The only zucchini recipe you'll ever want

We finally made the leap to join a CSA (community supported agriculture) farm this summer. We've loved the weekly share of fresh, delicious produce and have had a fun (and challenging) time figuring out how to fit all of this goodness into our diet. I've cooked and eaten things that I've previously not even heard of (kohlrabi) - which is more a testament to my being sheltered than to the rarity of the produce our farm grows.

The most exciting part of this CSA is that we've gotten more than our usual portion of zucchini, tomatoes, and greens. Our family loves all three in everything and we've received enough zucchini that stir fry, side dishes, and pastas aren't cutting it. I experimented with zucchini cookies a few weeks ago and while they were delicious, they were so moist that I might as well have eaten them with a fork. Then I discovered this recipe:

Brandi Chase's Zucchini Brownies

I will never go back.

Ok, I might have to still use them in stirfry every once in a while just so that I don't overdo it on baked goods, but I don't think I'll ever enjoy zucchini more than this. I made some changes to the original recipe that I think really add to its amazingness:

Zucchini Coconut Brownies

• 2 c. flour (I used whole wheat pastry flour but I've used all purpose before)
  
• 1.25 c. sugar (organic - sucanat if available)
  
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1.5 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 c. cocoa
• 1/2 c. coconut oil (melt it to make it easier to mix)
  
• 2 c. grated zucchini (1 large)
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 c. grated coconut

Mix dry ingredients, add wet ingredients and stir till well mixed.

Spread in 9X11" pan, bake for 30 min at 350.

I'd love to make it again soon with walnuts and dark choco chips as well! mmm!

Best Recipes of 2008

I end up hunting for recipes online about once a week. I love to try new combinations and I don't have many years of experience behind me, so even though I'm pretty adventurous, I like to get an idea of what others have tried that works. I don't always stick to recipes that I find, but they are in invaluable resource. Reading food blogs is addictive as well, and there's such a great pool to choose from! This last year I discovered so many great new blogs that I couldn't possibly write them all up. Instead I want to share with you my top 10 recipes found on blogs in 2008. Better late than never. :) They aren't all pantry meals, but they all:

1. are able to be made from common ingredients
2. are hard to mess up
3. are delicious!!!!

These links should take you to the original blog post I took them from. If I blogged about them myself after I made them, I've noted that too.

Powerballs - (I blogged about them here)
Rosemary chickpea soup
Chip and dip cookies - (my thoughts coming soon)
Double good raisin bars - (my thoughts coming soon)
Peanut butter filled chocolate cookies
crockpot applesauce - (I mentioned it here)
Homemade eggrolls
Eggplant caviar, falafel and pita - (I blogged about them here)
Yogurt - (I blogged about it here)
Rustic Garlic Onion Pizza - (I blogged about it here)

Technically 12 recipes if you count eggplant caviar, falafel, and pita as three - but then this wouldn't be a "Top 10" list, and besides I ate them as a meal! :) Thank you internet for access to amazing recipes!!

Eating From MY Pantry

Last day of shopping, Feb 2nd, 2009

That's right - I'm done. :) With the exception of buying asparagus and sliced ham for a meal going to a friend with a new baby, I have shopped my last (for groceries) until April or longer. We are anticipating a move in the next two months and want to deplete our food stores so as to have less to pack and transfer. Should be an interesting ride. :)

Because I generally purchase more than one of any regularly-consumed item that I find at a good price, we are fairly prepared for this little project. So far it has been a small challenge and certainly no hardship. I have frozen veggies and a good amount of yogurt with fruit in it, dried fruit, and a jar of canned peaches. I have at least 8lbs of chicken, 5lbs of beef, 4 pork chops, half a dozen fillet of talapia, 1lb ground turkey, and 2 dozen eggs. I also have 3 loaves of already-made bread stored and plenty of flour to make more.

The difficult part of this project will be the fillers. The pre-made granola bars, crackers, chips, and cookies are gone, and we are obviously limited on the healthier choices. This is fine for me and the little guy (who just turned 1 on Valentine's Day!), but harder to manage for my husband who takes his lunch to work and eats, well, like the 6'4" man that he is. :) He has no qualms with leftovers - eats them every day - but it will be a stretch to find things to go with the leftovers he takes.

In an effort to conserve our egg supply, I have been making us oatmeal in the mornings. My husband isn't a fan of plain oatmeal, so I've been sprucing it up a bit. Here are some ideas:

"Home Made" Instant Oatmeal

3/4 cup quick oats

a handful of any or all of the following:

dried fruit (cranberries are our fave)
seeds/nuts (we like sunflower seeds and pecans the best)

1/2 tsp cinnamon
tsp sugar or honey

you can also add a tsp of powdered milk or coffee creamer if you like creamy oatmeal

Add water to desired consistency and voila!

When both my husband and I were working, we'd take a shortcut in this process and combine a dozen or so servings in a large tupperware container or ziplock bag and dish it into our bowls each morning until it was gone. One of our very favorite blogs posted a great "visual guide" to making individual oatmeal packets ahead of time a while back - read it here.

Please continue to follow me the next month as I stretch our food supply. :)

Valentine's Day on a Dime

Yay for freebies!

The folks at Living on a Dime are at it again! They are offering their Valentine's On A Dime e-book free this month!

Click on the image above and download it! It expires Feb. 15.

And if that weren't nice enough, they are also offering a ONE DAY SALE on that great cookbook - Dining on a Dime that I gave away last year! It ends tonight at midnight, so don't miss out!!