Zucchini with Herbs Salad

I came across this recipe from a flyer from my supermarket, Fred Meyer, during the height of zucchini growing season this past summer.  I found it very tasty with the fresh herbs adding greatly to the dish.  It is a great way to use the medium to large sized zucchini.  It can be served hot, cold or at room temperature.  And it travels well if you leave the final assembly to just before serving.

Zucchini with Herbs Salad

Serves 4

Vinaigrette

2 tsp grainy Dijon mustard
1 T. minced shallot or one garlic clove minced
3 T. red wine vinegar
4 T. EV olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Salad

2 or 3 zucchini, depending on size, cut on the diagonal into 1/4 inch slices
1/2 cup lightly packed parsley, either curly or Italian, chopped
1/4 cup lightly packed basil or fresh dill, chopped
1/4 cup lightly packed chives, chopped
1 T. toasted pine nuts
1/4 c. grated Parmesan
Olive oil, salt and pepper

Make the vinaigrette by adding all ingredients in a jar or small bowl.  Shake or whisk to combine.  Set aside.

Preheat your grill or oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly brush both side of the zucchini with olive oil.  Place directly on the grill on indirect heat.  Or place on a parchment paper lined sheet pan one layer deep for your oven.  Season with salt and pepper.  Cook turning once until the edges are charred and the zucchini is tender-crisp.  

Arrange zucchini on a serving platter, drizzle the vinaigrette over, top with the herbs and pine nuts.  Scatter the Parmesan over all.  

The herbs and pine nuts really upped the flavor of the zucchini!  Feel free to use any combination of fresh herbs available.

Dinner in a Box?

I've been curious about these meals in a box.  I've talked to several people who think they are great.  I'm a "from scratch" cook and like to select my own produce and meats to get the best available.  I'm pretty good at looking in the fridge at 4:00 pm to see what I can make a dinner out of.  

I tried a meal in a box from our Fred Meyer (Kroger) store packaged by www.preppared.com.  I selected the Japanese Beef Bowl with Pickled Carrots at $18 for two servings.  It contained ground beef (15% fat), cooked jasmine white rice, shredded carrots, chopped bok choy, sliced mushrooms, minced garlic, chopped ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey and Asian hot sauce.  The preparation time was 20 minutes.  The directions were very easy to follow and took the time estimated.  And it tasted good.  Certainly as good as if I had prepared it from scratch.  The quality and freshness of the ingredients appeared high.  The box is labeled with a "use by" date which was three days away.  I thought the entree was as advertised.

But I was curious:  how much time did I save?  How much would it cost if I'd purchased the ingredients myself?  I estimated the two servings would have cost $8.  Time savings?  The rice would take 25 minutes for water to boil and then cook the rice on the stove.  You could buy the mushrooms and carrots already sliced.  The bok choy would need to be washed and chopped as would the garlic and ginger.  But that could go on while the meat cooks.  The rice was microwaved.  And I had selected an easy recipe.  For this dish, preparing from scratch would take 30 minutes if you are good at multitasking while cooking.  

Pros and Cons?

Pro:

• All the ingredients are ready and waiting
• The ingredients were fresh
• Easy to follow directions/steps
• No "mystery" ingredients added--the list of ingredients on the package was very short unlike frozen entrees'
• Minimal packaging--recyclable paper box and directions, minimal amount of plastic wrapping of ingredients
• Easy decision on menu for dinner for those times when you can't think of what to fix

Con:

• Cost twice as much
• Not sure of the meat's origin--I like to know that my meat is from the same animal
• Limited ability to change portion size.  I was good with the controlled portion size, but my husband could have eaten more.

All in all, I think there is a place for dinner in a box.  For me the benefit over frozen entrees' was no additives, portion control and no planning needed.  And it sure beats ordering pizza for nutritional content!