Out of House and Home

Zucchini Unlimited

I promise you that, as long as you do not tell, not a soul who eats this dessert will believe that it is anything more than an apple pie. Please note: The number of zucchini given below is based, first, upon the zucchini we got out of our garden in Wisconsin – only slightly smaller than a newborn human baby, and second, upon the smaller-than-a-cucumber-sized ones available in Southern California grocery stores. Getting the amount correct will take time, so better to over- than under-purchase. Until I take the time to figure out the amount by weight, as the lovely commenter below suggested, please use your best judgement, and use leftovers as ice cream topping

For the filling, you will need:

• 2 large (or 12 – 14 small) zucchini, peeled, seeded (if seeds are large), quartered or halved length-wise, and cut into 1/4″ slices
• 2/3 c lemon juice
• 1 c sugar
• 1/2 t cinnamon
• 1/4 t nutmeg

Cook zucchini slices in lemon juice until tender; add sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, simmer and then allow to cool.

For the crust and topping you will need:

• 4 c flour
• 2 c sugar
• 1/2 t salt
• 1 c margarine/butter/butter-flavored crisco

Combine flour, sugar and salt; mix well. Cut in the butter with a fork or other tined instrument, and mix until crumbly. (Side-note: this usually makes more crust mixture than I end up using, but I guess the originator of this recipe may have made a thicker crust than I do. Play with it.)

Fold 1/2 cup of the crust mixture into the filling mixture. The result should look and taste like apple pie filling. Press 1/2 the remaining crust mixture into a 9″ x 13″ pan; bake this crust at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Pour zucchini over this new crust. Add 1 t cinnamon to remaining crust mix and sprinkle over zucchini. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Slice into bars and serve!

Baked sweet onions in cream and parmesan

Here’s a recipe I found from SlashFood — Baked sweet onions in cream and parmesan.

It seems really close to another recipe favorite of ours, Walla Walla Sweets.

Here’s our take on the recipe; our additions are in [square brackets]:

• one large [sweet] onion per person [if the onions are really big, maybe one onion per two people]
• double cream [heavy whipping cream in the states]
• grated Parmesan [cheese]
• [also grated swiss or gruyere cheese, if you like]

1) Peel the onions and boil in a pan of water for about 25 minutes until tender.
2) Remove and drain then slice in half.
3) Place in an oven-proof dish cut side down and cover with cream and as much parmesan [and other cheeses] as you like.
4) Bake for about 30 minutes [at 350 degrees] until golden and bubbling.
5) [If the cheese hasn't browned to your liking, turn on the broiler for 5 or so minutes (watch it, since it will go from white to brown to burnt within 30 seconds!)]

It’s a really yummy and simple dish that uses ingredients that aren’t strange, and if you ignore the fact that you’re dousing it in cream and cheese, is probably not all that horrendously bad for you. Really. }:>