Some days you just want something light for dinner. Lately I have not been eating as well as I would like. I find you get into these cycles. I start the vicious cycle in the fall, you know, after swim suit season is over. I tell myself YOLO, you only live once, and I’m going to enjoy and eat whatever I want. This goes on until about mid winter. February/March comes around and not only do I feel like crap, but I have gained a good 5 plus pounds and well, swim suit season is around the corner. So now I start feeling bad about myself, join a gym, and decide it’s time to start eating healthier. The healthy eating continues through the summer, in the summer I’m more inclined to exercise and BBQ healthier meals. And then Fall hits, and well YOLO!

So, as I write this, March is ending, I have been on the YOLO part of the cycle a little too long and its time to start eating healthier. I turn to this recipe to start my healthier eating cycle because its very low in calories, it’s a one pot meal and along with a salad- it fills me up.

This recipe has really evolved over the years. I first saw it in one of the Jewish school cookbooks in the area. I have made some changes to it, to satisfy my taste. I also use the same recipe for stuffed peppers. When I make a batch of this, I usually make both peppers and zucchinis but if I’m being honest- it’s mostly because scooping out the zucchinis takes too damn long so I throw the rest into peppers. But the zucchinis are my ultimate favourite, so it is worth the extra effort to scoop out all the zucchinis and have yourself a larger batch.

This recipe is so versatile, peppers or zucchinis, ground chicken or beef, brown or white rice- no matter how you make it, these stuffed zucchini boats are worth gossiping about!

Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Yield: 4-6 servings

Sauce:
1 small can (5.5oz) tomato paste
1/2 cup water
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp sugar
Salt and pepper to taste

INGREDIENTS:
6 zucchinis
1 lb ground meat, chicken or beef
1/2 cup cooked rice (can use brown, white or quinoa)
Sprinkle garlic powder, salt and pepper
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tbsp fresh herbs, parsley and/or dill

DIRECTIONS:
1. Cut the zucchinis in half lengthwise and scoop out the flesh with a spoon, forming a boat. Set aside.
2. In a bowl, mix together all sauce ingredients and set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the ground meat with the rice and seasonings.
4. Using a spoon, spoon the meat mixture into the zucchini boats and place into an oven safe baking pan with high sides.
5. Once all the zucchinis are in the pan, spoon the sauce over each zucchini boat and ensure all get covered with the sauce.
6. Bake, covered in a 375 degree oven for 45min to an hour.
7. Sprinkle with fresh herbs before serving. Enjoy!