Zucchini out the Wazoo

This is one of my Family's favorites to use up zucchini out the wazoo! It is a  Pampered Chef recipe!! Yummy!!!

Spring Pasta Stir-Fry

This colorful stir-fry is a light main-dish meal, just right for any night of the week.

Ingredients

• 1 package (12 ounces) uncooked fettuccini noodles
• 1 large carrot, peeled and cut into julienne strips
• 1 small yellow summer squash, cut into julienne strips
• 1 small zucchini, cut into julienne strips
• 3 plum tomatoes, seeded and cut into strips
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/4 cup snipped fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
• 1 ounce shaved fresh Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. In Executive (8-qt./7.6-L) Stockpot, cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Return pasta to stockpot; keep warm.
2. Meanwhile, prepare vegetables. Using Julienne Peeler, cut carrot, yellow squash and zucchini into long julienne strips. Slice tomatoes in half lengthwise and remove seeds using Core & More; slice tomatoes into 1/4-inch strips.
3. Heat Stir-Fry Skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and garlic pressed with Garlic Press; cook and stir 2-3 minutes or until garlic is softened and begins to brown. Add carrot, yellow squash, zucchini, tomatoes and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt; stir-fry 1-2 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.
4. Add remaining oil, remaining salt, basil and black pepper to pasta; toss gently. To serve, spoon pasta into serving bowl; top with vegetable mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Yield:

• 8  servings

Nutrients per serving:

Calories 180, Total Fat 5 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Carbohydrate 26 g, Protein 7 g, Sodium 360 mg, Fiber 2 g




Please note that you can add veggies or subtract veggies--This is a very forgiving recipe!!


Delicious Blessings to you all,
Lisa

Zucchini out the Wazoo!

 

 What to do with boatloads of zucchini?  Shred it, squeeze the water out of it, and freeze in 2 cup baggies for bread all winter long! That's what!  Sop you can make chocolate zucchini bread for your family--trust me they will love it!! 
  Here is my favorite way to use zucchini:
  
      Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup canola oil
• 3 large eggs
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 cups shredded peeled zucchini

Directions

In a large bowl, beat the sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and baking powder; gradually beat into sugar mixture until blended. Stir in zucchini. Transfer to two 8x4-in. loaf pans coated with cooking spray.

Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 2 loaves (12 slices each).

Originally published as Chocolate Zucchini Bread in Taste of Home August/September 1994, p14

This bread is amazing!  I add some raw sugar crystals to the top for a little sweet crunch my family loves! Hope you are blessed with enough zucchini to be able to make this all winter long!

Bountiful Blessings to you all,

Lisa

Quote of the Week

Hello Again!

Hello Dear Readers,

    I haven't posted in over six months--Life happens I guess.  After experiencing horrible gas pains for several weeks, I finally went to the Emergency Room at our local hospital.  I had been really hesitant to go because I didn't want to be told it was just gas pains--how embarrassing that would have been as I work there! So finally it got so bad I went. I had a CT scan and was told I had malignant cancer-No biopsy needed for them to tell as there were several spots found during the ct.  Talk about gobsmacked. I was devastated and so was my family!  I still wanted to be sure with the biopsy though!  Not quite wanting to believe the docs.

  So I had surgery the next day and a large tumor was removed, along with a section of my colon, a piece of the omentum(cover for the intestines), and 24 regional lymph nodes.  I was blessed not to have needed a bag.  Not sure I could have taken having  to have a poop bag! 

  So during my 7day hospital stay, the biopsy said the cancer was in fact malignant and was in 5 of the lymph nodes--stage 4.  I also have a tiny spot on my lung that is presumed to be cancerous.  Let me tell you the biopsy news was the first time I cried.  I think I was just in shock and not wanting to believe it was true.  Cancer Drs. visited me, appointments were made for my port insertion, and then chemo appointments were set, and home I went.  Scared to death!!  I had CANCER!!!!! 

  The Saturday after I was released I cried all day long.  My first of many pity parties!!!  I am not sure how my Husband dealt with me that day, but he was wonderful!!  So caring and gentle with me when I know he wanted to cry with me too but he didn't.  He held it together so I could cry it out!  Love him dearly!!  My children were my rocks as well when they were scared out of their mind also.
  So fast forward 6 months and I have just one more chemo treatment!! That's right, my last chemo starts on Monday!  #12!!!  I have my ct scan this Friday so I am hoping nothing new shows up!  I will find out if I am done with treatments or starting more.   Lots of things going on in my head right now--possible disability, more treatments, statistics,bills, and much, much more! With all of the bills, I will be posting how we have been trying to be frugal and save money and posting about my future treatments  and the possible changes in our lives!
  So thanks for visiting and hopefully I can post much more often!
Blessings to all,
Lisa

Quote of the Week

Last Week's Frugality

 

Last week was a very good week for our family frugality wise!  I wish all week's were so good!
    Our local Meijer had the 10 for 10 get the 11th free sale.  I coupled this with coupons to get some great deals and help stock my pantry.  The Progresso soup was 10 for 10 and I had coupons for $1 off of three = $.57.  It is usually $2.19 or more per can! Cha-ching! I purchased 9 cans for the pantry!
    The Campbell's soup was $.49 per can and I had coupons for $1 off of 5 cans= $.29 per can chicken noodle and tomato soups. I purchased 10 of each for the pantry.
  I was able to get 8 boxes of Cheerios for just ....$.49 per box!!  Picture me doing the happy dance!
 
    Thomas's English muffins were on sale buy one get 2 free so I purchased three. English muffins are much better for me than bagels or biscuits because of my diabetes.




   Luden's cough drops were on sale for $1.19 per bag. I used a $1 off 2 coupon = $.69 cough drops and added 4 to my pantry!  There is no doubt we will need them this winter!


   Even with the above purchases, I stayed well within my $50 per week budget and built up my pantry for the winter!  We are still eating out of the freezer as much as possible!




    I stopped at Kroger for the 2 freebie items.  One was a package of frozen Kroger's veggies and the other was a free box of Kroger band aids. Good thing I got the band aids--DH cut his arm working in the yard Sunday!



    I packed my lunch all week. I drank water instead of tea each day!
 
     I picked sage out of the herb garden  to dry for our Thanksgiving meal. Also harvested basil, and oregano to dry.  I saved some marigold seeds for next years flower garden, then I picked the last of the live marigolds and put in a vase for my Momma.  They are her favorite flowers!




    I canned 6 pints of apple butter.  Also made apple jelly(4 pints) but it doesn't seem to be setting so I guess we will have apple pancake syrup instead! Either way its a win! We will be using it all one way or another!




    My mother made cornbread for supper one night and we froze the leftovers for our stuffing for Thanksgiving. Momma's stuffing is amazing!!




    I signed up for several freebies on line this week.  When they arrive it's almost like Christmas! I get so excited!




    I stayed with in my goodwill budget this week--only spent $3.45 out of my $5 budget!  I picked up a set of photo ornaments for a Christmas gift and 2 vases for my daughters wedding.
 
Well,  that's about it for me , what have you saved money on this week?




Frugal Blessings,
Lisa