Summer Zucchini Bites: Webisode #32

What's Going on Today: Big pancake breakfast, morning trip to the beach (hence the wet hair in the video), sunday chores.

Naptime Goals: Make Zucchini Bites with the zucchini I recently picked up at the farmer's market this week, finish up some Babble columns.

Tonight's Menu: Grilled Soyaki Chicken Thighs, Zucchini bites, cous-cous, Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Blondies.

Parenting Lesson of the Day: Never engage your child in negotiations regarding candy before lunchtime.

If you've ever seen a woman at your farmer's market hording zucchini from every available stand it's probably me. My love for zucchini knows no bounds and I am not afraid to admit that I buy it by the ton this time of year. I have a whole roster of great zucchini recipes and this is one from my mother-in-law. I love to make these little bites for a healthy afternoon snack or to serve alongside dinner. Or both.

As you'll see in the webisode, making these merely requires a bowl, spoon and measuring cup. The rest is simply a matter of grating and mixing. I easily whipped these up during my daughter's naptime so that we could all enjoy them for an afternoon snack. The best way to describe their taste is somewhere between a mini-quiche and a muffin. Savory and light, they are puffy and easy on the stomach since, after all, none of us want to be eating heavy foods in the middle of summer. Perhaps I shouldn't admit this, but after we shot this video the three of us polished off the whole pan! Ah, summer.

Summer Zucchini Bites

2 c. grated zucchini

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped

1/2 c. sharp cheddar, grated

1/2 c. bread crumbs

1/4 c. fresh parsley, finely chopped

Makes approximately 24 mini-muffin sized bites

1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Butter a mini-muffin tin, set aside.

2. In a large glass bowl add two eggs and beat lightly with a whisk. Then, add the zucchini, onion, cheddar, bread crumbs and parsley and combine them with a wooden spoon.

3. Using your hands or an ice-cream scoop, fill each muffin cup just to the top. Bake  for 15-18 minutes or until the top is browned and set.

Naptime Notes:

Naptime Serving Ideas: These would be great served as a light bite at a dinner party or on a buffet table. If you want to mix up the flavors try using shallots instead of onions.

Naptime Stopwatch: Making this batter takes less than 15 minutes. Baking times is 15-18 minutes.

Naptime Reviews: This is a fun healthy vegetable bite for toddler. Despite the fact that my daughter dislikes eggs she will take a few bites of these.