Wednesday, February 29, 2012

baked zucchini chips


My 5-year-old slipped while getting off the bus today. Freezing rain was pelting our faces as I carried him, sobbing, into the house. I saw the fall and knew he wasn't badly hurt. Still, there were an awful lots of tears...

"Mommy, I fell! And I haven't got a playdate. Everyone on the bus had a playdate. And, Jack {his big brother} has a playdate. {True.} And everyone in my class had a playdate. {Doubtful.} And it's raining...." I held him close and rocked him, knowing the tears were the result of a bruised ego. Lunch was ready, but I brought him in close and whispered in his ear, "Guess what?! Today is backwards day. That means playdates you would normally have on half-day Wednesdays get flip-flopped with Fridays. {Handy, since he has a friend coming over on Friday...} And, the wackiest thing about today is we eat dessert for lunch and lunch for dessert!" The crying shifted to more of a muffled giggle.

I recommend eating these right when they come out of the oven. But, if you must, have your dessert first, then enjoy these baked zucchini chips as a veggie side or healthy kid-friendly snack.


Baked Zucchini Chips

2 medium zucchini (sliced, I used my Cuisinart)
1 cup whole milk (or your choice of milk)
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
splash of cider vinegar
1/2 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan (optional)
1 teaspoon curry powder or dried dill (optional)
dash of kosher salt

Preheat oven to 425. In one bowl, combine milk, flour and vinegar with a whisk until smooth.  In a second bowl, combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan (optional), spice(s) (optional) and a dash of salt. Dip each zucchini slice in the milk mixture, then in the breadcrumb mixture. Place in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through the cook time. Serve warm, fresh from the oven... or reheat in the oven so they remain crispy. 

Delicious alone, or dipped in store-bought Tzatziki (savory yogurt dip). Or, here's a recipe for Tzatziki, if you'd like to make your own. 

4 comments:

  1. These look yummy! I am familiar with the bus drama. Other kids pair off for playdates sometimes, and my daughter gets upset. Then she wants to call all her friends one by one.

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    1. oh, he wouldn't know how to dial a phone if he needed too, but he's our resident drama queen...

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  2. What a sweet story about your son. These zucchini chips look so good. It's a great way to get in some veggies!

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    1. they really were good. highly recommend them, and you could always grind nut up with the breadcrumbs, etc to increase good fats/protein, etc... lots of customizing options!

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