Bruschetta

Ingredients:

2 -3 c. Meaty tomatoes, chopped small
1/2 c. Onion, chopped fine
2 T. Garlic
2 t. Balsamic vinegar
2 T. Olive Oil
12-15 Basil leaves, chopped
1 t. Sea salt

Combine all ingredients.  Let rest a couple hours.  Serve over toasted baguette bread.

Huli Huli Chicken

Ingredients:

Serve with grilled pineapple and coconut rice.

• 4 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, chicken breasts also work
• 1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
• ½ cup soy sauce
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ⅓ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons fresh ginger root, grated
• 1½ teaspoons minced garlic
• green onions, sliced for garnish

Directions:

1. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, chicken broth, ginger and garlic. Reserve 1 cup sauce for basting. Add the chicken thighs and sauce to a ziplock bag and marinate at least 3 hours or overnight.
2. Grill chicken, covered, over medium heat for 6-8 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Baste occasionally with reserved marinade during the last 5 minutes. Garnish with green onions if desired

Italian Sausage Zoodles

Ingredients:

2 - 4 pre-cooked sausages, any flavor
2-3 medium/large zucchini (no kiddin')
1-2 T Olive Oil
1-2 cloves of garlic, pressed
1/4 t. kosher salt
1/8 t. black pepper
6 marinated artichoke hearts, roughly chopped
1 c. fresh spinach, roughly chopped
1 T. toasted pine nuts
1 T. feta cheese

Directions:
Slice and warm sausages in a pan or microwave, set aside. Cut or spiralize zucchini noodles and set aside. Saute garlic in olive oil in a large saute pan 20-30 seconds.  Add zucchini, saute about 2 minutes, add spinach and stir to wilt slightly.  Remove from heat and stir in artichokes and sausages.  Divide into two plates and top each with feta and pine nuts.

***This recipe is on Our Best Bites and they use a spiralizer to make the zucchini noodles.  It costs about $29 so I just use my large grater.  You can also remove the water from your zucchini using salt if you start early.  I buy the pre-cooked sausages from Sam's that come in different flavors.  This isn't a recipe you want every week, but twice in the summer is yummy.

Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:

1 c. Wesson oil
2 c. sugar
3 beaten eggs
1 1/2 Tbs. vanilla
3 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 t salt
1 1/2 t. cinnamon
2 c. grated zucchini
Nuts

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.  Makes 2 loaves.

***Katie loves this recipe and adds chocolate chips.

Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole

Ingredients:
4 lbs potatoes, peeled
1/2 c. sour cream
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. milk
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp chicken bouillon
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 c. parmesan cheese, grated
1 1/2 c. cheddar cheese grated
12 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/4 c. green onions, sliced

Directions:
Boil potatoes in salted water until done.  Drain well and mash. Add sour cream, butter, milk, salt, pepper, bouillon, and garlic.  Stir in Parmesan cheese, 1 c. cheddar and half of the bacon.  Pour into a 9x13 baking dish and bake for 25 min at 350 degrees.  Top with remaining cheese and bacon and bake 5 more minutes.

Garden Veggie Alfredo Pasta

Better known as "One Pot Pasta"

Ingredients:
1 lb spaghetti
1 pt mushrooms, sliced
2 zucchini squash, quartered and sliced
2/3 c. peas, fresh or frozen
2 cloves garlic or 1 tsp garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 c.  Cream or milk
2/3 c. Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:
Put 4 1/2 cups of water on to boil in large pot.  When water is boiling, add first six ingredients.  Boil on medium heat 8-10 minutes or until water is reduced and pasta is done. Stir in cream and cheese.Yum!

Arepas

Ingredients:
2 c. White corn flour
2 1/2 c. luke warm water
1 t. salt

Directions:
Mix water and salt, add corn flour until it forms a soft dough.  Let the dough stand for 5 minutes.  Divide the dough into eight balls and pat into a patty about 3/8 inch thick.  Sprinkle with Tony Chachere's and cook on the griddle over medium heat. Cool, slice open and stuff with mozzarella, mushrooms, pulled pork, avocado, beans, basil, spinach, etc.  ***Tom and I found these on our NY trip Summer of 2016.