This recipe works great with zucchini as well as tomatoes and of course peppers! Try and buy the gray small zucchini because they are short and deep and make great boats. This recipe serves 5-6 people.
- 5 gray zucchini cut in half
- 1.5 lbs lean ground beef
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup + shredded/grated parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves (2 per zucchini)
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- 2 shallots sliced thin
- Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil
Cut each zucchini in half and scoop out the pulp. Discard any pulp with seeds and chop the rest to use in the filling.
Grease up the zucchini "boats" with olive oil and place 2 basil leaves in the bottom of each boat. Place zucchini single layer in a baking pan.
In 2 tablespoons olive oil, saute chopped garlic, diced shallots and zucchini pulp until soft and wilted.
Add chop meat crushing up as it cooks and keep tossing with other ingredients until meat is cooked through and crumbled. Drain excess liquid and then add 1 cup grated cheese, the seasoning and salt and pepper.
Fill each boat with meat filling and top with marinara sauce and then additional grated cheese.
Bake in 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes or until zucchini is tender.
Enjoy!
Who doesn't love soup on a cold winter day. It was 8 degrees this morning and managed to get to a whopping 18 degrees by lunchtime. No doubt about it, it's a soup night!
This soup is an easy and quick prepare when you are short on time, but does not fall flat on flavor!
- 1 13oz. can of northern white beans in tomato sauce
- 2 cups cooked small lima beans (can prepare the day before or use leftovers)
- 1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 13oz. can chicken broth or more
- 1/4 medium vidalia onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic chopped
- 4 sprigs of fresh thyme (leaves only - no stems)
- 8 large fresh basil leaves
- 1 tablespoon butter
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 slices of cooked bacon, crumbled
Place first 8 ingredients in a food processor on high. Blend until very smooth. You can add more chicken broth if you like a thinner soup.
Pour into a pot and bring to a slow boil. Cover and reduce to a simmer for 20 minutes or until all of the flavors marry. Add butter and stir until melted. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Optional - Top with crumbled bacon and serve!
