Spicy Zucchini Boats

(andrea's note..recipes for vegetarian sausage crumbles at bottom of recipe to replace sausage if wanted.

Spicy Zucchini Boats 
1 pound hot Italian sausage links, casings removed
4 small zucchini trimmed and each cut lengthwise in half 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
2 plum tomates, chopped

1- Preheat broiler.

2- In 10-inch skillet, cook sausages over medium-high heat approximately 7 minutes or until browned, break sausages with side of spoon.

3- Meanwhile, scoop out pulp from zucchini halves, leaving 1/8 inch-thick shell; coarsely chop pulp.

4- Place shells, cut side up, in microwave-safe baking dish.

5- Cook in microwave oven on High for 3 minutes or until fork-tender.

6- With slotted spoon, remove sausages and place on paper towels to drain.

7- Discard all but 1 Tablespoon of fat in skillet.

8- In remaining fat, cook zucchini pulp over medium-high heat for 4-minutes or until very soft and almost all liquid has evaporated.

9- Remove skillet from heat; stir in sausages, bread crumbs and all but 1 Tablespoon Parmesan.

10- Fill zucchini shells with sausage mixture.

11- Place zucchini in broiling pan (without rack); top with tomatoes and sprinkle with reserved Parmesan.

12- Broil 5 minutes or until tops are browned and tomates are heated through.

Vegweb's Sausage Crumbles

2 T. soy sauce or Tamari
1 teaspoon sage
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
salt, to taste
1 cup boiling water
1 cup textured soy protein
2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1. In a bowl, mix together the first 9 ingredients (through salt). Pour the boiling water over the mixture.
2. Pour in the textured soy protein, mix with a fork, and let stand for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Taste to see if more seasonings need to be added.
3. Put oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add mixture, and fry until well browned. (you may need to add extra oil if the pan becomes too dry).
You now have delicious sausage crumbles! They taste great on pizza, in spaghetti sauce, and with scrambled tofu eggs.