Fresh Garden Recipes
July 20, 2022
With Ingredients From Your Garden
Chili-Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Ingredients
- 6 medium zucchini
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (more for brushing)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt separated by ½ teaspoons
- Black pepper to taste
- 1¾ pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- ½ to 1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and chopped
- 2 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 8-ounce can tomato sauce
- ¾ cup water
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro (more for garnish)
- 1½ cup grated cheddar cheese
- Sour cream and sliced scallions
Time
- Prep time: 25 minutes
- Cook time: 50 minutes
- Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400°. Cut the ends off of the zucchini and slice in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, remove the seeds and hollow out the centers. Brush with olive oil and season with ½ teaspoon salt and some pepper. Set on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add beef, stirring and breaking up the meat. Cook until browned.
- Add the onion, poblano, chili powder, cumin, cayenne, garlic powder and ½ teaspoon salt.
- Cook, stirring occasionally until the vegetables start to soften.
- Add the tomato paste to the skillet and cook until darkened, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomato sauce and ¾ cup water. Reduce the heat to low and simmer about 8 minutes, until very thick. Stir in the cilantro and let slightly cool.
- Fill the zucchini boats with chili and sprinkle with cheese. Cover with foil and bake 18 to 20 minutes, until the zucchini is tender. Uncover and bake 10 to 15 additional minutes until cheese is golden. Top with sour cream, scallions and cilantro.
Watermelon-Tomato Salsa
Ingredients
- 1½ cups chopped red onion
- 1 cup chopped cantaloupe, peeled and deseeded
- 1 cup chopped watermelon, peeled and deseeded
- 1 tomato, seeded and chopped
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Time
- Prep time: 25 minutes
- Total time: 4 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
Directions
- Mix all ingredients into a large bowl.
- Season ingredients with salt and black pepper.
- Refrigerate a minimum of 4 hours before serving.
Everything-Cucumber Smoked Salmon Bites
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons poppy seeds
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon dried minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried onion flakes
- ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, plus small sprigs for topping
- ½ large cucumber
- 4-ounce package sliced smoked salmon, cut into 2-inch strips
Time
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Total time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
Directions
- Add the poppy seeds, sesame seeds, dried minced garlic, onion flakes, salt and pepper into a small bowl and then mix to prepare the everything seasoning. Note: you can purchase everything seasoning at your local grocery store as well.
- Place the sour cream into a small bowl; add the dill and mix.
- Peel the cucumber, leaving a small strip of skin remain between each peel (similar to a striped-design). Slice the cucumber ¼ inch thick on the bias, about 16 slices.
- Spread around ½ teaspoon of the sour-cream mixture on each cucumber slice.
- Fold the smoked salmon pieces and place on top of the sour-cream mixture.
- Sprinkle with the everything seasoning and add the dill sprigs.
Blueberry-Basil Limeade
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 5 cups water
- 3 large sprigs fresh basil (plus more leaves for garnish)
- 1½ cup fresh lime juice (about 12 limes)
- 6-ounce container blueberries
Time
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Total time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Directions
- Heat sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Leave on stovetop until the sugar has dissolved.
- Add 3 sprigs basil to saucepan. Remove saucepan from heat and let steep for 30 minutes.
- Strain into a pitcher, discarding the basil. Add in the lime juice, 4 remaining cups cold water and stir.
- Chill a minimum of 4 hours or until ready to serve.
- Add the blueberries to the pitcher before serving. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with basil leaves.
Building a Home and Community for Vulnerable Veterans
We are pleased to present the candidates for the 2026 GBU Life Board of Directors election.
As Chief Financial Officer, part of my role is to help ensure GBU Life remains financially strong, provides good value to its members and is able to meet future benefit obligations.
GBU Life members between the ages of three and nine years old can enter their colored page in this year's contest, which is themed The Golden Hour.
Is It Time to Update Your Will?
October 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025
2025 Financial Impact Report
Practical Tips to Organize For Your Well-Being
Rest as a Form of Productivity
Each year, we set aside time to deep clean and organize our homes. But when was the last time you set aside time to organize your finances? We sat down with GBU Life Home Office agents Leah Teahl and Dominic Nicciai to learn about the benefits of an annual financial review and how you can get started.