“Raise your hand up high if you LOVE French Fries!! Tell me how many times you have dipped your fingers into that warm basket, swearing you were only going to sample one eensy, weensy fry. But, before you knew it…well the rest is history. Since deprivation is not my thing, I am here to push that guilty feeling aside because finishing is OK, as a matter of fact it’s totally acceptable. This is one recipe that you are going to make time and time again and it will be a PERFECT hit on Father’s Day!”
Serves 8-10
Ingredients
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3 large OR 4 small green zucchini, stems removed, sliced in half and then lengthwise into small sticks (you should get about 16 sticks per zucchini)
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1/2 cup egg beaters
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1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
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1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
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1-2 cup plain Panko or whole wheat Panko bread crumbs (use more as needed during preparation)
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1 teaspoon oregano
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1 teaspoon basil
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1 teaspoon dried parsley
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1 teaspoon garlic powder
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1 teaspoon salt
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Ground pepper to taste
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1 cup low-sugar marinara sauce
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1/2 cup park skim mozzarella cheeese
Directions
1.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
1.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2.) Spray 1 large cookie sheet and set aside.
3.) Create a breading station with 3 separate shallow bowls to work with. (Kids love this part!)
3.) Create a breading station with 3 separate shallow bowls to work with. (Kids love this part!)
4.) In the first bowl mix together the flour with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
5.) Pour the egg beaters into the second bowl and in the third bowl combine the panko, bread crumbs, basil, oregano & parsley.
6.) Now working in small batches of 5-6 zucchini sticks, dust them first with the flour mixture continuing to dunk them into the egg beaters. (Let extra drippings fall off)
5.) Pour the egg beaters into the second bowl and in the third bowl combine the panko, bread crumbs, basil, oregano & parsley.
6.) Now working in small batches of 5-6 zucchini sticks, dust them first with the flour mixture continuing to dunk them into the egg beaters. (Let extra drippings fall off)
7.) Lastly roll each zucchini stick into the Panko-Parmesan crumbs until fully coated.
8.) Repeat the process with the remaining sticks until each one is lined up onto the prepared baking sheet.
8.) Repeat the process with the remaining sticks until each one is lined up onto the prepared baking sheet.
9.) Bake for 15-20 minutes OR until golden brown.
10.) Remove the sticks from the oven and sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top of each one. Place back in the oven for 3-5 more minutes until cheese has melted.
11.) Warm the marinara sauce in the microwave or in a small sauce pan. Serve in small bowls or cups to use as the dipping sauce. Enjoy!!
11.) Warm the marinara sauce in the microwave or in a small sauce pan. Serve in small bowls or cups to use as the dipping sauce. Enjoy!!
*I suggest not using all of the bread crumb mixture at once because it can get mushy from the egg; do it in 3 different rounds.
