Veggie Prep questions...

[butterflygurl]

I had a craving for grilled veggies so I purchased the following veggies: zucchini, butternut squash, peppers (green yellow and red), red onion, and tomato. I mixed them all in about two tblsp olive oil and some Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy spice mix. In one bowl I had the zucchini and squash, in another bowl I had the onions and peppers. I sauteed the onions and peppers in a pan and later added the squash and zucchini and finally the tomatoes. It was pretty good. B/c I am not a cook, I was thinking I would post here to get suggestions on other ways to cook this combo of veggies and seasoning to use.

TIA!!!

 

[judegirl]

Sounds yummy! Maybe you could try skewering them and putting them on an outdoor grill? I love that Extra Spicy Mrs. Dash, but you might also try the garlic one, or pretty much any of the others! Adding a bit of Liquid Smoke to the oil before brushing on would help to give it a more smoky flavor.

Thanks for the idea.

 

[kathryn]

Yummy! Sounds good!

I think this veggie combo would handle italian seasoning well, and maybe some garlic.

You could also omit the butternut squash (harder, and takes more time to cook than the other ingredients--did it actually get cooke through when you made your veggie combo?), add some mushrooms, maybe some black olives, and marinate overnight in some italian dressing (or a fabulous olive oil, balsamic vinegar, italian spices) and eat as antepasto.

You say you had a hankering for grilled veggies, but you didn't prep them by grilling. You could try that. Also, you could thread them on a skewer (soaked bamboo or metal) and put them on the grill (maybe after marinating as above).

Or prep some quinoa or rice, dice the veggies into small pieces (again, omitting the butternut squash), and add a dressing (or just chop up the marinated veggies) and serve as a grain salad. Or use hot grain and sauté the veggies before adding for a pilaf.
Again omitting the butternut squash, you could make a version of gazpacho (cold soup) by chopping up the veggies, and some extra tomatoes, putting 1/2 of the chopped veggies and the extra tomatoes iin a blender to make a soup base, and adding cilantro, salt and pepper.

 

[butterflygurl]

judegirl- Thanks for the liquid smoke idea!!

kathryn- My first disclaimer was I don't cook so when I misspoke and said I wanted grilled veggies, I meant sauteed! :+ :+ LOL!!! This is proof of how much of a cook I am. Yes the butternut squash cook through good (soft in the middle and kinda firm on edges). It was more cooked than the zucchini. I like the idea of the italian seasoning and actually grilling it either on the George Foreman or the BBQ grill w/bamboo skewers. The grain salad ideas sounds good too. How does quinoa taste? Is it like couscous?

Thanks for the ideas!!

 

[kathryn]

> How does
>quinoa taste? Is it like couscous?

It has it's own flavor: maybe a bit like coucous, but slightly nutty, with sometimes a hint of bitter (but not bad bitter, unless you don't rinse it well (it's covered with a saponin--soapy substance--that acts as protection against insects, and it has to be washed off).

 

[CollinsMom]

We have veggies like this on the grill just about every weekend.

We have a big plate on the grill top (think cast iron skillet, but completely flat), so we cook them directly on there.

I usually put a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and either cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes and grill until tender -- YUM!

 

[andreadaile]

I've done something with very similar veggies, I think I added corn (frozen & thawed) then just spread them out in a single layer and roasted them in the oven at about 375-400 degrees. I added just a TOUCH of sugar for nice browning and flavor. Seriously, just a pinch. These were sooo good, maybe I need to make them again! Good luck!

Oh, forgot to say you might want to stir them after about 15 minutes and then cook for about 10 more minutes.

 

[butterflygurl]

kathryn and all-

to prove I am not a cook, when I was looking at the grocery store sales paper yesterday, I discovered that the correct name for the squash I used is not Butter Squash but Summer Squash! LOL!!!!!!:+ :+

 

[kathryn]

>to prove I am not a cook, when I was looking at the grocery
>store sales paper yesterday, I discovered that the correct
>name for the squash I used is not Butter Squash but Summer
>Squash!

THAT makes much more sense, because Summer Squash and zucchini take about the same time to cook (but Butternut squash--a winter squash--takes quite a bit longer).

 

[CollinsMom]

For those that like their food HOT and spicy, try a little light margarine, a squeeze of lime juice, and some pureed chipotle peppers tossed with your grilled veggies -- YUMMMMM!!