Zucchini Feast

In late summer, gardeners of every skill swear they'll never plant another hill of zucchini, but by the time spring rolls around, the oft-malignant fruit winds up in the garden once again. Gardeners love zucchini in the spring because it performs so cheerfully and is usually the first squash to make it to the table. But midsummer bushels of the long, green or striped fruit leave gardeners wondering what to do with all the bounty. Here are some fresh new ideas from Grit magazine on how to use up the excess.




Breaded and Fried Zucchini

Canola oil
1 zucchini, 8 to 18 inches
2 to 3 eggs
Milk
Italian bread crumbs

Pour 1⁄2 inch canola oil in 10- to 12-inch skillet and heat.

Wash zucchini and place on cutting board. Cut off ends and slice zucchini in even slices, 1⁄8- to 1⁄4-inch thick.

In soup bowl, crack eggs; whisk until frothy. Whisk in a little milk. Place bread crumbs in another soup bowl.

Line platter with paper towel and place platter on unlit burner behind skillet. As you fill platter with layers of zucchini, place another paper towel on top to absorb oil.

With fork, pick up a slice of zucchini and place in egg mixture, coating both sides, then place in bread crumbs. Carefully add zucchini slice to hot oil in skillet. Brown bottom side, then flip and brown other side. Repeat with remaining zucchini.

These fried slices of zucchini can be eaten as a side dish (or just nibbled while cooking), or they can be cooled, then placed on a cookie sheet and frozen, then placed in a container and left in the freezer until needed for Zucchini Parmesan.

The oil may have to be changed before all the zucchini slices have been fried because both the oil and the bread crumbs will start to burn. Put the oil in an empty coffee can or use paper towels to soak it up. Be careful, as the oil will be hot. Clean the pan and start again with fresh oil.





Breadless Stuffed Zucchini

1 zucchini, 12 to 18 inches
1 1⁄2 to 2 pounds ground beef or meatloaf mix (equal amounts beef, pork and veal)
1 can (14 to 16 ounces) corn, drained, or 1 box (16 ounces) frozen corn, thawed and drained, or leftovers (any amount) from corn on the cob
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, diced
1 tomato, chopped
4 eggs
1 to 3 teaspoons minced garlic
1 to 3 teaspoons basil
1 to 3 teaspoons parsley
1 to 3 teaspoons black or crushed red pepper
1 to 2 teaspoons horseradish, optional
Sea salt to taste
Grated or sliced mozzarella cheese

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-by-13-inch baking dish; set aside.

Wash zucchini and place on cutting board. Cut off each end and slice zucchini in half lengthwise. Use tablespoon or serving spoon to scoop out seeds and make a hollow in each half. Place in prepared dish, hollow side up.

In large bowl, combine remaining ingredients, except cheese. Place mixture in hollows in zucchini. Add water around zucchini to 1-inch depth.

Cover with foil, and bake for 1 to 2 hours, or until zucchini is tender.

Remove foil and top with cheese. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

NOTE: All seasonings are optional, but some seasoning is needed for better flavor. The more seasoning added, the more flavor, of course.




Stuffed Zucchini

1 zucchini, 12 to 18 inches
1⁄2 to 1 pound ground beef or meatloaf mix (equal amounts beef, pork and veal)
1 can (14 to 16 ounces) corn, drained, or 1 box (16 ounces) frozen corn, thawed and drained, or leftovers (any amount) from corn on the cob
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, diced
1 tomato, chopped
3 to 4 eggs
1 box stuffing mix
Black pepper or crushed red pepper to taste
Grated or sliced mozzarella cheese

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-by-13-inch baking dish; set aside.

Wash zucchini and place on cutting board. Cut off each end and slice zucchini in half lengthwise. Use tablespoon or serving spoon to scoop out seeds and make a hollow in each half. Place, hollow side up, in prepared dish.

In large bowl, combine remaining ingredients, except cheese. Spoon into zucchini hollows. Add water around zucchini to 1-inch depth.

Cover dish with foil, and bake for 1 to 2 hours, or until zucchini is tender.

Remove foil, and top each zucchini hollow with cheese. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.



Zucchini Bread

3 eggs
1 cup oil
1 1⁄2 cups sugar
2 cups grated zucchini, drained well
3 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour
1⁄4 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
3 to 4 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped nuts
Dash sea salt

Heat oven to 375°F. Grease 2 loaf pans; set aside.

Beat eggs. Stir in oil, sugar, zucchini
and vanilla.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, raisins, nuts and salt; stir into zucchini mixture.

Divide batter evenly between pans, and bake for about 1 hour.



Read more: http://www.grit.com/food/recipes/zucchini-bread-recipe.aspx#ixzz1Yv0MgM6b