Vegatize? Is that really a word?

Hmm, no dice. If its not on dictionary.com then, I guess, its not a legal word (too bad for all us Scrabble players - 21 points)! But at the least it should be a Top Chef Challenge: Vegatize This! I can see it now, the groans.. the panic in the chef's eyes... all because they are faced with, eww, a Vegetarian!

Now, since I am a new convert, an "aspiring vegetarian", I've been facing this challenge a lot lately. The family is having Chicken Parmesan ... yum. But what about me, what do I get to eat -- or even more fun -- how can the whole meal be vegetarian and still a crowd-pleaser??

Sure, there are easy answers - eggplant (so NOT a favorite in this house, and, yes, I've tried it many, many times) or chicken replacement patties (that name just cracks me up!). Yikes, with those options maybe we should just have pasta!

I can do this! I know I can - I can vegatize this family favorite of ours. How about some zucchini? That's already in the fridge going bad ... can't hurt to try.

Kathie's Vegatized Parmesan:

2 small zucchini, washed and sliced into rounds
2 egg whites, beaten

1 cup spaghetti sauce (jar or make your own, if you are ambitious!)
3/4 cup mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Amount to taste:
salt
pepper
oregano
parsley
basil

1) Preheat oven to 375
2) Lightly spray 13 X 9 glass pan with cooking spray (Love the Olive Oil sprays!)
3) Prepare coating by combining bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and as much of the spices as you like
4) Dip zucchini slices in egg, then bread crumb mixture. Place each slice on baking sheet.
- Repeat, and repeat, and repeat until your zucchini is breaded
5) Bake 10-15 minutes, until bottoms are brown. Flip and bake 5 more minutes.
6) Top each zucchini patty with a spoonful of sauce and mozzarella cheese, bake additional 5 minutes



Yum! Of course this is great with some pasta on the side.. and no Italian meal is complete without garlic bread too!

Now, I can't guarantee all the kids will eat it without complaint - but mine did! And that's all I can ask for!

P.S. Even if they do grumble - think of how healthy it is for them. Feel free to point it out, over and over and over and over ...

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