Oct 19 2009
Veggie Crisp.
I decided to give veggies another chance this week and created a ‘Vegetable Crisp.’ Reason for the name would be - directly before I made this I made an apple crisp (recipe coming soon..). So guess what I ate while making the veggie crisp?
No clue why I don’t like veggies…
I began by roasting some garlic, because this I do like.
I figured if I smash a ton of stuff I enjoy on the veggies, I may be able to force ‘em down. Healthy stuff, that is. Because what I really want to smash on is bacon, cheese, buttered croutons and cheese. And bacon.
Since these sat on the dining room table for 7 days, I decided to give them some love.
I toasted up 4 slices of Ezekial bread to make Ezekial bread crumbs. Super easy and healthy trick. You should try.
As I was posting these pictures, I realized that I turned on the oven to toast these slices of bread. I do have a toaster. What was I thinking? I am losing my mind.
Sometimes my camera is posessed. I took this picture horizontally, and it came up vertically.
I don’t know how to fix this, so please contort your neck to see the correct view. Thanks.
The bread slices went into one of the loves of my life – my mini food processor.
I heart this appliance.
Veggie. Booooo. Hiss.
A verb to go along with my dislike of veggies: cutting them. They are such a pain. They act like this on purpose. They don’t want me to like them.
Chopped butternut and acorn squash, and eggplant.
Along with my occasional dislike for bread, I also don’t like tomato sauce.
I don’t not like it, but I would never choose to eat it or order a dish at a restaurant.
Salt, pepper and smoked pap.
I could almost eat smoked paprika. By itself.
Is that weird?
Diced tomatoes to make a bit of a ‘sauce.’
Cheese. The major food group in my life. Not dairy. Just cheese.
Veggies mixed with breadcrumbs and cheese. Oooooh. Ahhhhh.
Don’t worry. This is just layer number one.
The garlic, roasted.
I squeezed the cloves out and mashed them. I figured it would be easier to incorporate this way.
Before baking.
I could probably skip the veggies. I could eat a casserole of cheese, roasted garlic, and breadcumbs. That is where it’s at.
Good news, folks. I enjoyed this!
It had great flavor and I loved the crispy texture.
I even had a second bowl! And multiple spoons out of the baking dish.
I am a double dipper. I guess the American Spoon people had it right.
Let’s hope this doesn’t fail me this week for dinner as my previous veggie attempts have. If so, I am giving in to a world of fruit, chocolate, bacon and cheese. And bacon.
Veggie Crisp
1/2 butternut squash, chopped
1/2 acorn squash, chopped
1 eggplant, chopped
2 heads of garlic, roasted
2 slices of Ezekial bread, toasted and made into bread crumbs
1 small can petite diced tomatoes
1/2 cup parmesan cheese (or more. lots more…)
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika
Preheat oven to 375.
Add chopped veggies to a baking dish coated with cooking spray. Toss with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Add diced tomatoes and roasted garlic and stir. Toss with 1/2 of bread crumbs and 1/2 of cheese. Layer the remaining bread crumbs and cheese on top.
Bake at 375 for about 40 minutes, or until veggies are soft.
That sounds and looks really good!
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Mmmm…yum!
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That is always good news when you realize you liked what you made!
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Lovin’ all the roasted garlic action!
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I still would have added the crumbled bacon to the top!
For veggies I don’t normally like on their own, I make into bisque with fat free half and half!
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That sounds like a great idea!!!
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This does look really good. I love winter squashes, and with roasted garlic? Even more yum.
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Yum! That looks awesome. Did the eggplant get soft too? Sometimes I have trouble with it and it turns out chewy.
Looks delish!
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The dish sounds great! I’m glad you liked your veggies! I actually love most veggies, but cheese is the best! Yes, cheese is a food group of it’s own!
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this looks absolutely DELISH! garlic is ze best! and i could DEF live the rest of my life on cheese alone
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The minute I saw that roasted garlic I knew I would like this dish! But then I like veggies a lot too- especially with garlic and cheese! Good work!!!!
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I am so trying this recipe! yumminess!
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This looks super delicious, Jess!! YA to you for “sneaking” in those veggies. Good hint, too, with the Ezekial bread.. I have never used that kind for bread crumbs before!
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thanks for the idea of using the ezekial bread as breadcrumbs! i did that in my turkey burgers I made tonight! it worked great!
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glad you liked your veggies!!! and to answer your question on my blog about downtime with acting, i do enjoy it, but only after i’ve been working on something. when it’s been a while (and it has been more than a year for me, since i took last year off) it kinda sucks! as an actor you always think you’ll never work again. it’s not a good feeling!
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I use to HATE veggies! Somewhere along the way in my mid twenties my tastes began to change. Maybe yours will too!
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that looks really good! i love squash just plain, but of course everything is always better with cheese.
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Wow. I had no idea this existed! I want some.
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So. Damn. Creative!!! MY GOODNESS!
I already saw this this afternoon, but didn’t get the chance to sit down and comment properly. Well, I’m here, but I’m still flabbergasted by the sheer genius of this!
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I’m loving this idea:)
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you always make the tastiest dishes and i love your step by step directions with photos! This looks delicious! I maybe would add some ground turkey in there to bump up the protein but it sounds delicious!
roasted garlics are sooo good!!
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yummy! I’ve never thought of a ‘veggie crisp’. And I agree with the mini food-processor – I love mine !
Just found your blog through Jenna’s and it’s great. I started one myself and am trying to find my own niche. It’s hard, but I love writing, so hopefully it’ll make me happy
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This is one of the first times I’ve checked out your blog, but chick you are too funny. Love the bacon comments, especially since I often feel the same way about veggies!
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Glad you tried veggies again and liked them! great recipe – can never go wrong with lots of garlic!
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ahhh welcome to the dark side!!! i see a future veggie lover in you!
)
also, your email made me laugh hysterically! i loved it. your husband sounds like a great time & i feel honored he’d drunkenly yell out my blog name.
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Very cool recipe! the garlic scared me, but the end result is lovely
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that looks awesome!
and we just about eat smoked paprika on its own, too
not strange at all. That stuff is amazing.
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Good for you giving the veggies another try! A fantastic recipe
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That looks mouthwateringly good, thanks for adding the link for it on my blog!
My contorted neck and I really enjoy reading your blog, you are so funny.
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Those veggies look YUM! Expired buttermilk!!! You are soo brave
!
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