ZUCCHINI BOATS STUFFED WITH BACON, BREADCRUMBS & CHEESE!

THIS RECIPE MADE 4 BOATS!
SLICE 2 ZUCCHINIS IN HALF LENGTHWISE.  SCOOP OUT THE INSIDES WITH A SPOON.  DRIZZLE THE BOATS WITH SOME OIL, SALT & PEPPER.  LAY ON A BAKING SHEET LINED WITH NONSTICK FOIL.

CHOP UP THE ZUCCHINI YOU SCOOPED OUT.  

PAN FRY 4-5 SLICES CHOPPED BACON.  ADD  1/2 ONION, CHOPPED, 4 CHOPPED GARLIC CLOVES AND SAUTEE ALL IN THE PAN UNTIL BROWNED.  ADD SOME OLIVE OIL IF NEEDED.  REMOVE TO COOL.

IN A BOWL MIX:
1 EGG
1/2C. PARMESAN CHEESE, GRATED
1/2C. BREAD CRUMBS (I USED ALEIA'S GLUTEN FREE)
ONCE COOL, ADD THE VEGGIES AND STIR WELL
MOUND THIS MIXTURE ON TOP OF EACH BOAT AND BAKE AT 425 FOR ABOUT 12-15 MINS UNTIL LIGHTLY BROWN.  PILE ON SOME SHREDDED MOZZARELLA CHEESE  ( OR ANY KIND YOU LIKE) AND BROIL JUST 2 MINUTES UNTIL MELTED-KEEP AN EYE ON IT!  TOP WITH CHOPPED SCALLIONS!

INSPIRED BY RACHAEL RAY

ZUCCHINI FRIES

About 1 lb. zucchini
1/2 c. Italian-seasoned GF ALEIA'S bread crumbs
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese (the crumbly stuff, not shreds)
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

Combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Set aside.

Whisk 2 eggs together in a shallow pie plate and set aside.

Cut the ends off the zucchini and then cut the zucchini in half so you have two short, stubby pieces. Set one piece on its end and cut it in half lengthwise. Cut that half in half, making 2 planks. Repeat with the remaining halves (so you’ll get 16 planks per zucchini).

Stack 2 planks on top of each other and cut into strips. Thicker strips will yield “meatier” fries with more zucchini flavor while thin strips will be crispy and taste virtually nothing like zucchini. When all the fries are cut, blot the pieces with a paper towel.

Working with a small handful at a time, dip the zucchini sticks in the egg, shake them to remove any excess, and then roll them in about 2-3 tablespoons of bread crumbs at a time, adding more as needed; you just don’t want to work with all the bread crumbs at once because they’ll soak up moisture from the egg and won’t stick to the zucchini. Place the coated strips on the prepared baking sheet and repeat until all the zucchini strips have been coated.

Bake for 10-12 minutes in the prepared oven then remove from oven, flip the fries, and bake for another 10-12 minutes or until the zucchini is not soggy and the coating is crisp and golden brown. Serve immediately! Serves 6-8 as a side dish.

SOURCE:OUR BEST BITES