Veggie Heaven

Serves 8+

2 TBSP olive oil
2 Yellow onion
4 garlic
4 zucchini
4 yellow squash
3 sweet potato (I use sweet because regular potatoes are way too starchy, up to you)
4 tomato
1 1/2 tsp thyme
1 lb lean beef cooked (optional)
salt and pepper
Italian cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Finely dice the onion and mince the garlic. Saute both in a skillet with olive oil until softened (about five minutes).

While the onion and garlic are sauteing, thinly slice the rest of the vegetables.

Spray the inside of a baking dish with non-stick spray. Layer beef and softened onion and garlic in the bottom of the dish. Place the thinly sliced vegetables in the baking dish vertically, in an alternating pattern. Sprinkle generously with salt, pepper, and thyme.

Cover the dish with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove the foil, top with cheese and bake for another 15 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.

 

 

Ratatouille Protein Style (2 versions)

PRETTY VERSION:

SAUCE:
2 red bell peppers
1 yellow onion
4 tomatoes seeded
4 garlic cloves
1/2 tsp marjoram, thyme, basil
1 bay leaf

Boil until looks like a nice sauce.

FIXINS'
1 lb lean ground beef cooked (optional)
4+ zucchini
4+ yellow squash
Japanese eggplant (1 large eggplant)
4+ roma/plum tomatoes seeded

Slice all veggies 1/4" thick or as desired.  Place cooked ground beef as a layer on bottom of dish.  Pour sauce over top.  Arrange by alternating veggies UPRIGHT. Cover with parchment paper.  Bake 350 until tender. 

BIG POT VERSION:
*** to keep each individual veggies flavor, you can cook them separately then mix together before serving.

1 yellow onion sliced
4 garlic cloves
1 bay leaf
1 large eggplant 1/2" pieces
4 zucchini cut in half and then in 1/2" pieces
4 yellow squash cut the same
1 red, yellow, orange bell peppers cut into chunks
4 plum tomatoes BIG chunks
1/2 tsp marjoram, thyme
1 lb lean beef cooked (optional)
1 tsp salt
1/2 c. fresh basil
1/2 tsp. pepper

In a large pot add 3 TBSP olive oil, onion, garlic, bay leaf and eggplant.  Cook 8 min.  Add zucchini, squash, peppers, tomatoes, marjoram and thyme.  Cook another 7 min or until tender.  Stir in salt, basil and pepper.

***LEFTOVERS CAN BE USED AS A PIZZA TOPPING***

Mix and Match Squash with Rice

1 onion chopped
1/4 c. butter
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup rice
2 tsp salt
2 yellow squash sliced
2 zucchini sliced
2 TBSP Lemon juice
1 green bell pepper chopped
1 TBSP chopped parsley
1 1/2 cups water


You can add chicken as well!!!

In a large high edge skillet cook onion in 2 TBSP butter.  Add the water and chicken broth to skillet then rice and 1 tsp salt.  Bring to boil.  Cover and cook over low heat until liquid is absorbed.  About 25 min.  Add squash and zucchini, bell peppers and remaining 1 tsp salt.  Cook until squash is tender.  About 5 min.  Add remaining butter and lemon juice.  Stir.  Sprinkle with parsley.  Serves 4-6.   

Side note.  The lemon really changes the flavor of this meal.  So be prepared.  The first bite is different but then you'll go... Mmmmmm that was so good! Have NOT tried this with brown rice.  I would use white rice until I have tried it with brown.  I KNOW it's good with white. :D

Garden Bake

2 zucchini diced
2 yellow squash diced large pieces
1 onion chopped (I love red onions)
3 small tomatoes diced
2 large carrots chopped small
1 pkg Cremini mushrooms

1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
6 eggs
3 cups milk
2 1/2 cups Bisquick (Trader Joe's Multi-Grain baking/pancake mix)
3/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 400

Rub olive oil on a large 11x14 dish and add chopped squash/zucchini, onion, mushrooms and tomatoes.

Sprinkle top with Parmesan cheese.

In a separate bowl combine eggs, milk, Bisquick, pepper and salt.  Blend for 15 seconds.  Pour over top of veggies.


Bake for 45 min or golden on top AND knife inserted in center comes out clean.  (this is like a quiche so if there is a little sticky on the knife it is okay.
Cool about 5 minutes before serving.
Sprinkle cheddar cheese over top.