Zucchini Shirred Eggs Lower Fat Recipe – A Whole New Way to Use Up All That Zucchini for Meatless Monday

August 1, 2011 in Entrees, Healthy Fare, Vegetarian Entrees

Zucchini Shirred Eggs Square

Lower-fat Zucchini Shirred Eggs Baked in Ramekins

Shirred eggs are delicious and creamy on their own, but they are a little on the bland side. Just eggs baked in cream, basically. So, I decided to experiment with adding produce from our garden. I tried Swiss chard, spinach – but honestly, they were nothing to write home about. Then, I thought about slicing zucchini into paper-thin planks and use them like you would a leafy green to cradle the eggs. This was the winner by a landslide!

The roasted zucchini adds a subtle garden freshness to the eggs and dairy, and improves on the one-note flavor of the baked eggs. I also healthified it even more by using lower fat dairy than is usually called for – and a teaspoon of half and half instead of a tablespoon of cream.

In the early ’70s, I remember laughing out loud the first time I heard of a thing called “Zucchini Bread.” WHat?! Zucchini in Bread?! Absurd. Ridiculous. And then I tasted it. I was in shock for days. And  I never looked at zucchini the same way again.

This recipe is one of those recipes. You will look at zukes in a different way.

If you need to get rid of some zucchini, I highly recommend baking it with some eggs. And what the heck, you could even serve it as a Meatless Monday entree!

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Panini-Grilled Ratatouille Salad

August 4, 2010 in Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Entrees

This time of year, a lot of fellow food bloggers have me shamefully coveting their outdoor grills. From the old-fashioned round kettle-style charcoal barbecues of yore to handy little Hibachis to the swanky flattop Weber grills of today and everything in between, I covet them all. It’s the one major appliance I don’t have. But a truly fabulously frugal person is a resourceful person.

I realized that, thanks to a lovely gift from Santa, I DO have something like a close, indoor cousin to the grill – a panini press (quite a nice one, too, a Breville). This was the perfect solution, really – I loved how it cut the time in half by grilling both sides at once! Read the rest of this entry →

Meatless Monday: Zucchini Crudo with Lemon Vinaigrette, Dill and Feta (with inspiration from Iron Chef Michael Symon)

June 7, 2010 in Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Side Dishes, Vegetarian Entrees

Zucchini Crudo Salad Inspired by Iron Chef Michael Symon

Zucchini Crudo Salad Inspired by Iron Chef Michael Symon

Iron Chef Michael Symon is known for his love affair with meats, especially pork. In his new cookbook, Live to Cook, he even has a recipe for fried pig’s ears!  Yikes. So, it was ironic that the recipe that caught my eye while I was thumbing through his book at a bookstore recently was a Zucchini Crudo Salad. Chef Symon himself described it as “jaw-dropping good.” If the King of Pork says that about raw zucchini, you simply must sit up and take notice. I hurried home and made my own version. Only the best for Meatless Monday, I say!

Turns out Chef Symon is right. This raw zucchini and yellow squash ( think extra healthy!) salad is truly speechless good. The only thing it needed for my taste buds was a salty element, so I added crumbled feta. Result: summery deliciousness on a plate! You must eat it right away to get the full crispness of the squashes – it does not keep at all in the fridge. Put this on your “Must-Try” list in the height of zucchini madness season this summer!

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Meatless Monday: Wholegrain Confetti Zucchini Cakes

May 31, 2010 in Entrees, Side Dishes, Vegetarian Entrees

I have been trying for about a year now to come up with a vegetarian version of crab cakes, a perfect task for Meatless Mondays. My family members can testify if need be: at least two dozen attempts.

Then my neighbor Joyce,  who owns the on-line business Dr. Grandma’s specializing in healthy and convenient products, decided to host a recipe contest using her products. My favorites are her whole-grain muffin and pancake mixes. ( If you can’t find Dr Grandmas where you live, you can buy Dr G’s online or  just use any multigrain pancake mix that requires the addition of an egg.) I decided to toy with making a veggie pancake using veggies with just a bit of pancake mix as a binder to hold the veggies in a patty while cooking.

Since zucchini season is coming, I went heavy on the zuks, but you can try any grated veggie you like. These are so tasty and make perfect sides for your main course, or three of them make a fine vegetarian entree. They take only about 20 minutes to make – a great healthy weeknight meal! I like them drizzled with a Greek yogurt sauce mixed with a little Frank’s Red Hot Sauce and some cumin. Yum.

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Fab Frugal Friday: Zero Carb Zucchini "Noodles"

August 28, 2009 in Entrees, Frugal Tips, Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Side Dishes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Entrees

A fabulous discovery: Homemade Zero Carb Zucchini Noodles.

I love to order the “No Carb Noodles” at Pizza Factory, a local family favorite. With zucchini being so prolific and cheap right now, I decided it was time to add these healthy version of noodles to my list of Ways To Get Rid of All That Zucchini. And, health -wise there are very few things better to put into your mouth than zucchinis.

Turns out it is very, very easy. Just slice the zucchini into long planks on a mandoline (or use a large chef’s knife). I like the 1/8 inch thickness, but 1/4 inch is more substantial and yummy, too.  Then, steam them for just a minute or two. Really. They get too soggy if you steam them any longer. And don’t even think about boiling – just turns them into a pile of mush.

You can use them just like you would cooked spaghetti, or my favorite way: while they’re hot, stir in some butter and pressed garlic, salt and pepper.  Instant Zucchini Heaven.

– posted by Donna