The summer is coming to an end and my little man has begun the first of many, many, many years of school. Yes that's right I now officially have a preschooler! Scary and exciting all at the same time. Time sure flies as an adult. Summer was over in a blink this year and although the days of lounging by the pool are fading quickly, I do have to say my most favorite time of year is coming fast and I have that ich to decorate and bake everything fall! Lately our new family ritual has been to check out some local Farmer's Markets on Saturday mornings and I just happened to find one I'm in love with. Even better it is only about 10 minutes driving distance away. Heaven! We kind of live far from everything, and driving a gas guzzler like I do this was just a perfect opportunity for me to get back into cooking and creating/trying new recipes with fresh, Arizona grown ingredients! Over the weekend my husband and I kind of splurged on some somewhat, healthy versions of some not-so-healthy appetizers. The first recipe I adapted from a recipe I found on skinnytaste.com, Zucchini tots. The second one my husband I have been making forever I just tried something new.
Zucchini Tots
Fall is right around the corner and what does that mean? Football season! Ok so I don't watch football at all, neither does my husband but this little tot will satisfy fans of all ages. Who am I kidding you really don't need an excuse whatsoever as to why you should make and eat these!!! I'm serious, they are good and instead of being fried they are baked, and with panko bread crumbs for Pete's sake! So instead of feeling extremely guilty after snacking hard you'll just feel slightly guilty, or non at all. The ingredients are as follows:
1 zucchini
1/4 C panko bread crumbs
extra Panko bread crumbs for rolling
1 egg
1/4 C grated sharp chedder cheese
cooking spray
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2) Grate zucchini into a clean dish towel and wring out fluid.
3) In a bowl combine all ingredients (minus the extra Panko for rolling). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4) Scoop out 1 Tbs. of mixture and roll into balls. Roll the balls in the extra Panko bread crumbs then place on a cookie sheet sprayed in cooking spray.
5) Spray the top of the zucchini balls with cooking spray and bake in the oven for 16-18 minutes or until lightly browned.
YUM!
Fried Okra
One of my favorite treats are fried Okra. They are addicting and there is no way of not feeling guilty about consuming these! Better make sure I'm not the only one in the kitchen when I make these because the minute they come out of the fry daddy they are popped into my mouth. Warning these are fried so there is nothing healthy about them, only one important fact, they are way too good. Please treat yourself and your loved ones to these, they will think you are glorious. They are also easy peasy. The ingredients consist of:
Whole Wheat Flour
2 Large Eggs
Fresh Okra, sliced into pieces (or frozen, if you don't have fresh)
vegetable oil
Panko Bread Crumbs
1) Fill your fry daddy 1/4 full and let heat up. (works fine in a medium saucepan as well)
2) Pour flour on a plate, scramble eggs in a small bowl, and pour Panko bread crumbs on another plate. Make a little dipping station for yourself.
3) Dip the okra in the flour, then in scrambled eggs, then in panko bread crumbs.
4) In small batches fry the okra, about 3 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Drain on paper towel. Then Enjoy!
I know I still have a couple weeks more of summer but I think we will make the conversion to fall early in this household! Next on my list of fall and winter favorites made from my yummy local produce, soups! So let me turn down the air conditioning and let the pretending begin.
