Zucchini Bites

First Attempt Zucchini Bites

Now, tonight Dusty is going to have nachos, but I am trying to eat all natural again and get back into a great healthy lifestyle. So, I tried to come up with an alternative to using tortilla chips. Now, don't get me wrong, Baked Lays tortilla chips are a great healthy alternative, but I really wanted to use a vegetable. My first instinct was to use a summer squash, but my local market did not have any good looking ones. So, I decided to go with a nice zucchini! I know these are no where near "nachos", and they need a little added help, but they are still bite size, yummy, and they are much more nutritious! Now, they didn't turn out quite like I had hoped, but I also cooked them in a bit of a hurry. Here's what I did this time, please try it out and give any suggestions that you have. I'd like to continue working on this recipe and get it into tip-top condition! :)

1st Attempt Zucchini Bites

• 1 medium zucchini cut into 1/4" rounds (I used a mandolin, but you can just cut thick rounds with your Chef's knife).
• Place the rounds on a greased baking sheet.
• Cut small slices of 2% mozzarella cheese (sized to fit zucchini rounds) or sprinkle 2% mozzarella cheese over the rounds.
• Top off with chopped onion and bell pepper.
• Place in a 450 degree oven for 8-10 minutes. Keep a close eye on them so that the cheese does not burn.
• Place on a plate and sprinkle a small bit of parsley and granulated garlic on top.

As I stated above, this is a first attempt recipe that turned out rather bland. I want to continue to improve on it. A few things that I think will help are to mix the zucchini with 1 packet of Italian seasoning (and no more than 3/4 tsp almond oil if needed), using a 2% shredded mozzarella or sharp cheddar cheese (I used an all natural, fat free, gluten free monterey jack, and believe this contributed to the blandness of the dish) and putting them on the grill so that the oil drips down and the zucchini is not left sitting in the excess oil. Again, please leave any comments you may have on ways to improve this recipe without compromising the nutrition or flavor of the dish.

Always remember you can have fun, eat great, and stay healthy all at the same time! :)