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Zucchini and Ground Beef Bake and Monster Cookies
by Jes Mostek 		 

Recipes:
Empty the Cupboard Monster Cookies
by Jes Mostek
serves: 24
  These monster-inspired cookies give you a little taste of everything in one cookie! Also, this recipe gives you the flexibility to choose the mix-ins you have on hand.
Ingredients:
  2 c.   Peanut Butter, Chunky-Style
  1/2 c.   Butter
  1/2 c.   Crisco
  3/4 c.   Brown Sugar, firmly packed
  3/4 c.   Granulated Sugar
  4   Eggs
  1 tsp.   Vanilla
  1/2 tsp.   Salt (optional)
  2 tsp.   Baking Soda
  2 c.   Oats
  2 c.   Flour
  1/2 c.   Reese's Pieces
  1/2 c.   M & M's
  1/2 c.   Chocolate Chips
  1/2 c.   Coconut
  1/2 c.   Raisins, plumped
Directions:
  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, cream together peanut butter, butter, Crisco, and sugars. When well-combined and fluffy, mix in eggs, one at a time, and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, combine salt, baking soda, oats and flour. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until well combined.

Stir in Reese's Pieces, M & M's, Chocolate Chips, Coconut, and Raisins. If you prefer different mix-ins, use your own creativity to keep it to 2-2 1/2 c. total of mix-ins.

Roll or drop 2-inch balls onto a cookie sheet. Thoroughly flatten balls of dough as cookies will not spread very much at all. Bake 15 minutes, or until cookies appear dry. Romove cookie sheets from oven and allow to cool on cookie sheets, to continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes out of the oven before transfering to a wire rack to cool completely.

Note: If you are using natural peanut butter, do not mix in the oil first-- drain off and discard the excess peanut oil.

Zucchini and Ground Beef Bake
by Jes Mostek
serves: 5
  Similar to Eggplant Parmesan, made with zucchini. With the hearty addition of ground beef, you now have a protien-inclusive, well-rounded meal.
Ingredients:
  2 c.   zucchini, chopped
  1/4 c.   olive oil
  1 med.   onion, chopped
  3 cloves   garlic, minced
  1 1/2 lbs.   ground beef
  3 T.   Italian seasoning
  1   egg
  3/4 c.   parmesan cheese, grated
  1 tsp.   salt
  1/2 tsp.   pepper
Directions:
  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

In a large, heavy-bottomed skillet, heat the olive oil and saute the zucchini, onion & garlic (1/2 tsp. = 1 clove) for 5-10 minutes, until zucchini starts to turn transparent.

While the zucchini mixture cools a bit, combine, in a separate bowl, the beef, cheese, egg, and spices. Then add the zucchini mixture and stir with a large spoon or your hands, until well-combined.

Transfer the zucchini-meat mixture to an ungreased 9" x 13" pan, and cook at 400 for 50 minutes.