Marinated Zucchini and Summer Squash

The Captain and I are looking for healthier alternatives for snacks and side dishes and these grilled marinated veggies are perfect!  Finding new recipes for marinades and sauces will be great for variation for both veggies and meats.

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

The Cooking Channel

Show: Everyday ItalianEpisode: Marinades and Sauces

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic 
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves 
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper 
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 
• 1 pound zucchini (about 3 large), trimmed and sliced diagonally about 1/4-inch thick 
• 1 pound yellow crookneck squash (about 3 large), trimmed and sliced diagonally about 1/4-inch thick 

DIRECTIONS

Whisk the vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, and thyme in a large bowl to blend. Season with salt and pepper.

Gradually whisk in the oil. Spoon 3 tablespoons of the marinade into a small bowl. Cover and set aside. 

Add the zucchini and yellow squash to the remaining marinade in the large bowl and toss to coat. 

Transfer the mixture to a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. 

Cover and marinate at room temperature at least 3 hours or cover and refrigerate up to 1 day.

Prepare the grill for medium-high heat. Grill the vegetables until they are crisp-tender and brown, turning occasionally, about 8 minutes. 

Transfer the vegetables to a platter. Drizzle with the reserved marinade and serve hot or at room temperature.

Pasta With Roasted Red Peppers and Almonds

Love this fast, delicious and economical pasta meal!  The recipe and photo are courtesy of Real Simple (link after the recipe) . . . one of my favorite websites to find new recipes . . . check it out sometime!

With the cost of groceries rising with every week that passes, The Captain and I were talking about finding recipes that are delicious and stretch the food dollars.

This is one of those recipes!

One thing for sure . . . fresh tomatoes, mushrooms and possibly basil, would be a must when we make this.  Of course other substitutions can be made . . . use what you like, leave out what you don't!  This is the perfect meal for someone with a herb and vegetable garden . . . use what is in your garden.

Seems like this dish would work as a leftover the next day as a cold salad for lunch!  Make extra if this sounds like a good idea for you.

Almonds is an ingredient I have not used in this type of dish in the past, neither are pine nuts, which I am sure would serve as a substitute.  I'm thinking it can be left out all together to stretch those dollars even further.  But then again, I'd love to try something different :)

Ingredients

• 3/4 pound campanelle or penne 
• 4 red or orange bell peppers, seeded and cut into quarters 
• 3/4 cup pitted kalamata olives 
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped roasted almonds 
• 1/4 cup olive oil 
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves 
• kosher salt and black pepper 

Directions

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Reserve ¼ cup of the cooking water; drain the pasta and return it to the pot. 

Meanwhile, heat broiler. Place the peppers on a baking sheet skin-side up and broil until blackened, 8 to 10 minutes. 

Scrape the charred skin from the peppers with a paring knife and wipe clean with paper towels. Cut the flesh into 1-inch pieces. 

Add the peppers, olives, almonds, oil, thyme, 2 tablespoons of the reserved cooking water, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper to the pasta and toss to combine (add more cooking water as needed to loosen the sauce).

Photo and Recipe Courtesy of Real Simple

By Charlyne Mattox , May, 2011