Sausage Stuffed Zucchini

It's hard to believe the blurr that has been the past three weeks; I've covered a lot of territory in that time! Even being home for two days last weekend didn't feel like I was home - likely because I knew I'd need to be heading to San Diego Now I feel like I am home.

One of the first things that pops into my brain when I am home is that suddenly  am able to get into the kitchen and cook again. I saw many wonderful markets in France and Italy that had me wishing I was near a kitchen of my own but it was not to be . . . this trip, anyway.

Yesterday Paolo had to go back to the dentist for a laser treatment on the site where one of his teeth as pulled. He showed me the hole AKA bloody mess as soon as I walked in the door on Friday and it was bloody awful - apparently being zapped by a laser make sit heel better. Anyway, on the way to th dentist we passed the market so I popped in and bought some fresh zucchini (as well as a whole bunch of other stuff). I had no idea what I was going to make with them but I was sure that something would come up.

Later in the afternoon I visited some of my favourite food blogs for the first time in weeks and I came across a recipe for sausage stuffed zucchini on Gina's Skinny Recipes - one of my favourite spots for low-fat and low-calorie recipes.

SOLD

These were easy to make and I had everything on hand - such is the joy of a well-stocked pantry . . . no doubt if I had had to dash out to the store I would have come home with ice cream, chips, and cookies!

We both thought that these tasted amazing! If you're like the rest of the world and over run with zucchini at this time of the year here is another idea for using some of those veggies up . . .

Sausage Stuffed Zucchini

1 1/4 cups marinara sauce (I used a jar of Healthy Choice which has no added fat or sodium) 
4 (31 oz total) medium zucchini (mine were definitely larger than medium but it still worked)
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 small onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
14 oz lean Italian chicken sausage, removed from casing (I used the sausages that we made in the spring, they weren't chicken but they were home-made without any chemicals or additives and therefore better than any store bought crap!)
1/2 cup part skim shredded mozzarella
8 tsp grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of water to boil.

Preheat oven to 400°.

Cut zucchini in half lengthwise and using a spoon or melon baller, scoop out flesh, leaving 1/4" thick. Chop the scooped out flesh of the zucchini in small pieces and set aside.

Drop zucchini halves in boiling water and cook 1 minute. Remove from water. Place in ice cold water to stop them from cooking further.

Place 1/4 cup of sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 12" baking dish, and place zucchini halves cut side up.

In a large saute pan, brown sausage, breaking up as it cooks into smaller pieces until browned; set aside. Heat oil and add onion, garlic and bell pepper. Cook on a medium-low heat for about 2-3 minutes, until onions are translucent. Add chopped zucchini, season with salt and pepper and cook about 2-3 minutes. Combine with sausage and cook a few more minutes.

Using a spoon, fill each hollowed zucchini with 1/3 cup cooked sausage, pressing firmly. Top each with 2 tablespoons each of sauce, 1 tablespoon each of shredded mozzarella cheese and 1 teaspoon each of parmesan cheese.

Cover with foil and bake 35 minutes until cheese is melted and zucchini is cooked through.

Comments

[Kayte]

Those look good. Ah, yes, the joys of a well-stocked pantry! Hope Paul is feeling much better. Oh, and welcome home.

[vindecare reconectiva]

This recipe looks very nice and certainly taste very, very good. I tried to cook it and my family was impressed by the taste, the look was not very nice, but in the end taste counts more. Thanks for sharing.

[Palma]

These sound GREAT! I will make some for Federico! A zucchini-lemon cake for dessert, and zucchini muffins for breakfast ought to do it!

[JDeQ]

I have plenty of zucchini here Palma if you run out. LOL

He's feeling almost 100 % now Kayte. remind me
never to have teeth pulled. ICK