The Zucchini Magic

I don't know what's with zucchini that I've learned to like and love it the first time I tasted it! The first recipe I tried using zucchini was ratatouille… oh yes, I can still vividly remember, that was shortly after my family and I watched the movie, "Ratatouille". I was so intrigued at why Anton Ego, the critic, "was rocked to the core", that I made efforts to look for recipes so that I could try the dish myself.

Well, my very first ratatouille dish was a hit in my family, especially to my husband who had a one-year stint in France, where he had his first taste of it in 2004. He and my eldest daughter, Ayana Grace, liked it. 

 Their reaction to my first experiment inspired me so much I had to give it another try, this time, as toppings to pasta. Another big hit! From then on, zucchini has been a mainstay in my grocery list (as it's not available in nearest wet market). Having at least one piece in my vegetable bin has made it a regular savior in times of "I-don't-have-much-time-to-think-of-a-meal" moments in my life as a working mother and wife! With eggplant and tomatoes, it often becomes an effective fast food dish I offer to my husband who has been on a veggie and fish diet since he recovered from a mild stroke.

Here are the common dishes I make with zucchini. 

Zucchini omelet

Zucchini fritters

Zucchini Pizza

Zucchini Carpaccio with Avocado Salad

 Both were featured in my previous blogs, Go Green with Zucchini Carpaccio and Sunday's Cram.

Mixed Zucchini Broccoli Spinach Salad

  And just recently, I discovered a new recipe--- Betty Crocker's Pineapple Zucchini Bread.

 I didn't have ingredients (powdered sugar and corn oil and I didn't have time to scout for the right substitutes) for the glaze at the time I tried this new recipe. I didn't have walnuts either. Fortunately, there were still pistachios left in my cupboard. The result--- Pineapple Zucchini Bread with pistachios minus the glaze. 

Pineapple Zucchini Bread with Pistachio toppings

 Well, what do you think? Not quite like Betty Crocker's but then the fact that my husband ate the whole loaf he brought to work (believe it or not!!!!) says it all! Honestly, I disdained the thought that he ate the whole loaf because he said he'd share it with his officemates and it was a violation to his diet! But then, what else could be a better compliment?

I bet I featured much about my zucchini meals. More about the making of each meal featured here in the coming days. I just realized my collection of dishes in my electronic files are beginning to multiply already. Can't wait to share them all! Meanwhile, thank you so much for the visit!  Hope to see you more often. How about joining my site? :)

I'm linking to Home Maid Simple Foodie Friday, Simple Living and Eating Foodie Friday