Skinny Chicken Mozzarella W/ "Hidden-Veggie" Marinara

6 chicken breasts, marinated and grilled {I love to marinate chicken in fat free Italian dressing for 1-2 hours before grilling. It gives chicken the best flavor.}

1-2 tbsp olive oil 

2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced

1 zucchini, washed and diced

1 yellow squash washed and diced

1/2 purple onion, sliced

1 carrot, peeled and grated

1/2 cup mushrooms, washed {optional}

1 handful fresh spinach leaves, de-stemmed, washed and chopped

2-3 fresh basil leaves, washed and chopped {optional}

1 small jar of your favorite marinara sauce

Fresh mozzarella, sliced thin 

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While chicken is grilling, saute all veggies in oil for 4-5 minutes.
Add salt and pepper. 

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Put marinara sauce in a blender and add veggie mixture to it. 

Purée till well blended. 

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When chicken is grilled, place on a cookie sheet lined with tinfoil. Pour desired amount of veggie marinara sauce onto each piece of chicken. Top with sliced mozzarella. Broil on high, second raxk from top, for 4 minutes, then on low till cheese is nice and browned, about 3-4 minutes.

Easy Beef & Veggie Skillet

2 tbsp olive oil {or any oil you like}

1 large onion, peeled and diced small

1 lb ground beef {or ground turkey!}

Salt and pepper to taste

2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced

1/4 tsp basil. {if using fresh, 2-3 leaves.}

3 carrots, peeled and sliced

3 red potatoes, washed and sliced {could use sweet potato}

1/2 cup water

1 zucchini, washed and sliced

1 yellow squash, washed and sliced

1 handful spinach, de-stemmed and diced

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In a large skillet, sauté onions in olive oil. Add hamburger and brown about 4 minutes. 

Add garlic, spices, carrots, potatoes and water. 

Cover and cook about 7 mins, then add other veggies and recover. 

Cook till carrots are tender. 

Shish-Kabobs

Chicken, pork and/or steak, cut into 1 inch chunks
1 LRG onion, cut into large chunks

1 LRG yellow bell pepper, cut into large chunks

1 LRG red bell pepper, cut into large chunks
1 LRG zucchini, sliced to 1/2 inch thickness
1 LRG yellow squash, sliced to 1/2 inch thickness

1- 8 oz can tomato sauce

1- 4 oz can diced green chilies

2 tbsp Olive oil

2 tsp chili powder 

2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp salt 

1/2 tsp mrs dash Fiesta Lime seasoning

Juice of 1 lime

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Put meat, peppers, squash and onions in a large bowl.
Mix all other ingredients and pour over meat mix.
Stack and skewers and grill till chicken is no longer pink. 

Zucchini Bread

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup oil
2 cups grated zucchini
3 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
3 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. BP
1/2 cup chopped nuts {optional}
1 bag chocolate chips {optional}
1/2 cup raisins or craisins {optional}
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Combine sugars, oil and egg. 
Mix until well blended.
Add zucchini and vanilla.
Sift and measure flour.
Sift together salt, soda, cinnamon and BP and stir into creamed mixture.
Add chopped nuts if desired.
Pour into greased and sugared bread pan.
Bake at 325.
1 hour for 2 large loaves.
30-40 minutes small loaves.
Bread is done when tooth pick comes out clean.

Banana-Zucchini Muffins {or bread}

1/2 cup butter {softened at room temp}

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup ripe banana's {mashed}

1/2 cup zucchini {grated}

1/4 cup apple sauce

2 cups flour {i like to use half wheat flour}

1 tsp soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon 

1 tsp vanilla

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Put butter, sugars and eggs in a mixing bowl and beat well. 

Add mashed bananas and zucchini. 

Mix till well incorporated. 

Add remaining ingredients and blend. 

Place liners in cupcake pans and spray each one with a small amount of non stick cooking spray. 

Bake in oven @ 375 degrees F for 10-15 minutes. {until tops are nicely browned}

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{if baking in mini bread pans, bake for 25-30 minutes, checking center with a tooth pick until done}

{if baking in a normal sized bread pan, bake for 30-40 minutes}
{you can omit the butter and use a 1/2 cup of apple sauce, for a total of 3/4 cup apple sauce}

Happy eating! 

Minestrone

1 lb hamburger

3 cans diced tomatoes {or 2 qts bottled tomatoes}

1 can green beans, drained 

2 cans of corn, NOT drained

2 cups diced up zucchini 

2 cups {dry} small shells

1 tsp basil

1/2 tsp oregano

Salt, pepper, and garlic salt to taste

1 pkg onion soup mix 
1-2 tsp beef bullion {or 1-2 cubes} 

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 

4-6 cups of water {depending on desired thickness of soup}

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Brown hamburger with seasonings. 

Add everything else and stir occasionally till boiling. 

Turn down to low and simmer with lid on for 10-12 minutes. 

Enjoy!
{you can also use one can of red beans}

3 Cheese Veggie Pizza

I threw a Pampered Chef party last night and this is what we made!  It was SOOOO good and SOOOO easy!  Love recipes like that!

1 {10 oz} package refrigerated pizza crust
1 small onion, sliced into rings
1 medium zucchini, sliced
2 Roma tomatoes, sliced
1 cup mushrooms, sliced {normally I hate mushrooms but they were so good on this!}
2 garlic cloves, pressed
3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 cup {4 oz} shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup {4 oz} shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup {1 oz)} grated fresh Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
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Heat oven to 400.
Spread pizza dough onto pizza pan.
Bake for 7 minutes.
Remove from oven.
Slice onion, zucchini, tomatoes and mushrooms.
Press garlic into olive oil and mix.
Pour over crust and spread evenly.
Sprinkle mozzarella and cheddar cheeses over crust then top with onion, zucchini, tomatoes and mushrooms.
Sprinkle with Parmesan and then seasoning.
Bake 15-18 minutes or until crust is golden.

Dinner In A Pumpkin

1 pumpkin {3-4 pounds}

2 Tbsp butter, melted

Vegetable oil

1 Lb. hamburger

1/2 cup celery, chopped

1/2 cup onion, chopped

2 cups cooked rice

2 cans cream of chicken soup

4 oz. sliced muchrooms, drained {optional}

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 Tbsp brown suger

1/4 cup green pepper, diced

Cut a 3" circle around the stem of the pumpkin.

Remove seeds and pulp, discard.

Brush inside of pumpkin with butter.

Brush outside of punpkin with oil.

Brown hamburger.

Stir in celery, onion, and green pepper.

Simmer on low for 10 min.

Add cooked rice, soup, mushrooms, soy sauce, and brown suger.

Spoon misture into the pumpkin and place in center of a greased cookie sheet.

Replace pumpkin top.

Bake at 375 for 1 1/2 - 2 hours or till pumpkin is tender.

Summer Squash Casserole

As a child, this was one of my favorite dinners that my Mother would make us.
It still is.

6 C yellow summer squash, diced
1/4 C onion, chopped
1 c. shredded carrots
{Cook in salted water 5 min. at a slow boil.}

Combine:
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 C sour cream
{Add to drained vegetables.}

Prepare 1 pkg. herb stuffing mix according to directions.

Spoon ½ of stuffing in a baking dish.

Spoon vegetable and soup mixture over dressing.

Top with other half of dressing.

Bake at 350 degrees for aprox. 30 min. until bubbly.