Category: From Our Veggie Garden

Mom’s Marinated Cucumbers

Quick and easy, cold and crisp, Mom’s marinated cucumbers in vinaigrette provide a sweet crunch to salads, and are just as good eaten right out of the bowl!Quick and easy, cold and crisp, Mom's marinated cucumbers in vinaigrette provide a sweet crunch to salads, and are just as good eaten right out of the bowl!
When I was growing up, my Mom occasionally made batches of marinated cucumbers. We either could add them to a green salad, OR (as she preferred to do),  eat them… crispy and cold, right out of the container with a fork! Since I’ve been growing lots of cucumbers in our garden this year, it’s a perfect way to use some of our abundance.

This amazing little side dish is totally easy to prepare. Basically you mix up the marinade, slice up cucumbers, chop some red onion, mix it all together, then refrigerate for several hours so that the flavors come together beautifully!

That’s it! See how easy it is to make Mom’s marinated cucumbers? And these cucumbers are crisp, slightly sweet, and delicious! I’m glad to have so many from our little backyard garden!

Cucumber on vine in garden

Making Mom’s Marinated Cucumbers

To make mom’s marinated cucumbers, first peel and slice the cucumbers, then put them in a container that has a lid. Finely chop some red onion, and add to the cucumbers. This step only takes a few minutes.

Cucumber is peeled and sliced (on yellow cutting mat)
Mix the marinade ingredients in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. This takes about a minute to prepare.

Marinade for cucumbers in metal bowl
Pour the marinade on top of the cucumbers, then stir well to combine.

Marinade poured over sliced cucumbers in container
Refrigerate, Then Enjoy Mom’s Marinated Cucumbers!

Cover the container and refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours, stirring a couple of times to make sure cucumber slices are covered. When ready to serve, or gobble up, remove from refrigerator and go for it!

Mom's marinated cucumbers, in bowl in refrigerator

They are tasty right out of the container OR served on a crisp, green salad!  They are GOOD!!!!  Bet ya can’t eat just one of these!

Looking For More SIDE SALAD Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have some yummy side salad recipes you might want to check out, including:

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Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
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Author's signatureRecipe Source: My Mom

0 from 0 votes
Mom's Marinated Cucumbers
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 
Quick and easy, cold and crisp, Mom's marinated cucumbers in vinaigrette provide a sweet crunch to salads, and are just as good eaten right out of the bowl!
Category: Side Dish, Vegetable
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Mom's marinated cucumbers
Servings: 8 4 cups total (approx.)
Calories Per Serving: 146 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon (each) Salt & Pepper , to taste (guessing I would say about 1/4 teaspoon each)
  • 3 large large cucumbers , peeled and sliced
  • 1/4 medium medium red onion , finely chopped
Instructions
  1. Peel and slice cucumbers; place in a container that has a lid. Finely chop red onion; add to cucumbers.

  2. Whisk together the oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper until sugar is dissolved. Pour marinade over the cucumbers. Stir well to combine. Cover and refrigerate cucumbers for at least 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally. Enjoy.

Recipe Notes

Please note: The 10 minute prep time is "active" prep time. I did not include the 3-4 hours "inactive" refrigeration time necessary for all flavors to permeate and come together. Please plan accordingly.

Nutrition Facts
Mom's Marinated Cucumbers
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cups)
Calories 146 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Sodium 75mg3%
Potassium 147mg4%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Sugar 20g22%
Vitamin A 75IU2%
Vitamin C 3.6mg4%
Calcium 15mg2%
Iron 0.2mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Quick and easy, cold and crisp, Mom's marinated cucumbers in vinaigrette provide a sweet crunch to salads, and are just as good eaten right out of the bowl!

 

 

 

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Grilled Summer Veggies

Grilled Summer Veggies, with zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, onion, green and red peppers and green beans are cooked on BBQ, then topped w/ Parmesan cheese!Grilled Summer Veggies, with zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, onion, green and red peppers and green beans are cooked on BBQ, then topped w/ Parmesan cheese!

The HOT summer continues here in the great Pacific Northwest! We are still using our BBQ grill a lot, as we try to keep our kitchen (and home) cool! Today I want to share a recipe I make quite frequently in the summertime- Grilled Summer Veggies!

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Making Grilled Summer Veggies Is EASY

This recipe is really, really easy.  All that is involved in the prep work for this delicious side dish is slicing and cutting up the veggies. I even was able to use some homegrown veggies from our garden as part of this dish (yee haw!)

 

Summer veggies are sliced, and ready to be grilled.Once the veggies are sliced and chopped, put them into a large bowl. I used zucchini, yellow squash, red onion, green and red pepper, green beans (even a few yellow fillet beans from the garden), and baby carrots.

You can certainly add in additional veggies to make this dish “your own”. That’s the best way, right? You’ve got to like what you’re cooking!

Cut veggies are placed in large bowl to mix with seasonings.Time To Season The Veggies

Season the veggies with olive oil, salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Give them a good toss, to fully coat the veggies with the seasoning.

Summe veggies are seasoned with olive oil, Parmesan cheese and Italian spices before grilling.

Use A BBQ Grill Safe Basket

After the veggies and seasonings are combined, put them into a BBQ-safe grill pan (we got one for about $8 at a home improvement warehouse). NOTE: If you don’t have access to a grill pan, use a cast iron skillet on your BBQ to cook these, but watch out… the skillet will get REALLY hot!).

The grill pan we used has a handle to carry it that detaches once you get it on the BBQ grill, then reattaches to lift pan off the grill once done. Pretty handy to use!

Veggies are placed into a BBQ-grill pan for cooking.Cook the veggies on a medium-hot grill for about 15 minutes or so, stirring often. My husband was the “Grill-Meister and Stirrer-Extraordinaire” for this dish!

Grilled Summer Veggies on the BBQ, being stirred while they cook.Some of the veggies will get a nice char on them or get slightly golden brown… that’s great! Just remember to stir them occasionally so they don’t burn! We love cooking veggies on our Weber grill, cause the smoky smell permeates the vegetables, and gives them such a wonderful flavor!

Summer veggies grilling on the BBQ.Serve The Grilled Summer Veggies

Once the veggies are done (fork-tender), we bring them inside and top them with grated Parmesan cheese, and serve them up, straight out of the grill pan! YUM!

Grilled Summer Veggies are sprinkled with grated Parmesan cheese before serving.Sure hope you will give this EASY recipe a try. These grilled summer veggies are a wonderful accompaniment to most meat dishes. I think you and your family will love them! You might also like to see how to grill corn on the cob on the BBQ! That’s another easy way to cook veggies!

Have a great day!  Thanks for stopping by today, and come back soon. May you find beauty all around you today. Hope you’re looking for it!

Looking For More VEGGIE Recipes?

You can find all my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have a great variety of vegetable dishes, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

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Author's signature

5 from 1 vote
Grilled Summer Veggies
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 
Grilled Summer Veggies, with zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, onion, green and red peppers and green beans are cooked on BBQ, then topped w/ Parmesan cheese!
Category: Side Dish, Vegetable Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: grilled summer veggies
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 163 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 zucchini , sliced
  • 1 yellow squash , sliced
  • 3 slices red onion (then quartered
  • 1/2 green bell pepper , cut into chunks
  • 1/2 red bell pepper , cut into chunks
  • green beans (I used about 10), ends trimmed and beans cut in half
  • 6-8 baby carrots , cut in half lengthwise
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons Grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish once veggies are cooked)
Instructions
  1. Prepare all veggies. Place into a large bowl.  Add seasoning ingredients: Parmesan cheese (shaker can kind), salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, Mix well to combine.

  2. Place veggies into a sprayed BBQ grill saute pan or into a cast iron skillet. Place pan onto a medium high BBQ grill. Cook for 15-18 minutes, stirring occasionally so the veggies don't burn.  When done, remove from heat (if using cast iron skillet it will be HOT... be careful!).

  3. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top of the hot vegetables, and serve.  Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Grilled Summer Veggies
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/4 of total))
Calories 163 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat 13g20%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 6mg2%
Sodium 156mg7%
Potassium 364mg10%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 2855IU57%
Vitamin C 49.3mg60%
Calcium 125mg13%
Iron 0.8mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Grilled Summer Veggies, with zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, onion, green and red peppers and green beans are cooked on BBQ, then topped w/ Parmesan cheese!

 

 

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Bread and Butter Pickles

Learn how to make traditional Bread and Butter Pickles, (perfect topping for burgers, sandwiches or just for snacking), and can the jars, for long term storage!Learn how to make traditional Bread and Butter Pickles, (perfect topping for burgers, sandwiches or just for snacking), and can the jars, for long term storage!Do you enjoy pickles?  I never really liked Bread and Butter Pickles… until a year ago, when my friend Sandy let me try some of the ones she grew in her garden (pickling cucumbers) and canned.

I’ve been a dill pickle fan since Jr. High School when I ordered HUGE dill pickles to sell to students during our annual Spirit Week.  I even used to buy GIANT SIZED dill pickles in the Main Street “General Store” at Disneyland as a kid. But bread and butter pickles? Didn’t like them too much until I tried these homemade ones.

Whoa… they were good! Really changed my opinion of them.  So this year, I decided to make my own with some of the pickling cucumbers I grew in our backyard raised bed garden. I got the recipe out of my “Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving”, which I bought last year, and found a recipe for Traditional Bread and Butter Pickles. Sounded good, so I thought I would give it a try! And guess what? It was pretty easy, and they are soooo good!

This recipe makes approximately 5 pint jars, so it’s not a HUGE batch, but it IS more than enough for our needs.

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Here’s How To Make Bread And Butter Pickles

Slice both ends off each of the cucumbers (discard ends), then slice cucumbers into 1/4 inch slices. Thinly slice the onions, as well.

Pickling cucumbers used to make bread and butter pickles

Place the sliced pickling cucumbers, onions, and canning salt into a large glass (or stainless steel) bowl.

Pickling cucumbers, sliced onions and canning salt are mixed in large glass bowl

Mix them up real good, then cover the mixture completely with water, and let it stand at room temperature for 2 hours. It really helps to put a small salad plate on top to keep the cucumbers submerged.

Sliced pickling cucumbers and onions submerged in water
Make The Pickling Brine

While the cucumbers are taking a bath, mix up the pickling brine AND get your canning jars and lids prepared for canning (cleaned/heated per USDA canning guidelines).

To make the brine, mix together white vinegar, granulated sugar, mustard seeds, celery seeds, and turmeric (a spice). Bring this mixture to a boil over medium high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Once combined, turn off heat. (do this if making the brine ahead of time).

Brine for pickles is cooked in large saucepan

Once the cucumber and onion mixture has soaked for 2 hours, pour them into a colander and drain the water off. Rinse them very well, then drain thoroughly.

Cucumbers and onions (for pickles) are rinsed and drained in colander

Bring the brine mixture back up to a full boil, add cucumber mixture, stir to combine, then bring it all to a rolling boil.

Adding pickling cucumbers and onions to bring in large saucepanCooking cucumbers, onions and spices for bread and butter pickles

Filling The Jars With Bread And Butter Pickles

Remove the pan from the heat. Pack the vegetables into clean, hot prepared jars, leaving a 1/2 inch headspace at the top of the jar. Ladle the hot brine in, enough to cover the cucumbers. Remove the air bubbles, and add or remove more brine, if necessary, to keep the headspace at 1/2 inch.

Wipe the rims of the jars clean, to ensure a good seal, then place heated flat lid on top, and screw on the jar band to finger-tip tightness. Now you’re ready to process the jars!

Adding cucumber mixture for pickles to canning jar with a green funnel

Processing the Jars Of Bread And Butter Pickles

Place jars onto a canning rack in the canner full of simmering water. Make sure the jars are completely submerged in water (plus an inch of water over the tops of the jars). Bring the water to a full boil, then process jars for 10 minutes. When done, remove the canner lid, wait a few minutes, then remove jars with canning tongs to a dish towel on the counter to cool.

Once the jars are completely cool, test them to make sure they were properly sealed. Wipe the jars clean, then label and store jars (upright) in your pantry, to await the big moment when you open and enjoy them. Here a photo of a couple of the jars of bread and butter pickles, right out of the canner.

Two jars of canned bread and butter pickles

Hope you will give these delicious pickles a try! They really are quite good (yes, I snuck a few samples before sealing the jars)! Update: I served these pickles on the side with our other dishes for Thanksgiving 2015… Delicious! Here’s a picture:

Homemade bread and butter pickles, in serving bowl

Hope you will try this delicious recipe for bread and butter pickles. They taste GREAT! Have a great day, and thank you for stopping by. Please come back again soon for more recipes.

Looking For More CANNING Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have quite a few delicious recipes for canning (water bath and pressure canning, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks


Author's signatureRecipe Source: Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving, Published 2006,by Robert Rose, Inc., page 303.

0 from 0 votes
Bread and Butter Pickles
Prep Time
2 hrs
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 10 mins
 
Learn how to make traditional Bread and Butter Pickles, (perfect topping for burgers, sandwiches or just for snacking), and can the jars, for long term storage!
Category: Canning
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bread and butter pickles
Servings: 5 pints (approx. 80 2 Tablespoon servings)
Calories Per Serving: 26 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 10 cups sliced pickling cucumbers (1/4 inch slices, plus both ends trimmed off each cucumber)
  • 4 medium brown onions , thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup canning salt (can also use pickling salt)
  • 3 cups white vinegar
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons mustard seeds (found in spice section at store)
  • 1 teaspoon celery seeds (found in spice section at store)
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric (found in spice section at store)
Instructions
  1. Place the sliced and trimmed cucumbers, sliced onions, and canning salt into a large glass or stainless steel bowl. Stir to combine. Cover the cucumbers completely with water (I used a small plate on top to help keep the cucumbers submerged). Let them sit and soak for 2 hours. When done, pour into a colander, rinse and drain very thoroughly.
  2. While the cucumbers are in the soaking mode, you can prepare the brine, AND prepare your water bath canner, jars and lids (per canning guidelines), so they are ready to go.
  3. In a large saucepan, mix together the vinegar, granulated sugar, mustard and celery seeds, and the turmeric. Bring this brine mixture to a boil, while stirring. Once the sugar has dissolved, pour in the rinsed and drained cucumber/onion mixture. Stir to combine. Return the mixture to a full boil.
  4. Remove saucepan from heat. Pack the pickle/onions mixture into hot canning jars to within 1/2 inch from the top. (I used a slotted spoon to scoop out the veggies). Once the veggies are packed into the jars, Iadle the hot brine into the jars, covering the cucumbers fully. Remove air bubbles from jar, then adjust headspace, if necessary. Wipe the rims of each jar with a clean cloth or wet paper towel. Put hot, flat lid on top of jar, the screw on the band until it is fingertip tight.
  5. Put the filled jars into the simmering water in a water bath canner, adding more boiling water, if necessary, to make sure jars are completely submerged (and have at least an inch of water over the top of the jars). Bring water to a full boil and process pickles for 10 minutes. When done, carefully remove lid (away from you to prevent steam burn), wait a few minutes, then remove jars from canner, using canning tongs. Set hot jars onto a dish towel on counter (not directly on counter), then let jars cool. Test to make sure jars have sealed. Sealed lids will be concave (curving downward), and will show no signs of "give" when you press down in the middle of lid.
  6. Store cooled jars upright in cool dark place.
Recipe Notes

Recipe makes approx. 5 pint jars. Please refer to official USDA canning guidelines if you are unsure of proper process for preparing jars for canning/sealing.

Nutrition Facts
Bread and Butter Pickles
Amount Per Serving (2 Tablespoons)
Calories 26
% Daily Value*
Sodium 708mg31%
Potassium 33mg1%
Carbohydrates 5g2%
Sugar 5g6%
Vitamin A 10IU0%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 6mg1%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!earn how to make traditional Bread and Butter Pickles, (perfect topping for burgers, sandwiches or just for snacking), and can the jars, for long term storage!

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Zucchini Relish

Learn how to make tasty zucchini relish (similar to pickle relish), an amazing condiment for hot dogs, hamburgers, etc., and learn how to can it for long term storage!Learn how to make tasty zucchini relish (similar to pickle relish), an amazing condiment for hot dogs, hamburgers, etc., and learn how to can it for long term storage!
Last summer I was visiting a dear friend in her home. She told me she had canned some pickle relish, using shredded zucchini from her garden. Then she gave me not one, but TWO pint jars of her homemade zucchini relish to take home.

I was too embarrassed to tell her that I don’t even LIKE pickle relish, so I thanked her (graciously, of course!), and took them home to occupy a spot in our pantry.  My thought was… I don’t eat hot dogs that often, and I don’t use it in my potato salad, so what was I supposed to do with TWO jars of the stuff?

I figured I could always put it out with the condiments at a bar-b-que or something…I ultimately cracked open a jar of zucchini relish (my curiosity got the best of me), and tried it on a grilled hot dog, and guess what? I LOVED it… (insert rolling of the eyes here). WHO KNEW?

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Okay… Please Give Me The Recipe- I Confess

Fast forward…It’s almost a year later… and those 2 jars of relish are long gone. Used up over the past year… it’s a Christmas Miracle! (perhaps my taste buds changed?) So I told (more like “confessed”) my friend the WHOLE story of my initial reaction to her kind gift (truth-telling, from start to finish) and asked her for the recipe. Ha Ha.

We had a good laugh over it. She was kind enough to give it to me, just as she received the recipe from her Mom. I decided to make some for our pantry (you know… just in case there’s a world-wide pickle relish shortage!!!!!!).

I cut the recipe in half, and it made 2 pint jars and one half-pint jar… which should last us for awhile. The recipe I’m posting is for the whole amount, and it makes between 5-6 pint jars of zucchini relish.

So for all you relish lovers out there, here is a great relish for your hot dogs or hamburgers or potato salad, AND a great way to use up some of the zucchini that will overrun your garden this year! I’m glad I learned how to make my own. Even if you don’t “can”, you can keep one jar in the refrigerator for immediate use, and give the other jar to a friend.

How To Make Zucchini Relish

Here’s how you make it (it’s easy!):  You start with shredded zucchini that has been drained well to remove excess water. Mix in diced onion, green pepper (I even snuck in a bit of red pepper), and salt. Let the mixture sit (covered) for 24 hours. The salt helps draw out liquid from the zucchini. Drain well, and rinse with cold water. Drain once more.

Zucchini Relish / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
After draining zucchini mixture,  add it to the rest of the ingredients in a large stock pot, stir well to combine, and bring mixture to a boil. Cook it for 15 minutes, stirring frequently.

Zucchini Relish / The Grateful Girl Cooks!Canning Zucchini Relish

Ladle relish into hot, sterilized canning jars (following basic canning guidelines). Leave 1/2″ headspace, remove air bubbles and wipe rims. Process in a boiling hot water bath for 15 minutes.

Zucchini Relish / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Remove jars from canner and listen for that wonderful “ping” sound, indicating the jars have sealed properly. Let the jars sit on the counter, undisturbed for 24 hours, then store in pantry.

Zucchini Relish / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Even if you don’t “can” food, you can always let the zucchini relish cool completely, then place it in jars (and kept refrigerated), then give one to a relish-loving friend or two… (never thought I’d ever say that!).

And… enjoy your hot dogs or hamburgers this summer, with this tasty zucchini relish on them (of course!).

Looking For More CANNING Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have quite a few canning recipes, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Zucchini Relish / The Grateful Girl Cooks!Recipe Source: Debbie Stephens (and her Mom)

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

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Zucchini Relish
Prep Time
1 d
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
1 d 15 mins
 
Learn how to make tasty zucchini relish (similar to pickle relish), an amazing condiment for hot dogs, hamburgers, etc., and learn how to can it for long term storage!
Category: Canning, Canning and Preserving, Condiment
Cuisine: American
Keyword: zucchini relish
Servings: 5 -6 pint jars
Calories Per Serving: 26 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 10 cups shredded zucchini (seeds scooped out and discarded)
  • 1 large onion , finely diced
  • 1 green pepper , finely diced (I even used a bit of red pepper!)
  • 5 Tablespoons canning salt
  • 2 1/4 cups vinegar
  • 6 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon nutmeg
  • 1 Tablespoon dry mustard powder
  • 1 Tablespoon turmeric
  • 1 Tablespoon corn starch
  • 1 Tablespoon celery seed
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, mix together the shredded zucchini, onion, green pepper, and salt. Cover bowl with plastic wrap; let sit for 24 hours (this draws out liquid from zucchini).
  2. Drain zucchini mixture; rinse well with cold water, then drain completely again.
  3. Place the drained zucchini mixture into a large stockpot. Add the vinegar, sugar, black pepper, nutmeg, dry mustard, turmeric, corn starch, and celery seed. Stir to mix well.
  4. Bring to a boil. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
  5. Ladle hot relish into canning jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Wipe rim of jar, adjust two piece lids.
  6. Process jars in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes. Remove to a towel to cool. Make sure jars seal, then let sit for 24 hours before moving to pantry.
Recipe Notes

Note: I cut the recipe in half easily, and it produced 2 pint jars and 1 half-pint jar.
Also, note that the long prep time is the time allotted for zucchini/pepper/onion/salt mixture to soak overnight.
If canning this in half-pint jars, they only need to process for 10 minutes.

Nutrition Facts
Zucchini Relish
Amount Per Serving (1 Tablespoon)
Calories 26
% Daily Value*
Potassium 20mg1%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Sugar 6g7%
Vitamin A 15IU0%
Vitamin C 1.7mg2%
Calcium 2mg0%
Iron 0.1mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Learn how to make tasty zucchini relish (similar to pickle relish), an amazing condiment for hot dogs, hamburgers, etc., and learn how to can it for long term storage!

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Sugar Snap Pea Stir Fry

This Asian-inspired sugar snap pea stir fry, with mushrooms and colorful bell peppers cooked in teriyaki sauce, is a simple and delicious veggie side dish!This Asian-inspired sugar snap pea stir fry, with mushrooms and colorful bell peppers cooked in teriyaki sauce, is a simple and delicious veggie side dish!
Every year, I love to grow sugar snap peas in our backyard raised bed garden. We typically have a bumper crop, and freeze bags of them at their peak. If interested in learning about this type of pea, you can read more information here. I

t made perfect sense to me to come up with a good stir fry recipe to use these wonderful veggies. So here it is- my recipe for a delicious “Sugar Snap Pea Stir Fry”.

Try not to be too dazzled by the “oh so creative” name I gave this recipe (ha ha)! It’s the best I could come up with, so don’t judge.  All that said, if you are looking for a tasty way to make a sugar snap pea stir fry, look no further!

I believe you will enjoy the taste of stir fried sugar snap peas, cooked with red and orange peppers, mushrooms, garlic, teriyaki sauce, and topped with toasted almonds! The Asian inspired flavors will delight your taste buds!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Frozen Or Fresh?

You can use either fresh or frozen sugar snap peas, because either type will work great in this recipe with very little difference in taste. I used some I had in the freezer from our little garden this past summer. 

Here is what a couple of sugar snap peas looked like growing in my garden this past summer. Isn’t it a gorgeous, cool-looking vegetable?

Sugar Snap Pea Stir Fry / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ready To Cook?

Sugar snap peas and peppers are cooked in the skillet first. The veggies are then pushed over to one side of the skillet, and mushrooms are added to the skillet.

Stir fry them for a couple minutes. Once cooked, they are combined with the other veggies in the sugar snap pea stir fry.

Sugar snap pea stir fry with mushrooms and bell peppers cooking in skillet.

Add minced garlic to the sugar snap pea stir fry. After that, grated fresh ginger and a bit of teriyaki sauce are added to the skillet.

Garlic is added to sugar snap pea stir fry for added flavor.

Lightly toast sliced raw almonds in a “dry” skillet, to add as a garnish to the dish at serving time.

Almonds are lightly toasted in skillet, to add as topping for sugar snap pea stir fry.

Time To Eat The Sugar Snap Pea Stir Fry!

Here is the finished sugar snap pea stir fry dish on a serving platter. Garnish the dish with the lightly toasted almond slices for added crunch!

This delicious sugar snap pea stir fry  is ready to eat, and enjoy! Grab a fork, and dig in!

Sugar snap pea stir fry, served on a white platter, is ready to enjoy!

I served this sugar snap pea stir fry with Sweet Ginger Teriyaki Salmon and it was a big hit! The teriyaki sauce the sugar snap peas are cooked in, paired extremely well with the sauce on the salmon.

Sure hope you will consider trying this recipe. It’s a great way to get some tasty veggies into your meals! If you enjoy sugar snap peas, be sure to check out my recipe for Parmesan Crumb Sugar Snap Peas, as well.

Thanks for stopping by, and I invite you to come back again son for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, may God bless you, and have a great day!

You Might Also Enjoy These Veggie Side Dish Recipes

These recipes, listed above, and many other vegetable side dishes can be found in the Recipe Index at the top of the page.  Enjoy!

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
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0 from 0 votes
Sugar Snap Pea Stir Fry
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 
This Asian-inspired sugar snap pea stir fry, with mushrooms and colorful bell peppers cooked in teriyaki sauce, is a simple and delicious veggie side dish!
Category: Side Dish, Vegetable Dish
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: sugar snap pea stir fry
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 168 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For Stir Fry:
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups sugar snap peas (fresh or frozen)
  • 1/2 cup red bell peppers , sliced
  • 1/2 cup orange bell peppers , sliced
  • 1 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger (I used a microplane, to grate the ginger very finely)
  • 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce
  • salt , to taste
For Garnish:
  • 1/4 cup sliced raw almonds , dry roasted (see notes section on "how to dry roast")
Instructions
  1. Heat the olive oil on medium-high in a non-stick skillet.
  2. When oil is hot, add the sugar snap peas and the red/orange peppers. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Push veggies over to one side of skillet; add the mushrooms.
  3. Cook mushrooms for 2-3 minutes, then combine veggies. Add the garlic and the grated ginger; cook for additional minute.
  4. Stir in the teriyaki sauce, and cook until all ingredients are heated through.
  5. Place veggies onto serving dish. Garnish with toasted almond slices.
  6. Serve, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes

How to dry roast almond slices: Heat a skillet (with no oil or butter) on medium-low. Add the sliced almond slices to the skillet. Heat 2-3 minutes until they begin to turn light brown. Keep the almonds stirred while they cook, so they won't burn. The End.

Nutrition Facts
Sugar Snap Pea Stir Fry
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 168 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 704mg31%
Potassium 356mg10%
Carbohydrates 11g4%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 1700IU34%
Vitamin C 77.7mg94%
Calcium 49mg5%
Iron 1.9mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!This Asian-inspired sugar snap pea stir fry, with mushrooms and colorful bell peppers cooked in teriyaki sauce, is a simple and delicious veggie side dish!

 

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My Heart Is Full… So Are My Pantry Shelves!

I took a good look at our canned and dried food pantry yesterday and was overcome with thankfulness for the blessing of abundance. I know lots of “serious canners” have LOTS and LOTS of canned goods in their pantries, so this would seem small, but for us, this is more than enough for our family and some of our friends to enjoy the bounty of summer!My Heart is Full... So Are My Pantry Shelves! / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Up until this summer, the only canning I had done was making jams and jellies for our family’s needs, and to give as gifts for friends. I LOVE to give baskets of homemade jams and goodies to friends at Christmas. This summer I decided to learn more about canning and dehydrating.I did a lot of researching and reading up on canning and dehydrating foods, and then put that learning into practice. Baby steps…

Because we have a small raised bed garden in our back yard  and the fact that I bought a pressure canner (with birthday gift cards), I can now preserve a lot of what I grow in more ways than I was able to before. So… it is now September, and we are blessed to have “more than enough”. While I am absolutely in no way a “doomsday prepper”, it does feel good to know that we have canned goods in storage. It’s very convenient to pull a jar of home grown food off the shelf when we need something quick like salsa, veggies, jam, etc. (haven’t purchased jam in about 5 years!).

Canning some of our own home-grown food also saves us money, as we don’t have to purchase as much “stuff” at the store. Plus I LOVE to be able to give away a lot of the canned goods I “prepared with love” to our friends. For me, it’s a matter of being frugal and wise with what God has provided… and being able to bless others, as well. Now THAT’s a win-win situation.

My Heart is Full... So Are My Pantry Shelves! / The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Besides having produce and fruit available all summer to eat just by going out to our little backyard garden and gathering it,  I was also able to preserve from our garden (by canning OR dehydrating). Food such as strawberries, blueberries, green beans, tomatoes, onions, pickles, garlic, basil, flat leaf parsley, thyme, oregano, peppermint, sage, parsley, zucchini, coriander, rosemary, carrots, and peppers.

I was also able to preserve (by canning or dehydrating, or freezing) fruit that I picked at local U-Pick Farms or that I was given by friends ): apples, peaches, blackberries, boysenberries, raspberries, more blueberries, asian pears, etc.

My Heart is Full... So Are My Pantry Shelves! / The Grateful Girl Cooks! My Heart is Full... So Are My Pantry Shelves! / The Grateful Girl Cooks! My Heart is Full... So Are My Pantry Shelves! / The Grateful Girl Cooks! My Heart is Full... So Are My Pantry Shelves! / The Grateful Girl Cooks!I feel very fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the country (the great Pacific Northwest) with a great summer climate and adequate rainfall where I can grow, pick, and preserve the bounty God has provided. I realize that it is all a gift… others might not be as fortunate, due to life circumstances or geographical location, and I thank God for this blessing.

I worked really hard this summer processing our garden’s abundance (even after giving away a lot of it to family and neighbors), and now as a result, for the next year or so my family and friends can enjoy the “fruits of my labors” by simply opening a jar! I am so filled with thankfulness for God’s provision and blessing… my heart is full…and now my pantry is full, also. For all of it… I AM GRATEFUL!

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Crunchy Garlic Dill Pickles

Make Garlic Dill Pickles the “old-fashioned way” or use more current way (water bath) to can a few jars of pickles with summer’s bounty.Make Garlic Dill Pickles the "old-fashioned way" or use more current way (water bath) to can a few jars of pickles with summer's bounty.

Well… here’s our new favorite pickle… these homemade Crunchy Garlic Dill Pickles!  Even if you’ve never made pickles before… have no fear! You will only need a few things to make some yummy pickles. These jars of pickles, once sealed properly, will be shelf stable for quite awhile. Then when you need a new jar of pickles, just pull a jar out of your pantry, refrigerate, then enjoy! They are so good!

I grew our own pickling cucumbers this summer. I am so glad I did. Last summer my friend Sandy gave me some of her pickling cucumbers from her huge garden to make pickles. It inspired me to try growing them this year in our little backyard garden… so I did! I only grew 3 plants, but it was more than enough for about 12 or 13 jars of pickles.

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Growing pickling cucumbers to make crunchy garlic dill pickles.
Yahoo! Of course you can always find pickling cucumbers (you know, the cute little ones grown especially for pickle-making!) at your local grocery store or a Farmer’s Market when they’re in season and plentiful during the hot summer months.

Making Garlic Dill Pickles The Old-Fashioned Way

Okay… back to the recipe. This method is the old-fashioned way to make these pickles. Basically you slice the ends off the cukes (yes, both ends), slice them into spears, chips (horizontally) or into sandwich slices (vertically), making sure you have enough cut slices to fill 6 pint-sized cleaned and hot canning jars (12 oz.). Add a bit of minced garlic and dill seed.

Let the jars sit in a 250 degree oven (I place filled jars onto a tea towel lined cookie sheet) until they are hot and ready to fill with a boiling hot brine. Then when everything is really hot (including the lids and seals heated separately), you pour the brine over the pickle slices, remove air bubbles, wipe the rims to make sure you have a good clean seal, pop the lids and rings on, and seal to fingertip tightness.

Once the lids and bands are on, invert the jars for 5 minutes, then turn right side up again. Let the jars cool on the counter (on a towel, to prevent breakage). You should hear the seals “pop” to indicate the jars have safely sealed, while they cool. If the jars do not seal properly, they must be refrigerated, as they cannot be stored safely for any length of time in a pantry.

**Then comes the hard part. You have to let the pickles “cure” for about 2 weeks before you open the jar and taste them. IT IS WORTH THE WAIT! Trust me.

NOTE: **This old-fashioned process (above) has worked on every jar I’ve made of these pickles. HOWEVER,  if you wish to can the pickles using a water bath process (which is the safest, most current and recommended process for canning safety), see below.

Canning The Garlic Dill Pickles In A Water Bath Canner

For the most current and recommended method to safely can these pickles, follow USDA recommended guidelines. Pint jars of the garlic dill pickles are filled, leaving 1/2″ headspace, air bubbles are removed, rims cleaned, etc. The jars should be processed in a hot water bath canner for 15 minutes.

Follow all current safe canning guidelines to prepare, jars, rings, and flat lids, if you will be canning these pickles in a water bath.

Jars of processed crunchy garlic dill pickles cooling down after processing.
I made long sandwich slices and round hamburger slices…

I made pickles (using both methods) this summer, and I’ve already made several new batches as more of my cucumbers have ripened. I  keep any extra brine I had leftover (if I wasn’t making the full recipe) in the refrigerator and then use it within a couple weeks for a new batch.

 These pickles are really very easy to make, and I just KNOW you’re gonna love them. By the way, if you enjoy pickles, be sure to check out my recipe for delicious bread and butter pickles!

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

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4 from 3 votes
Crunchy Garlic Dill Pickles
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

Make Garlic Dill Pickles the "old-fashioned way" or use more current way (water bath) to can a few jars of pickles with summer's bounty.

Category: Condiments
Cuisine: American
Keyword: garlic dill pickles
Servings: 6 pints
Calories Per Serving: 166 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup canning salt
  • 4 1/2 cups white vinegar
  • 8 cups water
  • 6 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 5 Tablespoons (approx.) dill seed (not dill weed, but dill seed)
  • enough pickling cucumbers to fill 6 pint canning jars (depending on size, approx.18-20)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Wash canning jars in hot, soapy water. Place the clean jars upside down onto a tea towel lined cookie sheet (with edges) in the oven to keep them hot.
  2. Place flat lid seals and rings in a small bowl. Set aside.
  3. Wash the cucumbers, slice a piece off of each end (stem and bottom) of the cucumber, and discard, then slice your cucumbers into spears, chips, or lengthwise into sandwich slices. Pack the pickle slices into the hot jars (be careful when removing hot jars. I recommend canning tongs to hold the jars securely). I find it helpful to turn the jar sideways and slip the sandwich slices in... it helps them to stand up better in the jar.
  4. Add a teaspoon of minced garlic and 3/4 Tablespoon of dill seeds to each jar.
  5. When jar is filled (I remove one jar at a time from oven), place filled jar back in oven while filling another jar. You want the jars to stay really hot so that when you add boiling brine, the jars will seal properly.
  6. In a large saucepan, heat the vinegar, canning salt and water to boiling, stirring to dissolve salt.
  7. While the vinegar/water/salt brine is coming to a boil, in a separate bowl pour some **almost to boiling** water (plain "not quite boiling" water, NOT the brine) over the canning lids and rings. Let them sit in the very hot water for 5 minutes to soften the rubber seals.
  8. Once brine is boiling, remove jars from oven (be sure to place hot jars on a tea towel to avoid breakage). Pour boiling liquid into each jar, filling to within 1/2 inch from top (pickles must be covered with brine). Remove the air bubbles in each jar by inserting a plastic knife or canning tool down the sides of each jar. Add more brine, if needed to cover pickles. Leave about 1/2 inch head space in jar. Quickly wipe the rims of each jar with a clean towel to make sure the rim is dry and clean. Place flat lid on, then screw down canning ring to finger tight. Immediately invert the jars on the towel. Let them sit for 5 minutes, then turn them right side up again. Listen for the clicking sound to know the jars have sealed.
  9. **If you want to water bath can the jars, once filled and jar lids and rings are tightened, place them in a water bath canner and process for 15 minutes, following USDA canning guidelines and manufacturer instructions for your canner..
  10. Once the jars are all processed and sealed, leave them alone on the tea towel to cool. As they cool, you should hear the "clicking sound" of the jars sealing while cooling. Once completely cooled and sealed properly, store them in a cool, dark pantry for two weeks (to let the brine fully incorporate into the pickles, then refrigerate jar and enjoy. You might want to label each jar with the date they will be "ready", so you will know when you can enjoy them!
Recipe Notes

From start to finish, the jars stay in the oven for about 20 minutes to make sure they are hot before adding the boiling brine. The last thing you want is to have the jar crack.
Once pickles have "cured" for two weeks and you are ready to bust into a jar of these, refrigerate the jar for several hours before opening...they are at their best cold!

Nutrition Facts
Crunchy Garlic Dill Pickles
Amount Per Serving (1 pint jar of pickles)
Calories 166 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Sodium 9454mg411%
Potassium 1309mg37%
Carbohydrates 24g8%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 650IU13%
Vitamin C 31.5mg38%
Calcium 236mg24%
Iron 3.1mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Make Garlic Dill Pickles the "old-fashioned way" or use more current way (water bath) to can a few jars of pickles with summer's bounty.

 

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Oven-Roasted Carrots

Oven Roasted Carrots are simple to make, delicious and healthy, and are a perfect vegetable side dish for beef, chicken, pork or fish.Oven Roasted Carrots are simple to make, delicious and healthy, and are a perfect vegetable side dish for beef, chicken, pork or fish.

Have you ever made oven roasted carrots before? I hardly ever bake them. Usually I grate them for carrot cake, throw some in when I cook a pot roast, or serve baby carrots as an appetizer with dip. But roasting them in the oven? Not so much. Until now.

Scroll Down For a Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Oven roasted carrots are a cinch to make. The flavors intensify when you roast them, so the end result is a sweet, concentrated carrot flavor, enhanced with olive oil, salt, pepper and some garlic powder (for extra goodness!)

I’ve been growing rainbow carrots in our backyard garden, and recently pulled up quite a few “baby carrots”… you know, the kind that aren’t 2 feet long!

These rainbow carrots are each about 4-5 inches long and about an inch to two inches thick. This size is perfect for roasting!

Rainbow carrots, picked fresh from our garden, to make oven roasted carrots.
Prepare The Carrots For Roasting

The crunchy carrots are washed and scrubbed really good, peeled (optional), then left whole. I even left a tiny bit of the green tops on because it looks cute and adds color to the dish! Of course that is optional, but hey… they look CUTE!!!

Once the carrots have been cleaned well, toss them in a bit of olive oil to coat (about 1-2 Tablespoons). Season the carrots (to taste) with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Once seasoned, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet.

How Long To Cook The Oven Roasted Carrots

Place the pan with those beautiful carrots into a 350° F oven. Roast the carrots for approximately 30 minutes.

Make sure to TURN the carrots over, half-way through the baking time, because that ensures an even bake for all sides of the oven roasted carrots!

The oven-roasted carrots are cooked in single layer on baking sheet,

Once the carrots are fork tender, they are done! Ready to eat… simple, and delicious oven roasted carrots!

Oven roasted carrots, hot out of the oven, and ready to eat!

That’s it! These oven roasted carrots are so delicious… and healthy! Hope you try this recipe…grab some fresh carrots at your local Farmer’s Market this summer… and enjoy!

Looking For More Vegetable Side Dishes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page.  A few of these vegetable side dishes include:

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There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
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0 from 0 votes
Oven-Roasted Carrots
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 
Oven Roasted Carrots are simple to make, delicious and healthy, and are a perfect vegetable side dish for beef, chicken, pork or fish.
Category: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: oven roasted carrots
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 124 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 15-20 small carrots (I used rainbow carrots, but any carrots will be fine)
  • 1-2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Garlic Powder
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Scrub carrots well, to clean. Peel them if you want, but it not necessary. You can also leave an inch or so of the green carrot tops on, if you wish (adds color to the veggies).

  2. In a medium bowl, place the whole carrots. Add the olive oil. Mix gently, to coat the carrots. Season with a little salt, pepper, and a little bit (approximately 1/8 teaspoon) of garlic powder. Mix well to combine. Place carrots in a single layer on a baking sheet.

  3. Bake carrots at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes, or until carrots are fork-tender. Turn carrots over on baking sheet half way through the baking time. Carrots are done when they are fork-tender. Serve, and enjoy! 

Nutrition Facts
Oven-Roasted Carrots
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 124 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Sodium 157mg7%
Potassium 732mg21%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 38215IU764%
Vitamin C 13.5mg16%
Calcium 75mg8%
Iron 0.7mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Oven Roasted Carrots are simple to make, delicious and healthy, and are a perfect vegetable side dish for beef, chicken, pork or fish.

 

 

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Carrot Zucchini Bread

Carrot Zucchini Bread is a wonderful tasting loaf of sweet bread, topped with a cream cheese and pecan frosting! This easy to make recipe yields two loaves!Carrot Zucchini Bread is a wonderful tasting loaf of sweet bread, topped with a cream cheese and pecan frosting! This easy to make recipe yields two loaves!

What do you get if carrot cake gets married to zucchini bread? This! Carrot Zucchini Bread. I found this recipe online and decided to try it and use up some of the frozen, grated zucchini hanging out in my freezer, leftover from our garden surplus. It was a great find.

I made this bread yesterday…the flavor combo of the zucchini, carrots, brown sugar and cinnamon is a winning one, for sure! Then to top it all off (quite literally!), the cream cheese pecan frosting is fantastic!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Carrot Zucchini Bread Is Incredibly EASY To Make!

The batter for the carrot zucchini bread is easy to mix together. REALLY easy! 

Batter is mixed and ready, in bowl.

Divide the batter and add to floured loaf pans, then into the oven it goes to bake!

Carrot zucchini bread batter in loaf pan, ready to bake!

Here is the carrot zucchini bread, fresh from the oven, and cooling on a wire rack before frosting.

Carrot zucchini bread, baked and cooling on a wire rack.

Easy To Make Cream Cheese Frosting For Carrot Zucchini Bread

The cream cheese and pecan frosting is super easy to make, and goes PERFECTLY with this delicious bread. Wait until the loaves are completely cooled to room temperature before frosting.

Cream cheese and pecan frosting, for carrot zucchini bread.

Here is a finished, frosted loaf of carrot zucchini bread. I garnished it with a few tiny strips of dehydrated carrots, just for fun!

This loaf of carrot zucchini bread is frosted and ready to serve!

Ready To Slice And Enjoy

The bread is moist, and filled with FLAVOR!  LOOK – I cut a slice just for YOU!

A slice of carrot zucchini bread on a plate, with loaf in background.

The bread was easy to prepare, and very tasty! I had a slice this morning with my coffee. Delicious! I really think you and your family will LOVE this loaf of bread!

Once slice of carrot zucchini bread, on a plate.
The recipe, as written makes 2 loaves of carrot zucchini bread, and is easily cut in half in case you only want to make one loaf, so it’s a win-win!  You can also make two loaves, eat one, and share another with a friend, neighbor, or family member! Hope you will give this yummy bread a try…and hope you enjoy it as much as we did! Have a great day, and come back soon.

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. You might also enjoy my recipes for banana bread, apple cinnamon, pumpkin, or cinnamon raisin bread.

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Adapted From: http://www.howtoinstructions.us/carrot-zucchini-bread/#.U5MvNCi4mSq

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0 from 0 votes
Carrot Zucchini Bread
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
50 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 
Carrot Zucchini Bread is a wonderful tasting loaf of sweet bread, topped with a cream cheese and pecan frosting! This easy to make recipe yields two loaves!
Category: Bread/Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: carrot zucchini bread
Servings: 16 slices
Calories Per Serving: 407 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For bread:
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable (or canola) oil
  • 6 Tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups finely shredded , peeled carrots (about 3 medium carrots)
  • 1 1/2 cups finely grated , shredded zucchini (and drained well, if using frozen)
For frosting:
  • 6 Tablespoons butter , softened
  • 5 oz. cream cheese , softened
  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts, if desired)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. While oven is preheating, coat 2 8x4 inch loaf pans with non stick baking spray, then lightly flour pans.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg together. Set aside.
  3. In another large mixing bowl place the granulated and brown sugars; whisk these until combined.
  4. Add the vegetable oil, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla to the sugar mixture; mix until well incorporated.
  5. Stir the shredded carrots and zucchini into this mixture.
  6. Add the flour mixture to the carrot zucchini mixing bowl all at once. Stir this only until combined.
  7. Divide the bread batter into the two loaf pans.
  8. Place loaf pans in oven. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, then without removing loaves from oven, quickly place a piece of aluminum foil over the top of each pan (to prevent too much browning), then continue baking the bread for an additional 15-20 minutes longer.
  9. Remove bread from oven when toothpick inserted in middle of loaves comes out clean.
  10. Allow the bread to cool in the loaf pan for another 5-10 minutes, then invert it onto a wire rack and let it finish cooling.
  11. While bread is cooling, make the cream cheese frosting: Using a hand mixer, whip the butter and cream cheese together in a medium sized mixing bowl. When smooth and fluffy, add the powdered sugar and the vanilla. Beat this mixture on medium high speed for 2-3 minutes, until it is light and fluffy.
  12. Frost cooled loaf with the cream cheese frosting, then top with chopped pecans. (I just added the pecans to the frosting, by the way...no big deal).
Recipe Notes

Recipe is easily halved. (just use 2 eggs instead of 1 1/2).

Nutrition Facts
Carrot Zucchini Bread
Amount Per Serving (1 slice)
Calories 407 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 10g63%
Cholesterol 51mg17%
Sodium 251mg11%
Potassium 187mg5%
Carbohydrates 59g20%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 39g43%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 2325IU47%
Vitamin C 2.8mg3%
Calcium 53mg5%
Iron 1.6mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Carrot Zucchini Bread is a wonderful tasting loaf of sweet bread, topped with a cream cheese and pecan frosting! This easy to make recipe yields two loaves!

 

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Just a Little Seed – Garden Musings

I’m always amazed how much great food you can grow from a relatively small amount of inexpensive seeds.

Garden Pickings August 2013The photo shown above is one morning’s pickings from last August. I absolutely am aware that my little backyard urban raised bed garden is pitifully small, when compared to most people’s gardens. But that’s just it…I try not to compare. This is my little piece of heaven on earth in my own urban backyard. I am so grateful and amazed by what can be produced in such a small area. What we can grow in containers and in small raised beds is MORE THAN ENOUGH, and I am delighted to be able to provide healthy, nourishing homegrown food for my family AND share some of the excess with our friends and neighbors.

This year (2014), I planted my veggie seeds in late April and early May (Pacific Northwest has a shorter growing season), and I am loving watching those little seeds buried in the soil come alive! This year’s garden has: kale, rainbow chard, romaine lettuce, spinach, red leaf lettuce, arugula, oak leaf lettuce, flat leaf parsley, basil, regular parsley, pickling cucumbers, cilantro, red onions, walla walla onions, garlic, leeks, chives, dill, parisian carrots, pole beans, bush beans, dover half carrots, rainbow carrots, peas, sugar snap peas, san marzano tomatoes, roma tomatoes, yellow pear tomatoes, striped heirloom tomatoes, sweet million cherry tomatoes, oregon stupice tomatoes, jalapenos, red peppers, tomatillos, broccoli, peppermint, lemon balm, zucchini, yellow squash, pattypan squash, thyme, sage, oregano, along with perennial rhubarb, strawberries and 2 blueberry bushes. I’m sure I will stay very busy this summer!

Veggie Garden 2014-4Veggie Garden 2014-3

 

 

 

 

It’s exciting to see how our little garden is progressing! (I call it JB’s Garden of Eatin’). We’ve already been enjoying the early bloomers like lettuce, chard and spinach (had a huge spinach salad last night from our garden!), and in another month or so, it will be all I can do to keep up with it all! I CAN’T WAIT!Veggie Garden 2014-7 Veggie Garden 2014-8Here’s a few pics of the garden beds, right after the seeds germinated, and after about a month to a month and a half after being planted.Veggie Garden May 2014There’s been a LOT of growth, and for that I am grateful! Lots of sunshine helps, also!Veggie Garden 2014-5Veggie Garden 2014-6 The amount of food produced will far outweigh my investment (for seed packets and tomato plants) over and over!!!! I will try and post updates as the summer goes by, but for now…I’m off to my backyard produce department to water the “goods”. Hope you will get outside  and grow some food, also!