well blended. Set aside.
Spray a large crockpot and add remaining ingredients.  Stir well.  Pour egg mixture over all. For frozen hash browns, cook for 6-8 hours on low.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Zucchini Fruit Snacks


Zucchini Fruit Snacks
4 c. zucchini;peeled, seeded, diced into 3/8 x 1 inch pieces
3 c. water
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 packages unsweetened Kool-Aid
Prepare zucchini pieces and set aside.
Heat water, sugar and drink mix over high heat.
Add the zucchini as soon as the sugar is dissolved and bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered for 30 minutes.
Drain thoroughly reserving cooking liquid and allow to cool in the strainer for ten minutes.
Dump zucchini out onto dehydrator trays or plastic wrap lined cookie sheets and let dehydrate.
Store in ziplock bags in a cool place.

The next batch of zucchini can be cooked in the left-over cooking liquid with the same favor and texture.

Drying In A Dehydrator:
Dry snacks for about a day, being sure to rotate trays. Snacks are done with they’re still soft and pliable, but dry to the touch with a matte finish.

Drying In The Oven:
Line sheets with plastic wrap, but do not spray with cooking spray.(I used wax paper in this picture and it stuck horribly and discolored during the drying. Plastic wrap has worked beautifully on all of the batches since then).
Set your oven between 140 – 170 degrees.  If your oven won’t go below 200 degrees, prop the door open with a hand towel and keep the temperature down a bit.
The drying time in the oven, as well as with the dehydrator, will vary depending on the piece sizes and humidity. I placed the batch below in the middle rack of the oven at 170 degrees right after lunch. I turned the oven off around 11 pm when I went to bed and kept the door closed all night.
In the morning they were almost done, so I scraped all the pieces together with a spatula to move them around, spread them back out and finished them in the oven at 170 degrees for about another 40 minutes. Again, drying times will vary.

Lacey Making Teddy Bear Cookies