Gad-zucch's - this is tasty!

Mmm.. the middle of summer means a bounty of summer squash. I think one might find this recipe a yummy choice to save for when harvesting a few zucchini squash. We like it with quinoa, however I think it would be lovely on its own (just veggies and white beans) or over cooked rice (instead of quinoa).

Zucchini, Tomatoes, and Peppers with Quinoa 


Vegetables and White Beans
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 onion
1/3 green bell pepper
1/3 red bell pepper
3 garlic cloves (chopped to preference)
1 medium chopped zucchini
bay leaf
shake of garlic powder
sea salt
black pepper
4 tomatoes (peeled and sliced into wedges)
1 cup white beans (canned or already prepared)
Chop onions and peppers. Cook them in skillet with olive oil over medium heat for about five minutes. Add garlic and zucchini. Cook about four minutes. Season with crumbled bay leaf, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Add tomatoes and cook three more minutes. Add the prepared white beans and continue to heat skillet until vegetables are soft and all ingredients are a desirable temperature for your family.


Quinoa

1 cup quinoa
1 1/4 cup cold water; plus water to rinse

Soak 1 cup quinoa in a bit of water for five minutes. Drain/rinse using a strainer if needed. Add quinoa to a pot for boiling. Add 1 1/4 cup water. Bring to boil and then cover pot. Lower heat to allow quinoa to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and have quinoa sit for about five minutes with lid in place.


Plate up the quinoa (give it a good fluff!). Top with white beans and veggie skillet mixture. Serve it up!


*If you're up for a bit more protein add one pound browned and crumbled Italian sausage. The spices with the veggies are super pleasing! And the leftovers make for the perfect little lunch that keeps your belly full until dinner.


To do this I just brown the sausage first and then set the browned sausage crumbles to the side while I cook the vegetables and white beans. I add the sausage to the skillet at the end to make sure it is a consistent temperature as the rest of the food.