Last evening I fixed one of our favorite dishes – Braised Lamb Shanks in a Thick Red-Wine Sauce (recipe on site) mainly because I had left-over Cheesy Grits (recipe also on site) and steamed rice from meals earlier this week. I try very diligently to use leftovers whenever possible. And both rice and grits are a great base for the braised lamb sauce. (You really must try the lamb shank recipe if you are a lamb lover. Easy to prepare and absolutely delicious.)
Along with the grits and rice, I also had a couple of zucchinis that were yelling at me to please put them to good use. (And yes, vegetables often let me know when they are feeling neglected. Not by their actions, of course, but rather by the way they just lay in the veggie bin looking forlorn.)
Anyway, I decided to try a new recipe starring zucchini that I found on the iheartrecipes.com site. And oh my, what a great recipe. Not only was the sauce perfect using zucchini, I think it might be the base for a new and improved green bean casserole. (I’ll let you know because I intend to try it out come Thanksgiving.)
So, while zucchini is close to becoming the veggie that magically appears on your front porch, give this recipe a try. I mean really, look at the ingredients! There is nothing there that doesn’t smack of delicious.
Well, that’s it for today – July 4th, 2025 – Independence Day. The 4th of July, or Independence Day, is celebrated because it marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress in 1776, declaring the thirteen American colonies free from British rule. This day signifies the birth of the United States as an independent nation.
And yet, because of a few rich and greedy politicians, our country is at risk. But I for one, do not intend to let them win. They are not going to make me complacent. They are not going to ruin my day. They are not going to turn me into a bitter person. They are not going to kill the kindness I feel and show to every person I meet, be they black, Jewish, trans, gay, etc., or in any way different from me. They are, however, going to cause me to fight with my words and actions any person who declares themselves better than anyone else because of the color of their skin or because of their Christian values. Jesus did not preach hate. And when I read that some smooth-talking idiot claims he or she is doing this or that in the name of Jesus, I call fowl! If they are just professing love, kindness, empathy, understanding, and acceptance, but are going in the absolute other direction, they are as far from being a true Christian as a person can be. And to my thinking, no one must be a “Christian” to be a truly empathetic and caring person. It’s not about who you worship. I truly believe you don’t have to have any affiliation to be grounded in humanity. It’s about being a decent human being and demonstrating your goodness by the life you lead that sets you apart.
May you be that person that smiles at strangers, says hello to the person in line behind you at the grocery store, who opens a door for someone, and sympathizes with a harried mother when she is doing her best to keep it together with a child who is obviously tired and cranky. We need positivity. We need assurance. We need kindness. And together, we can make a difference.
Peace and love to all.
2 T. unsalted butter
2 med. sized zucchini, thinly sliced
⅓ c. finely diced onion
½ tsp. kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
¼ c. sour cream
¼ c. grated Parmesan
½ c. grated sharp cheddar cheese
¾ c. French’s Crispy Fried Onions, crushed
Lightly butter a 9-inch (or equivalent sized) baking dish. Set aside.
Melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium heat.
Add the zucchini and onion. Sauté until the onion is translucent.
Fold in salt, pepper, sour cream, Parmesan, and cheddar cheese and mix until well combined.
Scoop the mixture into prepared pan. Sprinkle the crushed fried onions on top.
Bake uncovered in a pre-heated 350-degree oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.
Remove from the oven and cool for about 10 minutes.