Do we all become our parents?
Maybe not always in the big ways, but in the little ways?
I used to happily spend money on whatever latest gadget happened to be the current favorite.
My mother would look at it and say: ‘Why do you need that?’
Now I look at the gadget and ask myself the same question.
These are ‘zucchini noodles’ made with a sharp knife.
Zucchini Noodles with Ham and Feta
Total time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 medium zucchini
- 2oz (60gr) ham, cut into small cubes
- 2oz (60gr) feta, crumbled
- 1 medium tomato, chopped
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp cooking olive oil
- 2 tsp salad olive oil
- 1 1/2 tbs lemon vinegar
- handful lemon basil
Instructions:
- Cut zucchini in quarters the long way and scrape the seeds out leaving a 1/4″ shell.
- Slice into long, thin strips.
- Heat cooking olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add zucchini noodles and stir-fry quickly just until limp.
- Add tomatoes, ham, paprika, and stir-fry another minute or two.
- Remove from heat and add vinegar, salad olive oil and feta.
- Add basil leaves, stir to combine and serve.
We had it as a first course but liked it so much I’m thinking of doubling it, leaving out the ham and having is as a vegetable.
This is my answer to the ‘spiralizer’ that seems to be making the round of the food blogs this summer.
I’m not knocking the ‘spiralizer’.
It looks like fun.
It looks easy to use, makes lots of cute shapes and could encourage one to be very creative with summer vegetables.
I just know me well enough to know that it would get used for a week or two, then take it’s place in the cabinet next to my food processor, onion chopper, sausage maker, orange juicer and pasta extruder, among other tools.
It’s not that I don’t like using the gadgets…. I don’t want to clean them.
I take them out of storage for a big project, but to chop an onion or a cup of walnuts or slice a zucchini it just seems like more work to get the gadget out, set it up, use it, then take it apart, clean it and put it away.
A sharp knife does the job, wipes clean and goes back in the block.
I do get out my mandolin occasionally, and I would have for these zucchini noodles, but I wanted to try it with the knife.
The knife worked just fine…..
I didn’t have to clean the mandolin.
I’m not in a hurry when I cook. I enjoy the process and I find it all relaxing (the wine helps).
And I don’t ever have to stop and think how to use my knife
I had my mandolin 5years before I learned to use it, now I love it.
I’m like you, enjoying the process of meal prep almost as much as eating it, and I have plenty of time.
My 12-year old likes to cook. She also loves gadgets. Last weekend she cleaned out the gadget drawer and asked me what everything was for, and then laid out all the ones she hadn’t yet used–and proceeded to use them as she could. Garlic press? I’ve had it for decades and stopped using it about ten years ago when I realized I could mince almost as fast and there wasn’t a metallic aftertaste–or fussy washing. Strawberry hull remover? Ditto, and a quick V cut with the paring knife gets the stem and leaves off, and I can also continue the slice to cut the berry in half. I keep them because I have used them and they all fit in the drawer, still.
And yes, I use my mandolin, but only if I’m slicing a lot–not worth it for one onion.
Tanna, my mandolin replaces a ‘late-night TV slicer’ LOL
Zoomie, exactly! Often the best part of my day,
Karen, Sounds just like me…. They all seemed like a good idea at the time…. Donate them to your 12 year old.