Recipe Box, Summer Comfort Sides
After last weekend’s party, and all that wonderful food we had, I couldn’t wait to whip up some light summer vegetable dishes.
My idea of comfort food is casseroles, especially veggie mixtures in a creamy or cheesy sauce. Hmmmmmm, that doesn’t sound very light does it?
This zucchini dish was heaven and it was basically put together by odds and ends on hand. It actually started out as Vidalia Onion Dip… Don’t ask!
Cook some bacon and reserve the drippings
Use the drippings to saute an onion and a garlic clove, and then add zucchini
and some leftover roasted corn, cut off the cob
beat 2 eggs
Get out some cheese~
Now, I must confess, I am a Parmesan and a pimento cheese SNOB, but this Pawley’s Island SC version, called Palmetto Cheese, is most delicious and it is an acceptable substitute for homemade. I found this at Costco. This shredded Italian mix by Sargento is also acceptable in a pinch~ and I was feeling pinched!
Mix it all together
season with salt and pepper and bake
Dreamy, hot and cheesy! I feel comforted now, do you?
Okay, let’s try this again…
Grill some sliced zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant and peppers
Toss the chopped grilled veggies with some yellow cherry tomatoes and prepared pearl couscous in a large bowl
Drizzle with a little of your favorite balsamic vinaigrette and
Dig in! I was trying to be a little healthier with this dish, but it’s stellar with some diced fresh mozzarella….just FYI...This salad will keep for several days in the refrigerator. It would be great to pack in a jar for lunch on the go or for a picnic.
ZUCCHINI MELANGE
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini washed, halved and sliced into moons
- 2 ears cooked fresh corn cut from the cob
- 2-4 slices bacon cooked reserving drippings
- 1 medium sweet onion diced
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 clove garlic diced
- 1/3 cup pimento cheese or palmetto cheese or grated cheddar
- 2 oz shredded Parmesan
Instructions
- Cook bacon and reserve drippings.
- Saute onion and until transparent in drippings.
- Add garlic and zucchini and cook until zucchini is soft and tender.
- Turn into a deep baking dish. Mix in corn, bacon cheeses and eggs.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until set.
- Makes 4 large servings
GRILLED VEGETABLE & COUSCOUS SALAD
Ingredients
- 1 medium eggplant sliced
- 1 medium zucchini sliced vertically into 1/4 inch slices
- 1 large yellow squash sliced verticlly into 1/4 inch slices
- sweet peppers cut into large pieces
- 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups prepared pearl couscous
Instructions
- Brush vegetables with olive oil and grill until done.
- Mix in sliced cherry tomatoes and prepared couscous.
- Toss with balsamic vinaigrette to taste. Season.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for several days. Makes 4-6 servings
Notes
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It has been so warm the last week that cooking has been kept to a minimum. To avoid adding more heat inside, the grill has been fired up again and again to grill veggies and maybe a bit of meat. I love the idea of adding the veggies to couscous and will add your recipe to my list of foods to prepare.
AMAZINGggggggg!!!!!!!!!!! This is my kinda food! Thanks so much for the récipes, I’m making it pretty son! Thanks for your sweet and kind visit sweet friend and enjoy a wonderful Summer BBQ weekend.
FABBY
Both your dishes look wonderful!
Everything looks wonderful and perfect for summer!!! 🙂
Kenley
Love your two versions Jenna! Your couscous salad looks perfect for filling a jar for a picnic on the boat…we just need boating weather and no rain…*sigh*. Our grocery store sells Palmetto Cheese, it’s my hubby’s new favorite 🙂
Omgosh love it all. Great way to get veggies in. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Looks delicious! I love that large pearl couscous! Thanks for stopping by to say hello!
-Shelley
I have in my refrigerator a bag of zucchini and I am going to try this casserole. It’s so different with the pimento cheese. Thank you for sharing it on BBQ Block Party.
Stopping by From the Easy Life BBQ Block Party – These dishes all look so yummy! Thank you for sharing them. 🙂