Onion Bite

Photo via SarahLee Foodservice

Our family goes out for bagels almost every Saturday.  If you frequent Einstein Bagels and order the non-savory varieties (blueberry, poppyseed, cranberry, etc.) like we do, something will become apparent.  That something is what we lovingly call, "The Onion Bite."  The onion bite may sound foreign to you, so let me explain:  Imagine you've ordered a blueberry bagel with strawberry cream cheese (my standard order), you are enjoying it until, quite unexpectedly, you take a bite and it doesn't taste like the previous bite, it tastes like an onion bagel.  The horror!

I've posted this photo before, I still like it.

We don't know why this phenomenon occurs, but have discussed it at length. Do they work all of their dough on the same surface so that a portion of the blueberry dough picks up some of the onion? Do they store the onion bagels too close to the blueberry? Is it actually the cream cheese that is contaminated? Where did this errant onion flavored bite come from??  We don't know, so we've decided to make it a game.  You win the game if your bagel miraculously is missing the onion bite.  You also win if your onion bite comes at the beginning of the meal thereby allowing you to eat the rest of your bagel in peace.  You lose when the onion bite comes at the very end, ruining the entire bagel eating experience.  I hate it when I lose...

So, are we the only people who have noticed the onion bite?  It's entirely possible that we're just weird like that. 

Have a  Happy Day!

~MJ

Easy Recipe: Zucchini Casserole

There are a lot of people out there who turn up their noses at casseroles.  Apparently, they aren't an "in" food anymore.  I hear that they haven't really been in since the 60's.  I think this is a travesty.  I grew up with two different casseroles that I love to come back to for a simple, quick and delicious meal. 

I've decided to share my family's zucchini casserole recipe. It is one of those comfort meals from my childhood. There's nothing high brow about this recipe, but it is a great way to use up all of that extra zucchini you are undoubtedly growing this Summer. 

Zucchini Casserole

1 C shredded carrots
6 C cubed zucchini
1/4 C diced onion
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 6 oz package stove top dressing mix (pork)
1/2 C margarine or butter
1 C sour cream
1 C cubed fresh or canned turkey or chicken

Method:

Cook onion, carrots and zucchini in a large pan until tender.

Mix sour cream and soup into veggies.

Melt butter and stir into stuffing mix.

Place half stuffing in bottom of buttered casserole dish.

Pour veggies on top. Top with remaining stuffing.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

As simple as that.

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ