Zucchini Pizza Boats

When life gives you zucchini... you should make everything!

The next few recipes will feature zucchini! If you've ever grown zucchini- you know why...

Once they start growing, there are so many- all at once, that they start coming out of your ears! You may leave them on your neighbor's porches (like a magical zucchini fairy) just because you are already swamped with zukes! And nice.

So, what should you do with the zukes you keep? Make them into your favorite "guilty pleasure" foods. Because after all- you're putting vegetables in it! That counts for something.

Zucchini Pizza Boats

Zucchini (medium to large work best)
Sauce (of your choice)
Cheese (of your choice)
Toppings (of your choice)
Olive oil
Garlic cloves or powder
Pepper

Cut zucchini in half length-wise and use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and gushy bits so the zuke resembles a boat or potato skin! If the zuke is small, count on a whole zucchini per person (2 halves), otherwise a large half will do.

Drizzle a baking dish with olive oil. Place all boats in the dish like you were placing them in a river- hollow side up. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle pepper and garlic powder, or minced garlic. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes. You do not want the zuke to be mushy! Just half-way cooked.

While the zucchini start cooking, prepare the insides! Choose your sauce, cheese, and toppings. Prepare them as necessary. Here are two of my favorite variations:

• chunky tomato sauce, top with sliced or shredded cheese, bake for 20 more minutes

• roasted garlic pesto sauce, roasted peppers and onions, topped with sliced or shredded cheese, bake for 20 more minutes
• 2 peppers chopped (a cubanelle and a bell) and 1 medium onion chopped- roast at 350 for 30 min just tossed in olive oil 
• 4 cracked garlic cloves on the corner of the same sheet pan- dipped in the olive oil too
• smash garlic cloves with 2 tbsp of pesto and 1 tbsp of olive oil
• split up pesto garlic sauce between the two halves
• fill with roasted veggies, top with cheese

The cheese gets all melty and really is thermo-nuclear hot, so give it a sec to rest and cool off. ENJOY!

This truly is a What's On Hand Woman classic. They are deliciously filling and mostly just veggies! Please make this recipe your own and share your favorite topping combinations!

xoxo Sam