Tasty Tuesdays: Baked Zucchini Bites

Ok so this "recipe" is like Jalapeno Poppers, but without the Jalapenos. These tasty zucchini bites require very little prep-work and few ingredients. They were inspired by the baked zucchini sticks in the latest Kraft What's Cooking, but I had no ShakeN'Bake so I had to improvise.

Baked Zucchini Bites
*Serves 2-4 people

You'll need:
2 zucchini
1 egg
fine breadcrumbs (I used store-bought)
chili powder
basil
ground pepper
ranch dressing, for dipping

1. To roast the breadcrumbs, preheat oven to 400 and bake crumbs on a baking sheet until dark brown. Let cool.

2. Mix breadcrumbs, basil, pepper & chili powder on a plate. In a small separate bowl, whisk egg and a splash of water.

3. Wash and slice up your zucchini into bite-sized pieces. Pat dry with paper towel and sprinkle lightly with salt.

4. Dip the zucchini into the egg mixture and then roll in the breadcrumb mixture. Place in a greased glass pan.

Online tip for breading: Try to keep one hand "wet" and one "dry". So, dip the zucchini with your right hand, put it on the plate of crumbs and then use your left hand to throw the crumbs on top of it. Then roll it around with your left hand until covered. This makes such a difference, trust me!

5. Bake at 400 for about 20-30 minutes or until slightly crispy. Serve immediately with ranch dressing. Enjoy!

These make for a delicious treat that tastes bad for you but isn't. Great for picky eaters and over-indulgers. Bring on the vegetables! These don't keep well and are soggy when reheated so eat them up right away.

Love,
Janelle