Stuffed Zucchini

This recipe can be made simply or according to directions. I almost always have zucchini, tomatoes, onions, and ground beef on hand, and cheese is a staple for any refrigerator. These few foods can give you a great tasting meal. If you do the full recipe with wine and specified cheeses, you will have a flavorful dish that pairs greatly with a side salad, corn, and rolls made with No Bread-Maker Bread.

If you want to do the simplified version, omit the wine, use any cooking oil you have on hand, use Italian Seasoning instead of figuring out an herb combo, and use whatever cheese you so happen to have. And you can guess on the amounts to save time and dishes.


Stuffed Zucchini
Recipe adapted and altered from Shanna Bridegan's recipe

2 LARGE green zucchinis
½ lbs ground beef
Your favorite Italian herb combo, to taste (possibly
garlic salt, basil leaves, and parsley flakes)
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
¼—½ cup olive oil
½ onion, diced
3 small tomatoes, diced
¼—½ cup Sweet Vermouth, a fortified wine (Lejon
brand is great. Once opened, wine will last about
4 weeks.) Optional
¼ cup parmesan cheese
½ cup mozzarella cheese (enough to top zucchinis)

Slice the zucchinis long wise, scoop/scrape out the inside and
reserve. Place hollowed zucchinis in tight casserole dish.

In 2 separate pans cook the ground beef with the Italian herbs,
garlic and onion powders, salt, and pepper. Let that cook down
until browned and juice has evaporated. In the other pan, add
olive oil, onions, tomatoes, and chopped zucchini centers, sauté
until soft, add salt and pepper to taste. If using wine, turn heat to
HIGH and add wine, reduce until the liquid is almost gone, stop
before mixture burns.

Preheat oven to 400˚F (bake).

Combine the vegetable and meat mixtures, add parmesan cheese
and mix. Once combined, stuff zucchinis (really pack them), and
top with mozzarella cheese.

Bake zucchinis for 20 minutes, until they are heated through. Turn oven to broil to brown the cheese. Remove and serve.