Monterey Zucchini Recipes

Steps:

• Steam zucchini over small amount of salted water until crisp-tender.
• Combine eggs, milk, salt, red pepper, baking powder, flour and parsley. Mix well to remove lumps.
• Add chiles, pimiento and cheese and stir thoroughly.
• Add steamed, well drained zucchini and stir gently.
• Grease a 2 qt casserole with oil and dust with some of the bread crumbs. Turn zucchini mixture into casserole and sprinkle with remaining crumbs. Dot top with butter and bake at 350 degrees 55 minutes.

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium heat.
• Whisk together the cumin, garlic, lime juice, orange juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl and add the steak. Mix well to coat and let marinate for 10 minutes.
• Lightly oil the grill grates and cook the steak, flipping once, until medium rare, 2 to 6 minutes per side depending on the thickness. Remove the steak to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes. Slice the steak against the grain and then into bite-size pieces.
• Lightly brush the zucchini with oil and grill, flipping as needed, until tender and lightly charred, 4 to 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Cut into bite-size chunks and set aside to cool slightly.
• Lay a tortilla on a work surface and sprinkle evenly with 1/2 cup of the cheese. Arrange one-quarter of both the steak and zucchini on top of the cheese. Fold the tortilla in half to enclose the fillings. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, cheese, steak and zucchini.
• Melt 1/2 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add a quesadilla and cook, flipping once, until golden brown on both sides and the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes per side. Remove to a cutting board and repeat with the remaining butter and quesadillas.
• Cut the quesadillas into triangles and serve with the chopped scallions, sour cream, guacamole and salsa.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Brown meat with onions in large skillet on medium heat; drain. Stir in 1/2 cup tomato sauce, zucchini, rice, oregano and basil.
• Cut tops off peppers; remove and discard seeds. Pour remaining tomato sauce and water into 13x9-inch baking dish; stir. Place peppers in baking dish; fill with meat mixture. Cover.
• Bake 35 to 40 min. or until peppers are tender. Top with cheese; bake, uncovered, 5 to 7 min. or until melted. Serve peppers topped with sauce from bottom of baking dish.

Steps:

• Spread the zucchini in a microwave-safe dish. In a small bowl toss the jalapeño Monterey Jack with the flour, sprinkle the mixture over the zucchini mixture on high power (100%), uncovered, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender and the cheese is melted. Season the zucchini mixture with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Cook rice according to package instructions.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Slice and parboil zucchini (about 5 minutes, drain well).
• Slit and seed chilies.
• Place rice on bottom of greased 13 x 9 inch casserole.
• Place chilies on rice and then cheese slices (saving some for the top).
• Layer with zucchini, then mushrooms, then tomato.
• Mix sour cream, green pepper, green onion and seasonings together.
• Spread on top of the tomato.
• Place remaining cheese slices on top and sprinkle with parsley.
• Bake 30 to 40 minutes.

Steps:

• Grill the vegetables:
• Prepare a grill for medium-high, direct heat, preferably with hardwood or hardwood charcoal. Grill corn over direct heat, turning to cook evenly, until kernels are tender, about 20 minutes. Let corn steam in its husk 10 minutes, then shuck and cut kernels from cob. Transfer kernels to a large bowl.
• While corn is grilling, brush cut sides of zucchini with 1 Tbsp. olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss scallions with remaining 1 Tbsp. olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Grill zucchini and scallions over direct heat, turning occasionally, until tender and lightly charred, 8-10 minutes. Let cool slightly. Coarsely chop zucchini and scallions, then toss with corn. Season with salt and pepper.
• Make the salsa:
• Combine avocado, scallion, tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and cayenne in a medium bowl.
• Assemble the quesadillas:
• Arrange tortillas on a work surface. Dividing evenly, layer cheese, then beans, then grilled vegetables on one side of each tortilla. Fold tortillas in half to create half-moons.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-low until hot, then cook 2 tortillas, turning once, until cheese is melted and tortillas are brown, 1-2 minutes per side. Transfer quesadillas to serving plates, then cook remaining tortillas with remaining oil. Sprinkle quesadillas with cilantro leaves and serve with salsa and lime wedges alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Vegetables can be grilled, covered, and chilled for up to 3 days.

Steps:

• To Marinate: Place chicken in a nonporous glass dish or bowl. Pour marinade over chicken and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate to marinate for 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Remove chicken from the marinade and place in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Reserve 1/3 cup marinade and discard the rest.
• Bake chicken in the preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until cooked through and juices run clear.
• Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain and set aside.
• In same skillet, melt butter over medium high heat. Saute onion, bell pepper and mushrooms for about 3 to 5 minutes. Add reserved 1/3 cup of marinade and simmer until soft. Drain and set onion mixture aside.
• Top baked chicken with bacon strips. Add onion mixture and top each breast with a slice of cheese. Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.