THE BEST STUFFED ZUCCHINI EVER

Hi. I love this food.

If you have been hanging around the CSA for a while, you have seen this recipe.  I give it out every year,  but this time with pictures.

Take 3 zucchini and cut the top and bottom off.  This recipe works best with medium to large zucchini.

Then cut in half length wise.

Now you have your 6 halves ready to get in the hot tub. 

Bring a big pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the zucchini halves and let boil for about 10 minutes. 

Kinda keep your eye on them.  You need them cooked enough so you can scoop the insides out, but you don't want them too soft or they'll break.

Meanwhile, chop a small onion and a clove of garlic. 


Take a pound of Italian sausage out of its casing and start cooking in a skillet.
(Not pictured, because raw meat didn't look so appetizing in the picture)

After about 5 minutes, add the onion and garlic. Continue to cook until sausage is cooked through.

The zucchini is ready to come out of the boiling water. 

This part can be tricky, those zucs are slippery when wet!

***I serve stuffed zucchini with pasta(rigatoni or rotini) and sauce, so after the zucs come out of the pot I use the same water to cook the pasta.  Just make sure it comes back to a boil before putting the pasta in.
Let the zucchini cool a bit. Then scoop out the guts. Save the guts in a bowl.

Now you have your zucchini boat.  Fancy, Right?!?!

 Place the boats in your baking dish.

Now mash the guts of the zucchini.

Drain the mashed guts. They are very watery.

Add the drained, mashed guts to the skillet.

Next add Italian bread crumbs

About 1/3 cup of them.

Now your stuffing is ready!

Spoon the stuffing into the zucchini boats.

Shake on some Parmesan. I know.... shaker cheese is not real Parmesan. If you have the real stuff, go for it.

Sprinkle some mozzerella on top.  

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Enjoy.

Now stop yourself from eating the whole pan before your family gets to the table.

**Mom, if you are reading this, sorry, that is your towel. I guess, I forgot to return it.  But doesn't look really nice next to the stuffed zucchini?

Stuffed Zucchini

3 medium-large zucchini halved lengthwise

1 lb. Italian sausage

1 small onion, chopped

1 clove garlic crushed

1/3 cups bread crumbs

1/4 cup parmesan

1 cup shredded mozzarella

Cook zucchini in boiling salted water for 10 minutes. Drain, then scoop out insides leaving 1/4 inch shell.  Mash insides, drain well.  Put boats in shallow baking dish.

Remove sausage from casing, brown for 5 minutes.  Add garlic and onion and saute until meat is cooked through and onions are tender.  Stir in mashed zucchini and bread crumbs.  Spoon into boats.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Bake 350 for 30 minutes.

Zucchini is so versatile. The possibilities are endless.  But if your brain is fried and you can't come up with what to do with your squash check out Kalyn's Kitchen . She has 20 zucchini recipes at the ready.

What is your favorite way to use zucchini?