Oven-fried Zucchini Chips

If you have a garden or a neighbor giving you zucchini, you probably are wondering what to do with all of it!  You can make breads, zucchini cakes, throw them in omelets, grill them, stuff them and bake them.  I ran across this recipe online the other day and thought.  Why didn't I think of doing this? 

It is so easy too!  I found the idea here:  Oven-fried Zucchini Chips.  It is a new blog to me and I always love discovering a new blog!  You can see I adapted to my own liking and did without the dipping sauce, only because I was soooo hungry.  I plan to try the Basil Dipping Sauce next time!  I am also going to try to skillet fry them next time with just a bit of olive oil and butter.  I will let you know how they turn out.

I used a mandoline to cut these uniform.  

I put salt and pepper on all of the slices, dipped them in milk, and then into the bread crumbs.  You can make fresh breadcrumbs or use store bought.  I used italian style store bought this time around.

Line them up and bake in a 425 degree oven for about 25-30 minutes.  They come out super yummy and crispy.  Her recipe has parmesan cheese & onion powder which sound amazing, but I was lazy, so this worked for me.  Enjoy!!

Jumbo Cupcakes

 

I absolutely LOVE a good cupcake.  I had a rush order for JUMBO cupcakes yesterday.  Can you believe I didn't have a jumbo cupcake pan?  (I know, right?)  ME...without the perfect pan?  So I did what anyone would do in my situation.  I ran to the store and bought two!

While at the store I found the cutest cupcake boxes ever!  I grabbed enough for the order (plus a couple extra) and ran home to bake the cupcakes in my new jumbo pans!  How much more cake is in a JUMBO cupcake you ask?  A lot!  I usually scoop 1 full large scoop into each cupcake liner for standard cupcakes.  These took a generous three!  I can't wait to make JUMBO muffins in these pans!  And coffee cake....and stuffed cupcakes...and maybe zucchini breads?

I topped white cupcakes with chocolate butter cream frosting and white sugar pearls.  I topped the chocolate cupcakes with white butter cream frosting and mini chocolate chips.  Of course I set aside a couple for my family taste testers.  Needless to say, there were no complaints.  

Here is the link to the boxes that I bought at Michael's craft store by Duff:   Treat boxes

Skirt Steak with Spicy Green Salsa and Sour Cream Potato Salad

I'd never cooked skirt steak until this recipe.  It is DELICIOUS!  What took me so long?  I am a huge fan of flank steak, but this is just YUM.  I got this recipe from Everyday Food's Great Food Fast cookbook.  One of my favorite fast go to cookbooks.  The potato salad is really tasty!

You can find the recipe here:  www.marthastewart.com/334703/chili-rubbed-skirt-steak

Make this!  You will not be disappointed!!!  I promise you!

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

My son Marcus asks me to make macaroni and cheese almost daily.  There is no way I will EVER make that neon boxed macaroni and cheese.  So...many times I will boil noodles, drain them, add some butter, and grate fresh cheese over the top.  I realize this isn't the macaroni and cheese he was hoping for, but it works for him and holds him over. 

I decided it was time to give the boy what he was really wanting.  I found this recipe that is super easy and delicious from Everyday Food's Great Food Fast cookbook.  It is really a great cookbook with healthy, easy meals.  I love it and go to it often.

Once you make the macaroni and cheese you can put it into a large casserole dish or into ramekins for individual servings.  

Top with breadcrumb/cheese mixture and bake in the oven at 375. A casserole takes 30 minutes and my boys were hungry so I used ramekins and cut the time to 15-20 minutes.

Enjoy!  This is a family favorite over here!

You can find the recipe at :  Macaroni and Cheese