Spiced Stewed Zucchini Food

SPICY STEWED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat until lightly smoking.
• Add the garlic, and cook a minute or two until fragrant, then add the zucchini and onions and cook the vegetables for about 15 minutes, stirring often, until they soften and begin to brown.
• Add the chili pepper, and 1/2 cup of wine and lower the heat to medium low and continue to cook until the zucchini begin to break down, about 10 minutes.
• If the mixture begins to dry out as it cooks, add a little water as needed.
• Stir in the basil and season with salt and pepper.
• Serve at room temperature.

STUFFED YOUNG ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Halve 4 of the small zucchini lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and soft center flesh with a spoon to produce a set of shallow shells to hold the stuffing. Reserve the center flesh. Arrange the small hulls in a baking dish. Drizzle with a little extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Chop the reserved zucchini flesh and set aside.
• Heat the remaining extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and saute the mushrooms, onions and garlic for 5 minutes. Add in the reserved zucchini and tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, to taste and heat through for 1 minute, then remove from the heat.
• While the veggies cook, toast the bread in a toaster, then spread liberally with butter and tear into pieces. Add the bread to a food processor along with the parsley and tarragon or basil, and pulse into herb crumbs.
• Fold the herb crumbs into the veggies along with 1/2 cup Parmesan and the egg. Mound the zucchini stuffing in to the shells and roast for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, sprinkle the tops with remaining cheese and broil for 2 to 3 minutes to brown.

SPICED ZUCCHINI BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F, and grease two 8x4×2 1/2-inch loaf pans.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the eggs until foamy. Add the vegetable oil, sugar, zucchini, and vanilla extract and mix well. Add the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and baking powder, and mix until well blended. Stir in the nuts. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared loaf pans, and tap them gently on the counter to release any air bubbles.
• Bake until the loaves have risen and are golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 55-60 minutes. Allow the bread to cool in the pans for 5 minutes; then turn the loaves out onto wire racks to cool.
• Serve the bread warm, sliced and spread with cream cheese if desired.

STEWED ZUCCHINI AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Place zucchini in a greased 3-qt. slow cooker. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Layer with onion, green pepper and tomatoes. In a small bowl, combine the soup, basil and remaining salt and pepper; spread over tomatoes., Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook 30 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. If desired, top with fresh basil.

ZUCCHINI SPICE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan with cooking spray, and set aside. Grate zucchini on the large holes of a box grater (to yield 1 3/4 cups); set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together sugars, oil, vanilla, and eggs.
• Into a small bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and salt. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, and stir to combine well. Stir in grated zucchini.
• Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes; invert onto a wire rack, then reinvert, top side up. Cool completely before slicing.