Stuffed Zucchini with Tomatoes, Corn, and Fresh Italian Herbs

I love zucchini, but unfortunately I’m the only person in my house who does. I’ve tried everything too, to get them to eat it. No dice. Until now! Here is a delicious summer harvest-type stuffed zucchini that even my zucchini haters LOVE!

stuffed zucchini with tomatoes, corn, and panko
*This recipe is provided as an idea for inspiration, which is why no ingredient amounts are specified. Adjust amounts and ingredients based on your taste! And if you try this recipe or a version of it, please come back and comment!*

The Ingredients

  • zucchini, halved lengthwise, with the flesh scooped out and reserved, but dispose of the seedy part
  • zucchini flesh, chopped
  • chopped onion and garlic
  • grape or cherry tomatoes, sliced or quartered
  • fresh corn, cooked, and cut off the cob
  • panko breadcrumbs
  • chicken stock
  • herbs, such as fresh basil, parsley, and oregano, chopped
  • Parmesan cheese
  • shredded Italian blend cheese
  • salt and pepper
  • olive oil

The Method

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place zucchini flesh-side down in a baking dish with a little water. Bake until soft, but not cooked through. While the zucchini is in the oven, heat olive oil in a pan and sautee onion and garlic. Add zucchini flesh and sautee until it starts to get translucent. Add corn, tomatoes, panko, and Parmesan cheese. Stir together and then add stock to moisten. Add the chopped herbs, and salt and pepper to taste. Remove the zucchini from the oven and remove from baking dish. Pat to dry, remove any water from the dish, and oil the dish to prevent sticking. Add the zucchini back into the pan skin side down, and salt and pepper the flesh liberally. Add the filling and top with Italian cheese blend. Bake until the cheese is melted and enjoy!

Do you have a favorite stuffed vegetable dish you would like to share?

I am so proud of my mom!!

Living, Loving, Cooking

Today I want to dedicate my blog post to my mom, who today became a BLOGGER!! I am so proud of her for taking the plunge. You see, she is the real writer in this family. For reals. (hahaha, she would never say that!) But seriously, she taught me everything I know. She has never stopped seeking out happiness. She has never let life get the best of her (for too long anyway!). She is a writing instructor, a certified cake decorator, a culinary student, writer, wife, mother, grandmother (sorry for calling you out mom!), sister, and great friend, in no particular order. I don’t know how she finds the time.

I’m so glad that she’s writing again, and doin’ it out loud! I love you mom – happy blogging!!

So go check her out her inaugural post ya’ll! And make sure to go back for more, because she has a lot of amazing stories to tell!

Meal plan week of 1/2/12 – post holiday fridge and body clean out

meal planning

I wish I was as organized and inspired as LizMarie_AK on Flickr

Monday, 1/2 – Lots of New Years Eve and New Years day leftovers.

Tuesday, 1/3 – Southern Black eye pea minestrone (more leftovers!)

Wednesday, 1/4 – Chicken and pineapple skewers, salad with ginger-cilantro vinaigrette.

Thursday, 1/5 – Crockpot Mexican turkey stew.

Friday, 1/6 – Pizza Friday!!

Saturday, 1/7 – Pasta with meatballs, salad and homemade bread.

Sunday, 1/8 – Cornbread stuffing/veggie chili casserole, nacho style.

What are you all having? Any dieting/healthy living resolutions you are planning around?

The recipe box

Grandmas' recipe boxThis morning I was up with the baby at 3:30. She just needed a quick back rub and went back to sleep. Drama-less. Thankfully.

Since my alarm was set for 4:00 anyway, I ended up staying up. I tried to lay back down, but what’s the point?

So I decided to try to make my grocery list for today. I have to buy all of our Christmas food. I needed the recipe for “fart blossoms” (peanut butter cookies with Hershey Kisses on top). I opened my grandmothers little black recipe box to see if it was in there.

I sorted through the white recipe cards with the potted flower graphic running along the top. These were newer recipes, likely taken from Taste of Home or Redbook. Vegetable and Sausage Chili. Santa Fe Chicken Pasta.

White cards with a large butterfly on the left side, taking up a good quarter of the card. These are slightly older. Fruit Cocktail Cake. Deviled Hamburgers.

I squinted to read recipes written on bright pink recipe cards, where drops of water and sauces helped to fade the old ink and pencil. Sugar Cookies. Cornell Barbeque Sauce. Beef Stroganoff.

There were clippings, new and old. Randomly placed alphabetical dividers.

There were a surprising amount of recipes written in my mother’s handwriting. Her young handwriting – small, undefined, relaxed. Beef Stew Provencal. Tantalizing Baked Beans. Some recipes were written by my aunt Molly, with that same young, undefined, happy stroke. Wholegrain Jam Squares. Curried Chicken.

All of the recipes give credit to where they came from. Mimi’s Cheesecake. Irish Cream from Judy. Asparagus Casserole from Mary Lou, which calls for the crumbs of exactly 18 crackers! I love that casserole, I will have to make it for Ben – he loves asparagus.

I never did find the Fart Blossom recipe in that box, but I did find it written on an envelope in my recipe folder. So off to the store I go to gather ingredients. I just might have to make something from that box for dinner tonight.

I would love to know – do you have any family dishes you love to cook?