Author: Gritcooking- A Southern Girls Taste

I was raised on a large farm in a small community of Long Shop, Virginia. Just a stones throw from Blacksburg, Va and a short drive to the WV boarder. I grew up appreciating Appalachia cooking with low budgets and home grown veggies. What honestly tastes better than a warm tomato out of the garden sliced fat with salt and pepper? Maybe a bowl of good brown pinto beans and cornbread. Or even better grilled trout fresh caught from the creek! My childhood was a dream... and what has made my passion for food- sharing good meals with good friends and loved ones. My food always has a story and always in sizes to share. Im a county girl with a lot of love to share. Girl raised in the South cooking- that's me! GRITCOOKING! I hope you enjoy and please, share and give feedback on what you like or wanting to know more on. Much LOVE always.
Entrees, Garden, High Protein, Poultry, Vegetable

Zucchini boats w Italian Chicken Sausage

Gritcooking- A Southern Girls Taste

What a simple lowfat option for those large zucchini’s coming from the garden this time of year. Trying to keep my eating more lowfat and clean Im forced to avoid my favorite fried zucs.this was so easy and delicious! Its also lowfat!

  • Large zucchini
  • Italian chicken sausage 98 percent ff
  • Chopped 1/4 cup each onion, red bell, green bell, cored center of zuc, two. Garlic cloved
  • Tsp garlic powder
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup italian seasoned breadcrumbs
  • Two springs fresh basil stemmed and chopped
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • Jared marinara sauce
  • Parm and or mozzarella shreaded

Cut ends and then lenghtwise zucchini

Pending size half to fit baking dish

Carefully core out soft centers fine chopping half for meatloaf mixture.

Mis meat, chopped veggies, seasonings , egg breadcrumbs together and form into loafs on sectioned squash. The sausage already is heavy seasoned and simply delicious!

Arrange over 1 cup sauce in cooking dish.

Sprinkle w parmasean optional

Bake 400 degrees 40 minutes

Cover with mozzarella and bake 5 more minutes to melt.

Served over whole wheat basil pasta

Angel hair wholewheat pasta is so delicious and a bit lighter than the white flour version . I cook according to the box and then toss w olive oil, crushed chopped fresh basil and salt and pepper

Simple delicious!!

Traditions

A Love Story and Duck?

Gritcooking- A Southern Girls Taste

Let me start this sweet tale around a delicious recipe telling you who the love story is about. Let me introduce my baby brother Brandon and his lovely wife Ly.

A wedding to remember

They were childhood friends that rediscovered that they made a great lifelong team. They have moved some distance to Michigan chasing careers, far away from the family in Texas and pretty darn far from me in Oregon. But sharing a sweet call, email or recipe keeps us close. I chuckled when I got a call “ hey sis??? Have you made duck tacos? “ 😂 uhhh no? Duck? Do tell. Hope you enjoy. This is a multi-day process.

Well here is what this couple enjoys together in the kitchen. Photos and recipe compliments of my little brother and his sweetheart. I love you both!

Duck Confit Tacos

INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons salt

1 teaspoon whole juniper berries

4 skin-on bone-in duck legs, Frenched (see note)

6 cups duck fat

4 sprigs thyme

2 ¼-inch round slices of lemon

2 fresh bay leaves

1 head garlic, split in half horizontally

In a small bowl, combine the salt and juniper. Place the duck legs on a parchment-lined sheet tray and season liberally with the juniper salt. Cover with plastic wrap and chill overnight or for up to two days.

Remove the duck legs from the refrigerator and rinse and pat dry. Using a paring knife, make small pricks all over the skin. Melt the duck fat in an 8-quart Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer reads 200°. Add the duck legs, thyme, lemon, bay leaves and garlic and cook, maintaining a temperature of 190° to 210°, until the duck legs are very tender and there is no resistance when pulling the bones, about 2 to 2½ hours.

Carefully remove the duck legs and set aside. Strain the duck fat through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl, leaving any cloudy liquid behind. Place the duck legs in a 4-quart Pyrex dish; pour the strained fat over the top until it covers the legs by 1 inch; cover and chill. The duck legs can be used right away or stored for up to a month. (Refrigerate the duck fat for other uses, such as frying potatoes or sautéing greens.)

To serve, heat the oven to 400°. Remove the duck from its storing liquid and place skin-side up on an aluminum-lined sheet tray over a wire rack. Cook until golden brown and crisp, about 30 to 35 minuets.

Shread meat and assemble on warm tortillas and fresh lime sweet onion and cilanto.

Love is in the air…