Zucchini with Tomatoes and Brown Butter

Zucchini seems to be one of the vegetables of choice on the blogsphere. You'll find Zucchini bread, zucchini pancakes, sauteed zucchini and pasta with zucchini. I found this recipe on the Star Tribune blog Taste. It called for ribbons of zucchini, I decided to go with matchsticks. As with most pasta's it called for parmesean cheese. I used some leftover Parrano from our cheese tasting a couple of weeks ago. It added a nice nutty yet buttery flavor to the pasta.

I like how the liquid from the tomatoes, zucchini and the small amount of browned butter make a nice sauce. Tim said it was a nice change and he would eat it again. That's a compliment considering this dish didn't have any meat.

Zucchini with Tomatoes and Brown Butter
Recipe Adapted from Taste

• 1 lb. bowtie pasta
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 2 medium shallots, chopped
• 1 lb. zucchini (about 3 small), very thinly sliced lengthwise
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg (freshly grated, preferred)
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to directions. Drain.

Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until butter is beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add shallots and zucchini and cook, stirring often, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes.

Add tomatoes, salt, nutmeg and pepper and continue cooking, stirring often, until tomatoes are just starting to break down, 1 to 2 minutes.

Stir in Parmesan and parsley. Add pasta and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

I am linking this to Foodie Friday and this is my entry for this week's Presto Pasta Nights hosted by Abby of Eat the Righhttp://www.eattherightstuff.com/t stuff.

Zuchini Cupcakes - MS Cupcake Club

I was thrilled a few weeks ago when surfing the blogsphere, I found the MS Cupcake Club. This baking group is baking the recipes in Martha Stewart's Cupcake book. The book has so many great recipes. I look forward to baking along with the MS Cupcake Club.

This month's recipe was chosen by Tracey from Tracey's Culinary Adventures. You can find the blogroll of the MS Cupcake Club members here.

The recipe calls for a Cream Cheese frosting. I decided for the healthier version, just a dusting of powdered sugar.



My notes on this recipe: If you have leftover lemon zest, place in a freezer container or a ziplock baggie and freeze for next time.

The Victorian Sampler Tea Room Cookbook

Remember the time when the only way to find a recipe was to go to your recipe box or flip through cookbooks?? I miss those times! It's faster and easier to google for a recipe than flipping through cookbooks. I have over 100 cookbooks and most of them are collecting dust. In an effort to force me to flip through those cookbooks, going forward each week, Little Bit of Everything will feature a recipe from one of those cookbooks.

This week's recipe is from The Victorian Sampler Tea Room cookbook. The book is a collection of recipes from a wonderful little tea room that used to be in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.






Zucchini Bread

3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking power
2 cups grated zucchini
3 cups sifted flour
1 cup nuts (optional)

Beat eggs until foamy. Add sugar, oil and vanilla, beat well. Sift dry ingredients together. Fold zucchini and nuts into dry ingredients. Pour into greased pans (1 tube pan or 2 loaf pans). Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean. Frost with cream cheese frosting if desired.

Stuffed Eight or Cue Ball Zucchini

I was thrilled to see these at the Farmer's Market this week. I purchased one at the market last month. After getting home and doing some searching about how to prepare, I realized I should have gotten two of them. They're perfect for stuffing!!!

Stuffed Eight Ball Zucchini

2 Eight or Cue Ball Zucchini
1 clove garlic
1 shallot
1 1/2 cups couscous (prepared)
1 can rotel tomatoes
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup parmesean cheese
Salt and Pepper

Cut the tops of about 1" from the top. Save the top if you would like your eight ball to have a lid.

Scoop out the insides, making sure to leave a wall on the sides. I used a melon baller and a regular spoon. Steam the zucchini 8 minutes, until slightly softened.

Chop the zucchini, I used a Pampered Chef Mix n Chop and it worked perfectly.

Heat a skillet with 1 tbsp olive oil. Saute garlic and shallot about 2 minutes (don't overcook). Add the chopped zucchini and saute 3 -4 minutes. Stir in breadcrumbs, parmesean and about 1/2 of the can of tomatoes (no juice). If mixture seems to dry, add a little of the liquid from the rotel peppers. Salt and Pepper to taste.

Preheat oven to 400. Place zucchini in glass baking dish. Using a spoon or scoop, carefully fill the zucchini with the stuffing mixture. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown and hot. Cover with tops for serving, if desired.