Baked Zucchini Fries with yummy ranch dipping sauce – fun and easy side dish that’s healthy and delicious!
So I apologize for being sort of a lazy blogger lately…but things blew UP this weekend.
Friday night, my hubby called me and said his stomach had been hurting all day. Not sure if you remember, but a few months ago, I ended up taking him to the ER due to severe stomach pains. That time the pains lasted a good 8+ hours and then disappeared. But when my guy says it hurts, he’s not messing around.
Anyway, the pain escalated from about 5pm to 11pm and he started vomiting this green bile stuff (all Exorcist-like) and I knew I had to take him in to see someone. I drove him to a 24-hour urgent care, (where he threw up in the parking lot) in which the wait was a lovely 2 hours. Yeeeeah, that wasn’t going to work. So, we drove to the same ER that I had taken him to a few months before.
I couldn’t believe the pain he was in. He couldn’t sit up in the passenger seat of our car and couldn’t stand up straight while walking. He wanted to throw up just about every time he moved or walked around. His stomach was constantly in pain.
Luckily the hospital was able to get him in to get an IV pretty quick (fyi, found out he has a heart rate of 41. All the nurses thought that was pretty cool! I guess average is 60.)
They wheeled him into an exam room (where he threw up again) and then covered him in blankets. His teeth were literally chattering and he looked pale and yellowish. I was so scared. I honestly wasn’t sure what was going on. He was out of it and had a hard time answering questions due to the pain.
They brought him back for a CT scan and gave him morphine and anti-nausea meds, which seemed to help. He fell into a fitful sleep for a few hours while we awaited the CT scan results. At about 3:30am , the doctor came back in and told us that he had appendicitis and was going to need surgery.
I was relieved to know what it was but freaked out too! This kind of thing NEVER happens to us. In all our 12 years of marriage, Cory had never been to the hospital until a few months ago, and never needed surgery before! Just so crazy.
He had surgery the following morning and everything went well. They took out the appendix laparoscopically, so he only has three little incisions on his stomach. He stayed in the hospital for a night even though he didn’t want to. 😉 We got him back home on Sunday and he’s recovering well. Maybe a little TOO well!
Basically, he’s crazy. Today he cleaned our deck off, edged our lawn and went on a family bike ride with us. He is feeling good but I’m trying to remind him to take it slow! His definition of “relaxing” is different from mine. He likes doing things to relax, whereas I like doing nothing to relax. Ha!
But either way, I am so relieved it’s over and he’s feeling good. I feel so grateful for good health and good doctors. Also, for good friends that offer help in so many forms. Thanks for all the prayers and happy thoughts! I hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend and were able to spend some time with your loved ones!
On another note – zucchini fries!! I’m super excited to share this recipe with you! Ever since I shared a batch of veggie fries with a friend at Cheesecake Factory, I knew I had to make some myself. I love zucchini and I wanted to try and find a way my boys would actually eat it without putting up a fight.
These fries are healthy, easy and totally delicious. I baked them and then made a ranch dipping sauce with Greek yogurt for some added health benefits and protein. Boy, is that combo the best: fries & ranch. Yum.
Zucchini Fries with Ranch Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup powdered parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 2 tsp. all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup milk
- 4 medium zucchinis
- 1/4 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- 1 1/2 tsp. dry ranch dressing mix
- 1 tsp. milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425º F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray or use parchment paper to cover the bottom of the baking sheet.
- In a medium bowl, add the breadcrumbs, parmesan, garlic powder, italian seasoning, salt, pepper and flour. Mix together.
- Cut the ends off the zucchini and slice in half lengthwise. Then cut each half into fourths. Then cut each of the long pieces in half again crosswise to make matchstick-type fries.
- Pour the milk in a medium sized bowl. Dunk the zucchini sticks into the milk and then dredge into the breadcrumb mixture. Place on the baking sheet in a single layer and repeat until all zucchini are coated.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.
- In a small bowl, combine Greek yogurt, dressing mix and milk. Serve golden brown zucchini fries with dipping sauce and ENJOY!
That’s so scary! I’m glad he’s feeling better now.
These zucchini fries look so good! I never buy zucchini because I never have any recipes but now I finally have a reason to buy some!
Oh my goodness, Jen! What a scary ordeal! I’m so glad that everything turned out ok and hope your hubby will get the rest he needs!
These fries – yum! I’m super excited to try them! With recipes like this one, I’m always curious to see if my kids will eat them. Sometimes they will, and sometimes they won’t – they can be picky and I just never know. We’ll see! 🙂
Your zucchini fries look so golden brown and crispy — this is my kind of snack! Greek yogurt is the best for dips, too. 🙂 That’s scary what you went through with your husband, and I’m glad he’s doing ok!
This is fantastic, Jen! Love it!
I’m so sorry he was in such pain. That is so sad! I was really relieved to know it was something so treatable though, and clearly he is doing better now! I hope he heals OK with zero rest!
These fries are gorgeous, Jen! xo
Oh no, so sorry to hear about your hubby! But praise God, he’s doing well! Thanks for taking the time to share this awesome recipe. It looks absolutely scrumptious! Blessings, Kelly
How scary!!! Thank the LORD he is doing well.
Those fries do look tasty.
I’m so glad he’s okay Jen!! How scary! And those fries look SO FLIPPING GOOD!
I’m so glad he is ok! Not knowing what it was would be terrifying. Haha, those nurses thinking 41 was cool cracked me up 😉
I’m definitely saving this recipe for when our zucchini plant explodes like it did last summer and rains too much zucchini on us. I’ve never tried it this way but wow does it look amazing!
Good thing you took him in! It’s so scary when our “strong” husbands are withering in pain. So glad things turn out and Cory is recovering.
Oh Jen! I’m so glad the hubs is ok! And yes my husband’s the same way were I’m more like you 🙂 I always have zucchini coming out of my ears in August so I know I have to try these!
Do you grow zucchini on that farm of yours, Julie?! 😉 I hope you get the chance to try these – they are SO good! Thanks Julie!!
Jen, I’m so glad your hubs is ok! Mine is never sick either, I’d be scared out of my mind! Oh man though, these fries. YUM!
Ugh! So sorry you had to go through this, Jen!! I had appendicitis when Ellia was a baby so I can totally relate to how AWFUL it is and what your hubby was going through! (I’m also just like him when it comes to “relaxing” – haha!) These fries could definitely get me to sit down and take it easy, though….delicious!!!
Oh my Jen, that really does sound scary! Thank goodness he’s fine now and “relaxing”!!! I probably wouldn’t be out riding my back, but getting people to fetch me things! These zucchini fries look outstanding!! I’ve been wanting to try these!!
Oh wow, thank goodness this didn’t happen while you were in Miami. Glad he’s doing better.
Oh Cathy, I know! I kept thinking that as I was in the hospital with him! That would have been so bad!! Thank goodness he’s better now and it’s all over with. Thanks Cathy!!
Zucchini fries… yum! Dipped in ranch… yes, please!!
I really loved your fries! They were delicious, healthy and so easy to make.Can’t wait to try the potato salad.Hope I can find the dressing on the east side. Thank you so much
Let me know if you have a hard time finding the dressing! I love that potato salad. And aren’t these fries to best?! They make me feel guilty when I eat them and then I remember that they’re baked and made from zucchini! Such a double win! Thanks for stopping by!
5/5 people at the dinner party agreed… these are fantastic. My only changes were I didn’t use a nonfat yogurt and I added an egg with the milk to dip the zucchini in so the dry mix would stick better.
Woohoo! So happy you loved these!!
what type of milk for the zucchini fries and ranch** 2%?
Hi Kristina! I used 1% milk but I’m sure any kind would work okay!
Please consider asking your husband to have a colonoscopy as well. Just to be on the safe side. Colin cancer can mask itself for years and cause a host of other problems. Not to worry you, but I just want you to be safe.
This is a good idea. Thanks for this, Megan!
I am so happy your husband is ok now. Those times can be really scary. I enjoy your recipes and your website. Stay safe. Judy Holub
Thanks so much, Judy!