zucchini taco lasagna

Here's what I plan to do with this Mexican-style zucchini taco lasagna, based on ideas from numerous places.

Ingredients

•  zucchini (3-4 depending on size, if smaller-medium)
• meat and beans (I'm using 1/2# of ground turkey and 1 can of black beans, drained (rinsed if commercially canned) - NOTE: I like the texture of ground meat in this, but I think I can do that with tofu (break it up small and bake it, then heavily season it).  
• onion
• peppers (using up some poblanos; canned chili peppers would be nice)
• garlic  
• corn (using about 1 cup of frozen corn, thawed; could be replaced with other vegetables) 
• salsa (using a pint of salsa - could also be partially replaced with some tomato sauce 
• ricotta cheese (15 oz container) - NOTE: I did not care for this.  I may replace with cottage cheese next time. 
• seasoning: taco seasoning and/or cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, pepper, salt, onion powder and garlic powder if preferred 
• 2 cups pepper jack cheese (8 oz) 
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped (which of course I forgot ...)

Instructions

Thinly slice the zucchini length wise.  If very wet, salt and let sit half an hour and then drain and dry off.  Otherwise, just put it on a pan and roast for about 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees F.  Set aside.

Cook meat, add onions and peppers and cook until soft.  Add garlic for a couple of minutes, and then beans and other vegetables such as corn to heat up. 

Combine ricotta and egg and some pepper in a separate bowl.

Start layering the pan: 

• a layer of salsa/tomato sauce
•  layer of zucchini
• layer of half the ricotta mixture
•  half the meat/bean mixture
•  1/3 of cheese
• zucchini
• ricotta
• meat
• cheese
• zucchini
• salsa 
• cheese  

Cover with foil.  Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes.  Remove foil, bake another 10 minutes.  

 

salsa recipe from a farm nearby

 The farmstand near where I used to work just posted this recipe for salsa on their Facebook feed, and I'm interested in giving it a try.  

• 12 cups diced tomatoes, drained
• 2-4 large onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup jalapenos, chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
• 2 cups anaheims, chopped
• 3 T salt (that seems like a lot - will reduce to 3 tsp or less) 
• 1 cup cider vinegar  
• (I'll add spices such as cumin, oregano, cilantro) 

 Bring to a boil, simmer 30 minutes (or less if canning).  Eat fresh, freeze, can. 

If canning, water bath for 15 minutes in pints or smaller.  

pear muffins

 Have a lot of imperfect pears, and this pear muffin recipe is fine.  I actually like the muffins better when not fresh from the oven (when they've been frozen and reheated) - the flavor seems better then. 

Mix and let sit for at least 15 minutes.

• 1 cup old fashioned oats (90 grams)
• 1 cup milk (245 g)

Mix in different bowl: 

• 1 cup white whole wheat flour (110 g)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom

 

Add to oats once soaked: 

• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg beaten
• ¼ cup olive oil (or any neutral-tasting oil)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Then add in the dry ingredients, mixing lightly, then fold in: 

• 1½ cup fresh lightly diced pears

 

and put into 12 muffin tins  

 

400 degrees 18-20 minutes