Nutella Ice Cream Sandwiches

This is one of my favorite summer treats...hands down! It's 4 ingredients, not too heavy, sweet, creamy, cool, and crunchy all at the same time. You'll love these, so make them!

Nutella Ice Cream Sandwiches
Pizzelle wafer cookies (usually in the bakery section, or by the ice cream cones)
Nutella hazelnut spread
Vanilla ice cream
Powdered sugar

Spread the nutella gently on 2 pizzelles. Gently place vanilla ice cream on top of one cookie and top with the other cookie. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Fried Zucchini

This is probably one of my favorite ways to cook zucchini. It's very quick and easy, and the zucchini gets soft in the middle with the crunchy, salty breading dipped in marinara...simple deliciousness!! (this serves 2 in my house)

Fried Zucchini
1 Large zucchini, or 2 medium, cut in sticks
1/2 c. panko bread crumbs
1/4 c. parmesan
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. marinara
salt
extra virgin olive oil

Cover the bottom of a large pan or skillet with olive oil and heat over medium-high. Place bread crumbs and parmesan in one bowl, and place eggs in another bowl. Cut zucchini in sticks, and dip in egg first, then bread crumb mixture. Lightly saute in hot oil for about 3-4 minute, flipping half way through. Drain on a paper towl and sprinkle with salt & more fresh parmesan while hot. Serve with warm marinara for dipping.

Zucchini & Sausage Bake

If there's a great way to sneak vegetables in your family - hide them between sauce, cheese, and sausage! This is an amazing dish...the zucchini gets soft and the cheese gets everything gooey. Serve this with a loaf of fresh bread to sop up all the sauce. Makes an 8x8 pan, so double this if you want a 9x13.

Zucchini & Sausage Bake
1 large can tomato sauce
2 T. tomato paste
1/4 onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 t. oregano
1 t. basil
Saute onion in a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt. When onions starts to soften, add garlic and saute a couple more minutes. Add tomato paste and cook a couple more minutes. Add tomato sauce, oregano, and basil. Simmer until ready to use. OR, use a jar of your favorite marinara sauce and skip this step!

1 lb. sausage, browned (turkey sausage works great here too)
1 large zucchini, sliced thin
8 oz. mozzarella, shredded

Put a layer of sauce on the bottom of your pan. Place a layer of sliced zucchini on top of sauce. Sprinkle with a layer of sausage and mozzarella cheese. Put more sauce on top, another layer of zucchini, sausage, and mozzarella - until you have three layers, ending with mozzarella. Bake, covered, at 350 for 30 minutes; uncover for the last 10 minutes to brown the top.

Zucchini Muffins

These are delicious, don't require a mixer, and pretty healthy too! If you want to boost the nutritional value, I put what I switched up from the original recipe in (parenthesis). Enjoy while they're warm (or microwave them for 20 seconds). Makes 12 muffins.

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins
1 1/2 c. flour (or 1 c. flour + 1/2 c. whole wheat flour)
3/4 c. sugar
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
1 egg
1/2 c. oil (or 1/4 c. oil + 1/4 c. applesauce)
1/4 c. milk
1 T. lemon juice
1 t. vanilla
1 c. shredded zucchini - about 1 medium
1/4 c. mini chocolate chips
1/4 c. walnuts, chopped

In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In separate bowl, combine the egg, oil, milk, lemon juice and vanilla; mix well. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just moistened (don't overmix). Fold in zucchini, chocolate chips, and walnuts. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.