Oh yes! Something else to do with all the zucchini onslaught! It was good. It was simple. And everyone from small children to old men seemed to like it at today's café. 

Breaded Zucchini Sticks

• Cut zucchini lengthwise into wedges (six-eight per zucchini).
• Dip in egg.
• Roll in breading mixture (a box of purchased bread crumbs, some garlic powder and parmesan cheese, and a little parsley).
• Place on olive-oiled baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes at 350. 

Serve with Simple Marinara:

• Sauté some onions and garlic
• Add add some Italian seasoning (we had just had some fresh basil, oregano, and thyme given to us by friends).
• Stir in some canned, crushed tomatoes.
• Bring to a boil then turn down to a simmer. 

Enjoy your victory over today's zucchini fusillade. The war will surely be lost. 

We made that name up yesterday to distinguish the stuffed zucchini we were serving at the this week's café from the stuffed zucchini we served at last week's café. Zucchini is clearly living up to its reputation in these parts, showing up in baskets and bags from friends, in office breakrooms, and in our farmers market bin. So be it. 

It was fun to make and nice to look at, and the season is young. Everyone liked this one a lot. Here's a casual recipe:  

Ingredients:
onions
bell peppers
garlic
Cooked black beans
grated cheese
a little homemade, quick pico de gallo

Directions: 

Cut zucchini in half and scoop out the seeds and some of the pulp (for small round zucchinis like we had, you can cut off the top like a pumpkin before scooping out the innards. Place zucchini cut-side down on an oiled baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile saute onions, garlic, and green peppers tll onions are transparent. Add some chili powder and stir around for a minute. Drain black beans and mix with onion mixure. When zucchini are tender, stuff with black beans, cover with grated cheese and put back in the oven for five minutes or so, till cheese is melted. Garnishing with a little homemade pico de gallo adds some piquancy as well as some festive color. 

Quick Pico de Gallo: 

Quartered cherry tomatoes (because they are so flavorful), cilantro, finely diced jalopeno - or hot pepper flakes, or neither - and a little onion, a squirt of lemon, lime, or (in our case, this week) sour orange juice, and some salt. 

Buen provecho!