Tasty Veggie Treat Variations

After I discovered the recipe for some really tasty zucchini “crusty” bites, I posted them both on Facebook and on Pinterest.

This past week, a friend made a batch and her family loved them.

I am expecting a big treat from another friend who has a bumper crop of zucchini and hopes to bring them to me later this month.

That got my juices going and my mind thinking of various variations.

Italian - The original recipe is a crusty Parmesan variety with rosemary and thyme. So, that’s an Italian treat, and really appetizing and appealing. But if I have a bumper crop to use up, I’m thinking of other variations.

Mexican - I can use a shredded Mexican cheese blend and salsa and cilantro.

Middle European (my heritage) - I can use cottage cheese (we used to use something called Farmer’s cheese or Pot cheese - same thing), chopped green onions, and bacon bits. You might not know that cottage cheese, when heated, gets deliciously stringy and tasty. I remember back in the 70s at a Weight Watchers meeting, we learned how to make a low-cal substitute “cheese danish.” We took one slice of whole wheat bread, spread cottage cheese on top, sprinkled with cinnamon, and ran it under the broiler for a few minutes - it was yummy!

Totally Decadent - this completely erases the value of the zucchini - but I’d love it - I’d use shredded extra sharp cheddar, bacon bits, and top it all with a big dollop of sour cream.

Can’t wait for those zucchini to roll in!