Yummy Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini
It’s that time of year when zucchinis are growing non stop. If you have a garden you may be overwhelmed with what you can do with all of the zucchinis. Here’s a couple of our favorite recipes to use our zucchinis up. They’re perfect for gifting to neighbors or baking for an after school snack.
- Sausage & Zucchini – we love throwing all our veggies, some sausage and sweet potato on a pan, season and bake in the oven until all the vegetables are soft! It’s a quick and easy dinner to throw together.
- Zucchini Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting – this is a childhood recipe I just love making every year! I always make two and gift one to the neighbors.
Zucchini Bread
3 Eggs
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
3 Cups Flour
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
3 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Baking Powder
1 Cup Oil
3 tsp Vanilla
2 Cups Zucchini, Grated
1/2 Cup Nuts, chopped (optional)
Cream together eggs and sugar. Sift dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture, blending well. Add oil to mixture. Stir in grated zucchini and vanilla. Pour batter into two loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.
Zucchini Bread Frosting
6oz Package Cream Cheese, Softened
1/2 Cup Butter, Softened
1 16oz Package Powdered Sugar
2 Tsp Vanilla
For the frosting: beat cream cheese and butter together until fluffy. Slowly add sugar; beating until well blended. Stir in vanilla. Frost on top of bread.
- Slow Cooker zucchini Lasagna – this recipe we actually made before hand and took up camping with us, super yummy!
- Zucchini Boats – my neighbor introduced us to these this year and they’ve been a hit! Perfect for using up that zucchini that got a little to big! There are tons of different way to make yours. We ended up doing some taco meat mixed with peppers but get creative! And there’s tons of ideas on Pinterest. You can do steak and veggies, sausage stuffed zucchini, buffalo chicken boats, pizza stuffed and more.
- Oven Roasted Parmesan Zucchini – yummy! This is a great size dish to prepare that everyone is going to love.
Quick Dinner Ideas For Busy Nights!
School has started and the extra curricular activities are starting up which means there’s not much time to cook and eat dinner between running back and forth. So I’ve come up with our 5 favorite dinner meals that are quick and easy to put together for busy nights!
Rotisserie Chicken Tacos – anytime you can use a rotisserie chicken it will cut your time down drastically. So I’ll usually get one of these and shred the chicken with some seasoning and put it inside a taco shell with our favorite toppings. Here’s a great recipe if you need step by step instructions.
BBQ Pulled Pork Salad – Salads are my favorite go to meal during the summertime. I’ll just place pork in the crock pot and pour BBQ sauce over top of it (usually a whole jar). Then let it cook and shred it before serving. You could even do sandwiches if your family prefers those or tacos, those are delicious!
Cheesy Sausage Pasta – this is a kid favorite in our house. It’s like a mac and cheese only stepped up a notch (or two). And even better, you can make this all in one pan.
Sliders – These aren’t just for football games, they’re perfect for dinner too! This is my favorite recipe but there’s so many out there so find one your whole family loves and enjoy on those busy school week nights.
Grilled Cheese and Soup – my mom worked a couple week nights each week so we had to make dinner and this was always on the menu because it was quick and easy and everyone got to pick which soup they wanted that night.
We’re all trying to do our best to get a good meal on the table but don’t ever be to hard on yourself. If cereal is for dinner tomorrow night, that’s ok. Need to pick up dinner at your local fast food, do what you need to. We’re all just doing our best!
Super Easy & Yummy Double Chocolate Zucchini (Whole Grain) Muffin Recipe
Yum! If you have some zucchini in your garden, then I’m sure you’re searching for some yummy recipes. This recipe is one of my favorite of all time. They would be perfect to make now and freeze for the kiddos school lunches. Check it out!
Double Chocolate Zucchini (Whole Grain) Muffin Recipe
By Mel’s Kitchen Café
INGREDIENTS
- ¾ cup (159 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup buttermilk, or half milk/half sour cream
- ¼ cup neutral-flavored oil or melted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (142 g) all-purpose or whole wheat flour
- ½ cup (43 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ cups (about 283 g) shredded zucchini
- 1 ½ cups (255 g) chocolate chips
INSTRUCTIONS
-
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. (If using dark coated muffin tins, preheat to 325 degrees F.) Add liners to 12-cup muffin tin or spray muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
-
In a large bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, buttermilk (or sour cream/milk), oil or butter, eggs, and vanilla until well-combined. Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Stir until just combined and a few dry streaks remain.
-
Lightly squeeze zucchini over the sink by handfuls to wring out excess water. Add to the bowl with the chocolate chips. Stir until the zucchini and chocolate chips are evenly mixed (but try not to over mix or the muffins might be dense instead of light and fluffy).
-
Portion the batter evenly into the muffin tin, filling the cups about 2/3 full. Depending on the size of the muffin tin, you may need to bake a second batch (the recipe makes between 12-16 muffins).
-
Bake for 17-19 minutes until the tops spring back lightly to the touch. Let the muffins cool for 2-3 minutes in the pan before removing them to a wire rack to cool completely.
The Disney Princess Cookbook (Hardcover) Only $9.50! (Reg $17.99)
Right now you can pre-order The Disney Princess Cookbook (Hardcover) for only $9.50! This will be released Sept 28th just in time for baking season with your little Disney fan. Featuring simple step-by-step instructions and mouth-watering photos of each dish, this cookbook makes it easy to whip up enchanting treats, while enjoying captivating illustrations of the princesses and their friends. In this book, readers will discover:
- 50 beginner-friendly recipes, including dishes like Rapunzel-inspired Frying Pan Eggs, Tiana-inspired Bayou Meatloaf, Moana-inspired Te Fiti Tropical Punch, and many more
- A thorough introduction to kitchen basics
- A “difficulty rating” for each recipe, so brand new chefs know where to start
- Beautiful food photography on every spread
- Charming illustrations of the Disney Princesses
- Bonus menus to inspire young chefs to combine recipes and create their own magical feasts
And with Amazon’s pre-order price guarantee, if the price drops from the time you order until the item releases, you’ll receive the lowest sale price! Keep in mind, Amazon pricing can change at any time! Don’t wait to purchase this deal or it might be gone when you come back! This item will ship free for all Amazon Prime members. Or, regular members can score free shipping by adding $25 or more worth of eligible items to your cart. You can get a 1-week trial of Amazon Prime for only $1.99 here.
The Official Harry Potter Baking Book (Hardcover) Only $13.98!
Bake your way through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! The Official Harry Potter Baking Book (Hardcover) is only $13.98 on Amazon right now. Packed with over 40 recipes and gorgeous, eye-catching photography, this baking cookbook is a must-have for every Harry Potter fan. Keep in mind, Amazon pricing can change at any time! Don’t wait to purchase this deal or it might be gone when you come back!
This item will ship free for all Amazon Prime members. Or, regular members can score free shipping by adding $25 or more worth of eligible items to your cart. You can get a 1-week trial of Amazon Prime for only $1.99 here.
The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Hardcover Cookbook Just $15.99! Pre-Order Now & Save!
Calling all Hocus Pocus fan! Now you can be set for the holidays when you pre-order The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Hardcover Cookbook for just $15.99! (Reg $20) And with Amazon’s pre-order price guarantee, if the price drops from the time you order until the item releases, you’ll receive the lowest sale price! (Title will be released on Sept 7th, 2021)
The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook is filled with over 60 recipes for fare inspired by everyone’s favorite witches and their spells, potions, and schemes. It is the ultimate must-have for fans of all ages—but don’t worry, no children were harmed in the test of these recipes. Inside you’ll find frightfully delicious recipes for:
- Burning Rain of Death Punch
- William’s Wormy Grave Tombstone Cake
- Dead Man’s Toes Sausage Appetizers
- Baked Witch Casserole
- “Way to Go, Virgin” mocktails
- And much more!
Keep in mind, Amazon pricing can change at any time! Don’t wait to purchase this deal or it might be gone when you come back! This item will ship free for all Amazon Prime members. Or, regular members can score free shipping by adding $25 or more worth of eligible items to your cart. You can get a 1-week trial of Amazon Prime for only $1.99 here.
5 of Our Favorite Meals to Take Camping!
This year seems to be the year everyone is getting away and going camping. And for good reason, with the current situation it’s the best way to get away from the city, relax with the people that really matter and eat yummy food! We’ve had a trailer the last couple of years so I wanted to share some of our favorite meals we take camping! I promise they’ll have you drooling!
1. Dutch Oven Pull-Apart Pizza – this is one I tried for the first time our last camping trip and it was a big hit! It’s simple, get Rhodes frozen rolls, pepperoni, cheese and any other toppings you want for your pizza. I cut each of the rolls in half and placed them on the bottom of my dutch oven. Then I sprinkled on our toppings (pepperoni, olives and peppers) leaving the cheese for last. When cooking, place more of your coals on top so you don’t burn the bottom of your dough. Then once they’re done you can dish them out and serve with marinara sauce for dipping!
2. Campfire Hot Dogs with Crescent Rolls (pictured above)- this is a frugal and easy meal to take camping! All you need is your hotdogs, crescent rolls and a fire. First I patted down the hotdogs to make sure they were nice and dry (it will help the dough to stick). Then we wrapped crescent rolls around each of them and cooked them over the fire! Super simple and so yummy! We served with a size of watermelon and beans.
3. Hawaiian Sandwiches – This was a quick lunch we served up with some chips! All I did was take a bag of the Hawaiian Rolls and sliced them in half the long way (horizontal). I spread our mayo and mustard on each side, placed our meat and cheese and put the top back on. Then sliced them to make mini sandwiches for everyone. You could easily make these ahead of time and place back in the package the rolls came in. This will not only save you time but space in your cooler.
4. Pancakes – this is another one you can make ahead of time. I love the containers that have all the dry ingredient inside and you just add your water to the container it comes in. It is also simple enough you can do for cheaper from scratch as well.
5. Cobbler – You can’t go camping with out making cobbler. There so many different ways to do this and different flavors. We’ve done apple and peaches which are both amazing. Our favorite way to make cobbler though is with 7-up. If you haven’t make this before you’re going to be in heaven. All you need is 1 box of cake mix (we like yellow but you can use white or even spice if you want), 1 stick of butter and a large can of peaches (or any other fruit you’d like). You’ll dump your fruit on the bottom, sprinkle your cake mix over top and layer your butter across the cake mix in slices. That’s it! Remember when cooking in the dutch oven to add more heat to the top so you don’t burn the bottom of your cobbler.
National Sugar Cookie Day is Tomorrow July 9th! Celebrate with Our Favorite Recipe!
Did you know tomorrow is National Sugar Cookie Day? Why not celebrate this fun holiday with your kids and bake a batch of sugar cookies! I have the perfect recipe that you can roll and cut into any shape you please!
You’ll find this recipe goes a long way when you make the full thing so if it’s just my cute little family I’ll half it and it will make a good 50 sugar cookies still. As for the frosting I make the full recipe so we can have some of every color we need to decorate with. Then I pull out our sprinkles and we go to town.
Sugar Cookies (Cut Out)
2 eggs
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
6 cups flour
3/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
Mix eggs, butter and sugar. Add sour cream and vanilla. Combine flour, salt and baking soda together in separate bowl; then add the wet ingredients. (I find I have to refrigerate them for at least an hour before trying to roll them out and cut with cookie cutters. You can refrigerate for longer if needed) Bake at 375 degrees for 5-8 minutes (DO NOT over bake – you’ll start to see the bottom go brown when they’re ready to come out of the oven)
Cream Cheese Frosting
2 lbs powdered sugar
1 stick butter (1/2cup), softened
1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup shortening
2 tsp vanilla
Cream sugar and butter. Add cream cheese and shortening, mix well. Stir in vanilla. Beat 10 minutes (can add drops of milk if desired but I don’t usually).
I hope you enjoy making sugar cookies tomorrow with your family!
Easy Fresh Salsa Recipe- Perfect for Your 4th of July BBQ
The 4th of July is on Sunday! 
This means a lot of you guys will be having parties and BBQs. This Fresh Salsa is the perfect side dish to bring to your get togethers. It’s super easy and always a crowd pleaser.
Ingredients
1 Can Corn
1 Can Black Beans
1 Bunch of Green Onions
1 Bunch Cilantro
4 Tomatos Chopped
2 Avacodos Chopped
Dry Packet of Italian Salad Dressing (I used the Good Seasons brand)
Chips to serve
Directions
Make the Dry Italian Salad Dressing according to direction on packet (let chill for 1-2 hours if possible)
Add all ingredients into a big bowl and mix together
Pour in Italian Dressing and mix until well combined
Serve with chips and enjoy!
Amazing Salad Pasta For Your BBQ Gatherings This Weekend!
I have to share with you guys this amazing Pasta Salad that I make for every event we go to! From Christmas parties to BBQ’s during the summer it’s a big hit. And even the leftovers are spot on (and I don’t care for leftover anything!)! So if you’re still looking for a great side dish to take to your 4th of July gathering, check this out!
Broccoli, Grape & Pasta Salad
1 cup chopped pecans
½ (16oz) package bow-tie pasta
1 pd fresh broccoli
1 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup diced red onion
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp salt
2 cups seedless red grapes (halved)
8 cooked bacon slices (crumbled)
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Prepare pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, cut broccoli florets from stems, and separate florets into small pieces using tip of a parking knife. Peel away tough outer layer of steams and finely chop stems. Whisk together mayonnaise and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl; add broccoli, hot cooked pasta, and grapes and stir to coat. Cover and chill 3 hours. Stir bacon and pecans into salad just before serving.
4 Easy & Healthy Breakfast Smoothie Recipes (Great Summer Snack!)
We love smoothies around here, but I often get in a rut of just throwing things in. It’s nice to switch it up and have a different recipes some days. Plus, one easy way to eat healthier at breakfast is to have a healthy breakfast smoothie. It’s easy and can be an on the go breakfast option as well. Here are 5 recipes that are the perfect breakfast choice.
- Blueberry Pie Smoothie by Buildyourbite.com
- Oatmeal Berry Breakfast Smoothie by northsouthblonde.com
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie by Like Mother Like Daughter
- Peach Carrot Smoothie by Primavara Kitchen
You could buy the ingredients and have one every day of the week. You might just get your family hooked too. Enjoy!
Healthy & Yummy Frozen Yogurt Fruit Cups Recipe
YUM! I’m always looking for easy and healthy recipes for the summer time. This one looks absolutely perfect. If you need a cool healthy treat for the family, check this one out!
Frozen Yogurt Fruit Cups
Recipe & Photo by Veggie World Recipes
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup oats
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- dairy free yogurt
- Strawberries
- Mango
- Kiwi
- Blueberries
- Pomegranate
INSTRUCTIONS
- Start by cutting up the strawberries, mango, and kiwi into small pieces. They will be the topping for your fruit cups.
- In a large bowl, combine the oats, peanut butter, and maple syrup. This will be your granola base.
- Line a muffin pan with muffin liners. Add about 1-2 tablespoons of the granola to each muffin cup.
- On top of the granola, add 3-4 heaping tablespoons of the dairy free yogurt to each cup.
-
Top off the fruit cups by adding the fruit.
-
Place the cups in the freezer for at least 2 hours.
Frozen S’mores Recipe- Perfect Summer Treat
I can feel summer coming in strong! The kids have their last week of school and the weather is hitting 90 degrees. It’s time to think ice cream, frozen and cold! I came across this recipe for Frozen S’mores and thought this would be a perfect summer treat to make with the kiddos. Check it out!
Frozen S’mores Recipe
Photo and Recipe by It’s Always Autumn
Ingredients
- 1 box instant chocolate pudding 6 serving size
- 2.5 cups cold milk
- 16 graham crackers
- 7 oz marshmallow creme
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 8 oz frozen whipped topping thawed
Instructions
-
-
Line a 9×13 pan with foil or parchment paper, allowing paper to overhang pan.
-
In a medium bowl, whisk together pudding mix and milk until smooth and creamy. Pour into 9×13 pan and spread into an even layer. **See note**
-
Chill pudding layer while you mix up the marshmallow layer.
In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese and marshmallow cream until smooth. Fold in whipping topping. -
Spread marshmallow layer over chocolate layer. Cover with foil.
-
Freeze layers about 6 hours, until firm enough to cut through (freezing time will vary depending on how cold your freezer is). Use the foil or parchment paper to remove layers from 9×13 pan and place on a cutting board.
-
Break 15 graham crackers in half. Slice pudding/marshmallow layers into 15 squares the same size as the graham crackers. If your layers have frozen very hard you may want to wait 15 minutes before slicing.
-
Sandwich layers in between two graham crackers. (Watch the video in the post for an easy way to do this.)
-
Eat right away or store sandwiches in the freezer in an airtight bag or container. Graham crackers will soften slightly if stored in the freezer for a while, and I think that makes these taste even better. After they’ve been frozen, allow them to rest at room temperature 15-20 minutes before eating for the best texture.
-
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe- Perfect for Summer Dinners & BBQs
During the hot summer months, I’m always trying to find a yummy salad that is filling enough to make for dinner. My kids LOVE BLTs, so this BLT Pasta Salad is perfect. It’s super easy to make too. Make it for dinner or take it to your next BBQ.
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
Picture and Recipe by Life in the Lofthouse
Ingredients
- 2-1/2 cups uncooked bow tie pasta
- 6 cups torn romaine lettuce
- 1 medium tomato diced
- 4 bacon strips cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 1 Tablespoon barbecue sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
-
-
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Then rinse pasta under cold water.
-
In a large bowl, combine the romaine lettuce, tomato, bacon and pasta.
-
Drizzle the ranch dressing and barbecue sauce over the top. Gently toss to coat evenly. Season with pepper. Serve immediately and enjoy!
-
Yummy Butterscotch Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Yum. If you love Rice Krispie Treats, then you’re surely love this variation. I love these easy treats for after school when the kiddos get home, or for a lighter Sunday night treat. They are so easy to make even your kiddos can help you make them. This recipe and photo is by Mel’s Kitchen Cafe. She seriously has the best recipes.
Yummy Butterscotch Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Recipe & Picture by Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
INGREDIENTS:
- 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons, 4 ounces) butter (I use salted)
- 16 ounces large marshmallows
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
- 8 cups (8 ounces) crisp rice cereal, like Rice Krispies
- 1/2 cup (3 ounces) butterscotch chips
DIRECTIONS:
- Butter the bottom and sides of a 9X13-inch pan. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter on low heat and let it cook until the solids start to turn golden brown and it smells caramelly and fragrant (here’s a browned butter how-to if you’d like a visual).
- Add the marshmallows and cook on low, stirring constantly until mostly melted, a few small lumps here and there are ok. Add the vanilla and salt and stir to combine.
- Remove the pan from the heat and add the rice krispies and butterscotch chips. Stir until evenly combined.
- Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and using lightly greased or barely wet (with cold water) hands, lightly press the mixture into the pan (mashing them too hard and you’ll end up with very firm rice krispie treats – so use a gentle hand if you want them chewy). Let cool before slicing into squares.