Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Got Zucchini???

Hey everyone, it's Zucchini Season-Woo Hoo! If you're not woo-hooing with me perhaps it's been zucchini season for a while??? I wanted to share a great recipe, this was one of the first things I made from Paula Deen and boy is it good! You can use zukes or yellow squash. 

Gather up:

Spinach Stuffed Squash
5 large zucchini and/or yellow squash, halved lengthwise
2 Tblsp olive oil
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 Tblsp butter
1/2 C onion, diced
1 C chicken flavored stuffing mix-dry, not cooked**
1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/2 C sour cream
1 C shredded sharp Cheddar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Brush cut sides of squash with olive oil, sprinkle with S&P. Place squash, cut side down, on a lined baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes, or until tender. Scoop out pulp, keeping shells intact-reserve pulp.

Reduce oven to 350 degrees.
In large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, cook 5 minutes or until transparent. To the skillet add stuffing mix, spinach, sour cream, Cheddar and squash pulp.  Mix together and add S&P to taste. Cook for 3 minutes. Spoon mixture evenly into squash shells. Place on baking sheet and bake 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.

Notes:
  • I like my zucchini to have a little bite to it, so I keep the cooking (both times) to 15 minutes.
  • Don't forget to save and chop the squash you scoop out and add it to the stuffing, that adds moisture. It is ok to get rid of some of the seeds though.
  • I think this is pretty (pics don't do it justice), the only missing color is red, so I dice up a little red pepper and add that to the onions.
  • Suggested add-ins all fully cooked: bacon, hamburger, diced chicken or turkey, mushrooms, sausage.
  • **Full disclosure, I couldn't remember if the stuffing was dry or cooked, so this time I cooked it. It turned out fine, but I think it's supposed to be dry. I couldn't get 100% confirmation of that from the site or the reviews, and the video is not up any more. So if you have left-over stuffing, use it up!
  • This is very flavorful and I do recommend giving it a try.

43 comments:

  1. I do have zucchini and stuffing mix (left over from Thanksgiving but still in date) and am wondering what to make for dinner. Thanks!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  2. Your pictures of it turned out very pretty. Glad you enjoyed it!

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  3. We loved stuffed zucchini. I have two cue ball (round) ones in the fridge just waiting to be stuffed!! This looks delicious. Love how you added all of the colors!

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  4. Yum, this does look good, Lynn. The stuffing mix would add substance to the filling mixture. Your timing is perfect because my neighbor just gave me a bag of zucchini from her garden.

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  5. I got a recipe for this the other day in my allrecipes.com newsletter! It sounded so good. I haven't tried it yet, but yours just sealed the deal! This one was cheese and mushroom, but I think that I like yours better. I bet a little roasted red pepper would be good in it too.

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  6. Spinach and zucchini in one dish. Oh I can hear the children crying now. Not me though. I love them.

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  7. Looks yummy but I've just gotten so that I leave butter alone. Seems all the really great recipes call for it. Wonder why? Because it tastes so darn good, but have to draw the line somewhere into what goes into my arteries I guess.

    Looks like an easy enough recipe though.

    That darn Paula Dean sure loves her butter.

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  8. I don't have any, but I know the grocery store does and I'm gonna get some! This looks so good, Lynn! You're a marvelous cook!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  9. OH my ...I'm going to have to try this recipe for sure! I think I'll try adding a little bit of cooked Italian turkey sausage ...mm...I can smell it already! Thanks for the recipe and have a wonderful day!
    Maura :)

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  10. I love stuffed zucs! This looks like a great recipe..gotta love that Paula Dean!

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  11. I'm going to start praying for someone to dump their extras on me! This looks great!!

    Blessings, Debbie

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  12. Looks great. Have to try this one of these days :)

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  13. Someone once said that
    "Life's too short to stuff a mushroom"
    but I never agreed with her.
    I love stuffed vegetable dishes and this one will come in handy because boy! do I have zucchini!
    I noticed that Rachel Ray is our chef for next month, she's another chef we don't know much about on this side of the pond but I do love a challenge.
    Google here I come!

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  14. Looks really good, I love stuffed zucchini. xo

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  15. Looks great!! I have at least 2 - 3 more weeks before my zucchini is pickable :(

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  16. Oh thank God. A new recipe for squash!
    We were getting desperate.

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  17. This looks so good. I can't wait for the zucchini to come on strong here. Paula Deen sure can make veggies recipes yummy.

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  18. It's amazing how tasty a zucchini can be when it's dressed up -- they are so versatile and this looks like a great recipe. Joni

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  19. I'll woohoo with you for two reasons: 1) I got my first zucchini just last week, and 2) I have all of the ingredients to make this recipe tonight!

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  20. This looks delicious! Love P. Deen recipes.
    Sherry

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  21. You totally cracked me up with this post ...I just pulled 6 more out of the garden. We had it sauteed with garlic last night and I was thinking of making some zucchini bread to freeze.

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  22. Love zucchini and love stuffing so I definitely have to try this one, it looks amazing!

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  23. I've been making stuffed zucchini for years. Didn't realize it was a Paula recipe! But I love Paula and all her butteriness, so I guess it's just a given that we would have this recipe in common too. (I have never made mine with the spinach before, but I like that.)

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  24. Hello Lynn,
    I would die for having one of your yummy stuffed zuccini - right now!
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  25. My brother has a large garden out on Long Island and he gave me quite a few really large zucchinis this weekend. It looks like I'll be stuffing them with this wonderful recipe very soon! Thanks!

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  26. Hi Lynn, boy this is a timely visit. My sister called me today and a friend gave her a huge box of what else? ZUCCHINI AND YELLOW SQUASH. They are large sized and perfect for this recipe. I am supposed to go pick them up tonight. I am running off this recipe for her. Perfect timing my dear friend.THANK YOU SO MUCH!

    I love your cloche with he piggy Lynn. So cute and do you think I would think of putting a pig in a cloche? Maybe a 'poke'. HA! Nope, only you would think of such a cute thing to do. You rock!

    Hugs, Jeanne

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  27. That is one FINE looking zucchini! :o)

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  28. I wish you knew how to give samples out on your blog.
    Looks VERY yummy!
    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  29. What I wouldn't give for a big helping of this. One of my very favorite foods.

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  30. We don't have room to grow zuc. and I haven't had any yet this year. Hopefully, we will hit an area farmer's market over the weekend and I'll be able to pick up some. This looks delish!

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  31. Looks terrific!
    Save me some!

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  32. Thanks for the recipe. It looks really good, have got to try it...Christine

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  33. Yikes! This looks fabulous! I took one look at the sour cream and stuffing and said to myself THIS IS FOR ME!

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  34. I can always use a good zucchini recipe! Bookmarking this one to make for sure. It looks and sounds delicious!!!

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  35. It's only been a few years since I starrted enjoying squash, so I'm always looking for new ways to cook it. The ones in your picture looks mouthwatering. Plus, as a southern girl myself, I have yet to try a Paul Deen recipe I didn't like!

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  36. Now that looks good! Quick, easy-perfect for zucchini season. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
    -Lynn

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  37. That looks so good....great recipe. I have made stuffed zucchini with ground beef and cheese. Can't wait to try yours:)

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  38. Wow, i just found your blog today! Now following you as a result of enjoying your posts so much. This stuffed zucchini looks like a keeper to me! great photos too! I hope that you stop by my weekend blog hop Fresh Food Friday/Seasonal saturday and share this post; I select 8 featured blogs each week and would love to have you join in. PS....it would be so kind of you to add those 'memes' to your Friday and Saturday list on your sidebar. I'd be so grateful!

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  39. This looks fantastic! It's a great way to use the abundant zucchini this summer!

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  40. Hi Lynn,
    I love your stuffed zucchini, it looks delicious. We are going to really enjoy this dish. Thank you so much for sharing this great recipe with Full Plate Thursday and please come back soon!
    Miz Helen

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  41. This looks really good! And yes, we have zucchini coming out our ears so I'm always looking for new recipes. I can't wait to try this out...thanks :)

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  42. Oh my gosh! All your recipes are great. Our cucumbers and zucchinis and tomatoes are unreal this year. I guess all that hot weather. I see you shop at ShopRite too. Love that store.

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  43. I just wanted to stop back and tell ya I made this for dinner last night and it was amazing! Even the kids enjoyed it! Thanks so much for a wonderful new recipe :)

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