Wordless and "Wow" Wednesday

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The 'desert' side of the island of Lanai overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the island of Maui.

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Grilled Portobello & Cheese Melts with Smoky Red Pepper Mayo

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Eating healthier is such a challenge when it comes to preparing delightfully tasting, non-boring, and still good-for-you recipes.  Compound that frustration with the daily demands of university teaching, I need recipes that are not only delicious and exciting, I'd like them to be easy and fairly quick to prepare on weekdays after my hour and a half commute home.  After all, time is precious whether you work outside the home or not!  Plus, I just cannot wait to sit down and eat with my hubby!

In answer to that need, I picked up a wonderful cookbook that caught my eye last week.  The book is published by Cooking Light and seriously, I have not been able to put it down!  This paperback gem is titled "fresh food fast ~ ~ weeknight meals"  for 5-ingredient, 15 minute recipes.  I just didn't know where to begin cooking!

One other thing that I've been trying (with much difficulty) to do is decrease the amount of meat in my nutrition and increase my vegetable-based entrees.  I am not a vegetarian, and really have no plans of ever adopting that type of diet, but simply want to increase my fruits and veggies as recommended.  After all, if you look at some of the healthiest cultures in the world, such as the Mediterranean where my Italian ancestors are from, you'd find that they eat with less meat.  On top of that, my relatives lived in the  mountains in northern Italy and were quite poor as a result.  It's funny how risotto and polenta, which were staples on both my parents' and my plates growing up, were once considered food for the poor in Italy, and which now are considered gourmet cuisine!  But little meat was ever on their plate, and super healthy they were!
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As usual, I have made a few of my own Roz-alterations to the original recipe, so this is what many call an "adapted" recipe.  I hope you enjoy this sandwich as much as I do.
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Portobella & Cheese Melts with Smoky Red Pepper Mayo

4 large Portobello Mushroom caps
Olive oil cooking spray
4 slices Provolone cheese (I added this and used low-sodium)
Finely shredded Mozzarella cheese
6 - 8 Tbsp. freshly grated Parmigiano-Regiano cheese (I increased this from 2 Tbsp.)
Smoky Red Pepper Mayo
4 whole-grain Wheat Sandwich Thins (I used wheat instead of white as used in the recipe)

Smoky Red Pepper Mayo

1/2 cup light Mayonnaise
3 Tbsp. bottled roasted Red Peppers (I increased this from 2 Tbsp.)
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed Lemon juice
1/ tsp. smoked Paprika
1 tsp. freshly minced Garlic (I increased this from 1/2 tsp.)

Heat up the grill.
Coat both sides of the mushroom caps with cooking spray.
Place mushroom caps, 'gill' side down, on grill rack also coated with cooking spray.
Grill for 7 minutes (not 5 as the recipe states) on this side and then turn the mushroom caps over.
With the 'gill' side now facing up, place a slice of Provolone on top of each mushroom cap.
Generously sprinkle the shredded Mozzarella cheese on top of the provolone cheese.
Generously sprinkle the Parmigiano cheese on top of the Mozzarella cheese.
Grill for 10 minutes (not 5 as the recipe states) or until cheese is golden and melted.

While the mushrooms are grilling, prepare the Smoky Red Pepper Mayo:
Combine all the ingredients in a deep bowl.
With an immersion blender, thoroughly blend them all together.

Assembling the sandwiches:
Thoroughly and generously spread the Smoky Red Pepper Mayo on each inner side of the sandwich thins.
Place the mushroom caps, cheese side up, on the bottom sandwich thin and then cover with the top sandwich thin.

Serve with forks and sharp knives, because these are HUGE and can be fairly messy!
SO INCREDIBLE!  Kudos to Cooking Light for the delicious inspiration,  perfect for both my blog's focus, and for all of our health!
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Cinnamony Zucchini Cake with Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting!

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.I realize that this is not the best quality photo, but it really is a cinnamony-brown-colored cake.

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I still have zucchini growing totally out of control in the garden, so I'm whipping up more of this incredible cake that we always look forward to every year.   Actually, this is one of hubby's favorite cakes, so moist and flavorful, and the frosting is so good!  Plus since it is a long weekend, and the temps are falling (and somewhat chilly in the morning!), I'm in the mood for baking something cinnamon-y, sweet, yet super simple for this time of year. A cake that came to mind to both use up some zucchini and at the same time, satisfy my anticipation of cooler autumn weather, is my fresh Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.  Oh, and it can be frozen too, so if last-minute guests pop by, you can have something ready for them (I've never frozen the frosting though).  Here is the recipe that I've been baking ever since 1979 . . . oh gosh, that was 30 years ago!

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Cinnamon-y Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
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What you need to make the cake and frosting:

For the cake:

2 cups grated zucchini

2 cups sugar

2 cups flour

3 jumbo eggs

1 cup oil (we use canola)

2 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

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For the frosting:
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2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 stick unsalted butter

1 small 3 oz. package cream cheese

1 tsp. butter flavoring
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What you need to do to make the cake and frosting:

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Mix all ingredients together for the cake. Stir well. Bake in 350 degree oven for 50 minutes.

For the frosting, beat all the ingredients together until light and fluffy.

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I just love the colors of this gorgeous, green and white shredded zucchini! So fresh and crisp!
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So after you make this, have a cup of your favorite flavored coffee or tea with a slice of cinnamon bliss!

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I hope that you ENJOY this cinnamon-y, creamy treat!!

Cinnamon-y Zucchini Cake With Buttery Cream Cheese Frosting

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