Grilled Zucchini with Chimichurri

You've probably noticed that recently I’ve published more zucchini recipes than usual. The reason is that we have so much zucchini in our garden that's begging to be harvested.

My favorite method by far for preparing zucchini is grilling. Since zucchini tends to be a little bland, in this recipe I flavored them with chimichurri sauce. This sauce consists of a combination of Italian parsley, pickled garlic, Champagne pear vinegar, lemon, lemon thyme, coriander and extra-virgin olive oil. I also topped the zucchini with a little queso fresco before serving.

Sardines with Sauce Verte

After giving birth, my doctor reminded me on multiple occasions to get enough calcium in my diet to support my own bone health. Of course, drinking milk and eating dairy products such as cheese and yogurt goes without saying. Another calcium supplement I like every now and then is sardines. They are tasty and very nutritious. I've always loved eating the bones, which are an excellent source of calcium. Unlike swordfish or King mackerel, sardines have a much lower mercury content. 

In this recipe I served the sardines on a bed of Parmesan crisps and flavored them with sauce verte. The green sauce is a very pleasant complement to the fish. It's made of green olives, capers, cornichons (tiny French gherkin pickles), lemon, garlic, Dijon mustard and extra-virgin olive oil. Next time you're looking for a snack packed with omega-3's and lean protein, you might consider making yourself this sardine treat.