Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter Z

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Zucchini Boats! Now before you roll your eyes and take the day off, promise me you’ll be open-minded. After all, you have to take the veggies along with the cake. My husband does, and he was pleasantly surprised. (Love him!❤️)

ZUCCHINI BOATS
Ingredients:
4 mini zucchini, cut lengthwise 
1/2 pound Mexican chorizo, mild
2 tablespoons onion, chopped 
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 
1/8 teaspoon cumin powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper 
Dash of sea salt
1/2 cup black beans, rinsed
1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 tablespoon diced pimento
1 green onion, cut up
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 cup pepper jack or white cheddar cheese
Fresh cilantro to taste
Instructions:
Scoop out seeds and flesh from center of zucchini, leaving a shell to hold filling. Discard flesh and seeds. Absorb moisture with paper towel. Place boats in a casserole dish. Divide half the cheese into the bottom of the boats. Set aside. In a medium skillet, fry chorizo, onion, garlic, cumin, red pepper flakes and salt. Cook until done, stirring frequently. In a small bowl, combine corn, black beans, pimento, cilantro leaves, and green onion. Squeeze lime juice over all. Top cheese-filled zucchini boats with chorizo mixture. Add a teaspoon of corn/bean salsa on top of meat. Cover with remaining cheese. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes. Serve with extra corn salsa on the side. Add more cilantro to taste. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter J

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Jalapeño Corn Stix. Cornbread is always the right accompaniment to dried bean dishes. Serve it hot, right out of the oven. Leftovers can be warmed in the microwave nicely. Go south of the border!  Jalapeño peppers give these golden stix the right amount of gusto to compliment the creamy cheddar center. 

JALAPEÑO CORN STIX
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal 
1 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/4 cup skim milk
1/4 cup jalapeños, diced
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions:
Sift dry ingredients into medium-size mixing bowl. Blend beaten eggs and oil; add milk. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just blended. Gently fold in jalapeños and cheddar cheese. Pour into a molded corn stick pan or an 8 by 8-inch pan which has been sprayed with a non-stick spray. Bake in 400° oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.