Zucchini Gingerbread

	Zucchini Gingerbread 2 cups finely grated zucchini 1 tsp salt 1 cup oatmeal 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon allspice 1 teaspoon ground ginger 3/4 cup dark molasses 3 eggs, slightly beaten 1/2 cup applesauce 2 teaspoon vanilla 1 tablespoon lemon zest (optional) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.In a medium bowl, combine the zucchini, salt and oats and let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes. In a separate large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and ginger. Add molasses, eggs, oil, vanilla, and lemon zest to the zucchini mixture and stir to combine. Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture and stir to combine. Divide evenly between 2 greased 9 inch round pans. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans, then remove from pans and cool completely on a wire rack. Serve with  best ever pudding sauce or Lemon Ginger Glaze
	Alternate Recipe: Original version found at AllRecipes cooking spray 1 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup molasses 1/4 cup applesauce or canned pumpkin 3/4 cup vanilla yogurt 3 eggs 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 1/2 cups shredded zucchini 3 cups all-purpose flour Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Spray 2 9x5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix together the brown sugar, molasses, applesauce, vanilla yogurt, and eggs until thoroughly combined. Stir in the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gently mix in the shredded zucchini, and stir in the flour. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pans Bake in the preheated oven until the loaves are browned and springy to the touch, 50 to 60 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of a loaf should come out clean. Allow to cool in pans for about 10 minutes before removing to finish cooling on racks.

Zucchini Bread & Muffins

Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Set aside.  Cream together:
3 eggs
3/4 cup applesauce
2 cups white sugar
1 Tbs vanilla extract

Add creamed mix to dry mix, then stir in 3 cups grated zucchini.  
Pour batter into prepared pans.  Sprinkle tops with sugar if desired.
Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

Zucchini Soup

I think this may be the recipe that appeases my love of zucchini and my husband's love of crumbled bacon! I can't wait to try it. I found the original at The Sisters' Cafe, check them out for more yummy recipes.
1 cup chopped onions
1-2 Tbsp. butter
3 cups sliced zucchini
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
½ cup half-and-half or milk
1 cup grated cheddar cheese (optional)
1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
4 slices bacon, cooked until crisp, then crumbled

In a large saucepan saute onions & zucchini in melted butter. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Simmer until tender (about 15 min.) Add salt and pepper. Cool slightly. Pour mixture into blender and puree it. Stir in half-and-half (or milk). Return to saucepan and reheat, but do not boil. Garnish with grated cheese, sour cream, and bacon bits. Makes 6 servings.

Breaded Zucchini Fries

I have some serious zucchini love. You have to love it to commit the proper spelling to memory...anyway... I first learned how yummy it could be when my mom made fried zucchini.

Now I still love the stuff, but not the frying it in butter part, so I wanted to share this recipe posted by Erica at Favorite Family Recipes that takes some of the guilt out of this tasty indulgence:


1-2 large zucchini, cut into spears or circles (the zucchini we had was HUGE so we just used one)
2 eggs
1-2 Tbsp. milk
1 c. Italian-style bread crumbs or croutons blended up finely in a blender (we ran out of bread crumbs so we did the crouton thing)
1/2 c. parmesan cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste
Butter or cooking spray

First, line a baking sheet with foil and spray evenly with cooking spray. Next, combine eggs and milk in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and salt & pepper. Dip each zucchini piece into the egg mixture, then dip into bread crumbs until evenly coated in crumbs. Place zucchini on baking sheet, spray each with cooking/butter spray and then bake in the oven at 425-degrees for about 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. For an added crisp, turn the oven to broil and cook for about 30-45 seconds longer (don't let em' burn though, watch them closely). Remove from oven and serve hot with ranch dressing or marinara/pizza sauce.

Zucchini Boat Casserole

This is my favorite zucchini dinner. I used to bake it in the zucchini shells, but now for the sake of time I just cook it all in my biggest frying pan. You could bake as a casserole as well.

Ingredients:
1 large zucchini, chopped: 10-12" long and 2-3" around
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
salt & pepper to taste
1 egg (if you will be baking it, not for the fry pan method)
1 cup cooked rice (substitute a seasoned rice for more flavor)
1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Brown beef, add veggies and saute till tender. mix in rice & mozzarella, sprinkle top with Parmesan. Place lid on pan and heat on med/low until heated through and cheese is melted. Serve and enjoy

Zucchini Boat Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cut zucchini lengthwise, scoop out insides & chop them, leaving the shell whole.

Brown beef, remove from pan and then use pan to saute onion, pepper, and chopped zucchini. Cool slightly

Mix meat and veggies with 1 beaten egg, rice, and mozzarella. Spoon into shells, sprinkle with Parmesan.
Bake for 30 minutes or until shells are soft. Slice into 3" sections to serve.

Andrea's No Boil Lasagna

Brown:
1 lb ground beef
½ cup chopped onion
Optional: 1 cup shredded veggies (carrot, zucchini)

Add:
1- 32 oz jar spaghetti sauce (Garlic & herb flavor is great)
¾ cup water

Combine and set aside:
2 cups cottage cheese (1-16 oz tub)
½ package thawed spinach

Additional ingredients:
1 package lasagna noodles
3 cups mozzarella cheese
½ cup parmesan cheese (large grated, or ¼ cup finely grated)

Spread 1 cup sauce mixture onto bottom of a 9x13 pan; top with layers of 3 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the cottage cheese mixture, ¾ cup of mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining 3 noodles, sauce, and mozarella cheese. Sprinkle with parmesan. Cover with greased foil, nonstick foil, or parchment then foil.

Quick look at layers:
1. Meat sauce
2. Noodles
3. Cottage cheese
4. Mozarella

Bake 45 minutes at 350. Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes or until heated through. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting to serve.

Spiced Pumpkin Seeds

1 ½ Tablespoons margarine, melted
½ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds

Collect seeds and rinse well. Dry with a paper towel. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Combine all ingredients, mix thoroughly, and place in shallow baking dish. Bake for one hour, stirring occasionally.

Zucchini Brownie Cake

1 ½ cup sugar
½ cup applesauce
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups grated zucchini
2 cups flour ( I substitute 1/2 cup flour with wheat flour)
1 ½ tsp soda
¼ cup cocoa
1 tsp salt
½ cup nuts (optional)

Cream sugar and applesauce. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Then add zucchini and dry ingredients.
Grease and flour cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Chocolate Frosting

1/4 cup butter
3 Tbs milk
2 Tbs cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
½ lb powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients, adding powdered sugar till soft peaks form.

Double Batch (For sheet cake)

1/2 cup butter
6 Tbs milk
4 Tbs cocoa
2 tsp vanilla
1 lb powdered sugar