Roasted Zucchini and Carrots

Trader Joe's had Zucchini Squash. I couldn't resist. I know in just a few short months, my Dad's garden will have an abundance of the green gems, but I needed a zucchini fix. So I bought some. Here is what I did with it.

Roasted Zucchini and Carrots

Zucchini
Carrots
Olive oil
Lawry's Garlic Salt
Onion Powder
Celery Salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Clean the zucchini and slice into 1/2 inch slices. Slice carrots. Spray the bottom of a casserole dish with cooking oil spray. Arrange a layer of zucchini and carrot rounds on the bottom. Season with the seasonings. Drizzle a little olive oil over the vegetables. Arrange another layer and do the same. Pop in the oven for 30-45 minutes. Check on it at the 30 minute mark to see how the cooking process is going. You want them to be fork soft. Remove from oven when the are cooked to your liking. Serve them up with whatever you'd like.

Grilled Asparagus

It's green and it's healthy. There are many things you can do with Asparagus. Below are two quick and easy recipes that you can cook on your grill. Little preparation and big on taste.

Larry's Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

2 dozen Asparagus Spears rinsed and trimmed
12 slices Prosciutto cut in half so you have two long strips
cream cheese room temperature

Spread a little cream cheese on the spear about a half inch below the fancy part running along the length of spear. Take your prosciutto strip and wrap the spear, making sure the top of the prosciutto attaches to the cream cheese and then fasten on the end also.

Do this until ingredients are used up. Place spears on a heated grill and turn until the prosciutto is heated and a bit crispy.

Garlic Grilled Asparagus

24 Asparagus Spears rinsed and plain end trimmed
Olive oil spray
Lawry's Garlic Powder

Line up your spears on a plate if you are going to grill them directly on the grill. If you are going to steam them in aluminum foil on the grill, line your spears on a generous piece of aluminum foil. Spray your spears with olive oil, roll spears a bit and spray other side. Then sprinkle with Lawry's Garlic Powder. Depending on your cooking method grill without foil for 5 to 10 minutes. Cook in the foil for 10 to 15.

Serve with whatever else you choose to grill and enjoy!

Produce A Plenty From Tom's Farm in Corona, California

I spent a week in Kansas with my sister and her family. What a wonderful week and I was lucky enough to meet my newest niece. She is the sweetest little bundle of girlness. Flew in Friday morning. I rushed straight back to work to spend two hours in traffic coming from LAX airport. Holiday weekend 1:30pm GRIDLOCK. Made it to work with like 10 seconds to spare. I worked until 9, came home packed again and left early Saturday morning to Glen Ivy's Hot Springs in Corona, California.

WOW. I needed the spa treatments and the R and R. I work really long days, sitting mostly and my body was gets really tweaked. Glen Ivy was great. I am still detoxing. On the way to the Hot Springs is this really great point of interest. Tom's Farm. My friend and I decided we would check it out Sunday before heading home. OMG. The produce in the market was amazing. I saw things I have only heard about. I wish I had my camera, because if I had it you would see pictures of the most amazing produce in California. Okra, rhubarb, fennel bulbs, ginger...

Tom's Farm has a market. I came home with a cart full of produce and other goodies.

With the red and black plums I will make a Pork Tenderloin with Plum Sauce.

With the peaches I will make a hot and crusty Peach Cobbler.

With the pickling cucumbers I will make Refrigerator pickles.

The grapes will be eaten and enjoyed.

The fresh green beans were turned into Dilled green beans tonight. YUM!

The yellow and white corn was boiled and served with butter and salt and pepper tonight. YUMMY!

The Roma Tomatoes will turn into bruschetta, and salsa, and a fantastic accompaniment to a sandwich.

SPONGE Candy. OH my my. This stuff is amazing. The first time I tasted it, it was in St. Paul, Minnesota at the Candyland Store. Tom's Farm's Candy store is amazing too!!!

They even had a huge selection of GLUTEN FREE products.

If you are ever in Corona, California you must visit. It is located at 23900 Temescal Canyon Rd. Their website is www. tomsearms.com

I will post some of the recipes from the above mentioned items in the next couple of weeks.

Tequila Chicken Marinade

Uum. Yummy, spicy, sweet with a bite. Tequila Chicken. I have marinated chicken in a Tequila Chicken Marinade that my friend Katie told me about before. I adjusted the marinade a bit and here is the recipe.

Tequila Chicken Marinade

1/2 cup Meyer lemon juice
1/2 cup Bols triple sec
1/2 cup Margaritaville Silver Tequila
1/4 cup Wilcox honey
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp cracked red pepper
1 tsp diced jalapeno
1/2 tsp Lawry's garlic salt
1 tsp minced garlic

Mix and set aside.

2-3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast cut into 1 1/2 inch strips
Shaker of Watkins Cilantro flakes or fresh
1 Tbs. Kosher salt

Sprinkle chicken strips with Cilantro and kosher salt. Put strips in Ziploc bag. Pour 2/3 of the Marinade over chicken. Seal bag and place in the refrigerator.

Add 1/2 cup olive oil to the remaining marinade to use on vegetables.

Sliced zucchini, onions, bell pepper...

You can marinate the vegetables in the marinade in a Ziploc too, if you would like to.

When ready to serve you can heat your grill to medium flame. Put veggies in a basket or aluminum pan and grill. Place chicken strips on grill and cook 5-6 minutes on each side or until juices run clear.

Serve over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.

You can serve with cheese and sour cream if you would like to.

Prepare it, grill it and enjoy it. This is what We are having for dinner tonite!