Pizza Zucchini Boats

Zucchini, you have become one of my all time favorite foods. Zucchini chips are a staple in my diet. I recently fell in love with a cheesy tomato zucchini bake. I have always loved my grandmother's zucchini bread. And I keep finding new ways to use this delicious green squash. What better way to make pizza healthy than with zucchini?

Ingredients:
zucchini
Italian seasoning, optional
pizza sauce
mozzarella (or parmesan or cheddar or whatever cheese like best)
toppings (pepperonis, peppers, onions, mushrooms, basil, etc.)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 360 degrees.

Cut the zucchinis in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds in the center with a spoon. Season with Italian seasoning, if desired. You could also use garlic powder, onion powder, or oregano.

Spoon the pizza sauce into the zucchini boats. You could also you marinara sauce, tomato sauce, or even chopped tomatoes for an even healthier version. Sprinkle with cheese and add toppings.

Place on a greased cookie sheet for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbling.

Enjoy!

~Krissy

More Zucchini Recipes
Cheesy Tomato Zucchini Bake
Zucchini Chips 2.0
Parmesan Zucchini Bites

Zucchini Chips 2.0

You might remember that I already shared a zucchini chip recipe with you last winter. This is version 2.0.

I love zucchini chips. I probably eat them for lunch a couple times a week. But cooking them in the oven is a long process and the chips always seem to cook at different paces, so if I don't constantly check the oven, some burn. After making potato chips in the microwave, I wondered if I could make zucchini chips in the microwave too. Guess what? It worked. It worked a thousand times better than the oven. It was faster, easier, and the chips came out even crispier!

Ingredients:
Zucchini
Cooking spray
Seasonings

Directions:
Slice the zucchini into thin slices using a mandolin. Place a sheet of wax paper on a microwave-safe plate and spray it generously with cooking spray. Place the zucchini slices on the plate in a single layer. Season to taste. I like my zucchini chips with garlic powder and onion salt. However, you can use grated parmesan cheese, just salt and pepper . . . anything that sounds good to you.

On high power, microwave for 4 to 6 minutes. Allow the chips to rest for 1 minute. Microwave for another 2 to 3 minutes or until light brown spots appear on the chips. Keep in mind each microwave cooks differently. Mine turn out best when cooked for 4 minutes then 2.5 minutes.

Enjoy!

~Krissy

More Chip Recipes:
Baked Apple Chips
Banana Chips
Homemade Pita Chips
Kale Chips
Potato Chips in the Microwave
Snowflake Tortilla Chips 

Pasta with Summer Squash, Tomatoes, and Brown Butter Sauce

Light, easy, and yummy, the perfect combination for a dinner on a hot summer day. To make the dish even more convenient, the cherry tomatoes came right out of the backyard.

Ingredients:
2 cups tubular pasta
2 tablespoons butter
handful of chives, chopped (about 1/4 cup)
2 medium summer squashes, sliced into thin ribbons (zucchini can also be used)
1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 cup dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Directions:
Prepare pasta according to package directions. Set aside.

In a large skillet, melt and brown the butter over medium-high heat, about 2 minutes or until the butter turns brown and releases a nutty aroma. Add the chives and squash. Saute for about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Cook until tomatoes soften, about five minutes. Remove from heat and toss with pasta, Parmesan cheese, and parsley.

Enjoy!

~Krissy

Parmesan Zucchini Bites

I love pinterest for many reasons--I can save all kinds of pretty pictures, interior design inspiration, crafts, and recipes. And I have another reason to love it because the site gave me the inspiration for this zucchini bites recipe. When I first came across zucchini bites, I thought they looked like a healthy, yummy snack. I was not prepared for how absolutely divine these things turned tasted. They're just as addictive as potato chips but so much better for you. Plus, they're super easy to make.

Ingredients:
2 medium zucchini
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 tablespoon butter, melted
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.

Slice zucchini into rounds with a quarter inch thickness. In a bowl, mix the olive oil and butter then toss with the zucchini pieces. Combine the Parmesan, bread crumbs, and garlic powder in a shallow bowl. Dip the bites into the cheese mixture, coating both sides, and place on the baking sheet in a single layer.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the zucchini bites have browned and crisped.
Enjoy!

~Krissy

Update!
So I could eat these every single day and never get tired of them. But I have healthified the recipe a bit. I substituted zero-calorie cooking spray for the olive oil and got rid of the breadcrumbs and cheese. So basically what I do now is spray the cookie sheet with the cooking spray, lay the zucchini circles in a single layer, spray the tops of the squash with the cooking spray then season with garlic powder and onion salt, and bake as before. These have been a hit with my family and Eric's. Enjoy!