A couple of months ago I stumbled across this curious little kitchen appliance while cleaning out mycupboards. I had placed it in theGoodwill pile because 1) I didn’t have a clue what it was and 2) It was left over from Jer’s bachelor days, I’d never seen it beforeand…I didn’t have a clue what it was. Jer walkedin and saw my progress,immediately on hyper-alert due to his slight hoarding tendencies (he denies this, emphatically). He glanced overthe giveaway section,his eyes stopping on the appliance.

“What are you doing? This isn’t going to Goodwill,” he said,

“Um, yeah it is. Get out, ” I answered frominside the cabinet.

“Mindy, you can’t get rid of this. It was expensive.”

“Okay…we haven’t used it once in ourten years of marriage. I think it’ll bealright,” I said.

“Do you even know what it is?” Jer asked.

“Um, yeah. It’s a kitchen appliance.” Duh.

“Yes, it is. But what does it do?” he asked, in that I-already-know-the-answer and you’re-a-dumbass kind of way.

“I don’t know, Jer. Okay? Now, get out. You’re in my way.”

“It’s a food processor.” What?!?! Stop the presses! You mean, we own a food processor and I didn’t know it? I scurried out from inside the cabinet and excitedly looked at my brand “new to me” appliance. I immediately started looking for stuff to chop. You guys, that thing is awesome. I honestly cannot figure out how I survived years of cooking without it. Okay. That’s a bit of an overstatement. I haven’t really been cooking, per se, for years and the types of dishes I typically serve up really aren’t that involved. But, all that being said,afterdiscovering this little miracle worker I haven’t turned back since.

After finding this recipe I decided to prepare it for dinner one night.My food processor was working overtime. I was processing things like nobody’s business. I threw in some zucchini and watched that thing shred into a bazillion pieces. I even called my husband in to watch.

I yelled, over the whir of the moving blades, “Jer, get in here! Quick!”

“What? What’ s the matter?” he asked, frantically.

“Okay, watch this,” I said, feeding the zucchini into the machine.

“Um, alright. What am I watching?”

“Duh. Look how cool this thing is!” I answered, smiling proudly at the shredded proof of my handiwork.

“It’s a food processor, Mindy. That’s what it does.” He gives me that you’re-a-nut-case look and shakes his head.

“Yeah, I know, Jeremy, but it’s pretty awesome. God, you’re a buzzkill.”

“Um, okay. Anyway. Happy food processing Mindy!” he says as he walks out of the kitchen,condescension oozing out of his pores.

Even with the slight distraction ofall that unnecessary sarcasm (thank you, Jer) I banged out one awesome dish…a’la my new best friend, the food processor.

So, without further ado I present to you…

Zucchini Cornbread Casserole Recipe

• 4 cups shredded zucchini (shredded in the…food processor!!)
• 1 chopped onion (chopped in the…you got it…food processor!!)
• 1 diced red bell pepper (diced in the…okay, I’ll stop.)
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 (8.5 oz) pkg dry corn muffin mix
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded monterey jack

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees; grease a 9×13 casserole dish.
2. In a large bowl, mix together zucchini, onion, bell pepper, eggs, muffin mix, sour cream, salt and pepper. Stir in half of the cheese. Spread mixture into your prepared dish; top with remaining cheese.
3. Bake in your preheated oven for 60 minutes. Enjoy!

Serves 8.

**This recipe can be altered several ways. Add green chilis and jalapeno or substitute pepper jack for a spicy kick.