Bacon a good ingredient to help spice up zucchini

If you’re still trying to keep ahead of your garden zucchini or the neighbors are offering you some, take it. Here is a great recipe to put it in.

Bacon Zucchini Bake

3/4 cup chopped onion

3 cups thinly sliced unpeeled zucchini

1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained

1 tablespoon Splenda Granular

1/2 cup bacon bits

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon dried fine bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with olive oil-flavored cooking spray. In a large skillet sprayed with olive oil-flavored cooking spray, sauté onion for 5 minutes. Stir in zucchini. Continue to sauté for 5 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce, undrained tomatoes and Splenda. Add bacon bits and Italian Seasoning. Mix well to combine.

Spread mixture into prepared baking dish. In a small bowl, combine Cheddar cheese and breadcrumbs. Evenly sprinkle crumb mixture over top. Bake for 30 minutes. Place baking dish on a wire rack and let set for 5 minutes. Divide into 6 servings.