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Stuffed Zucchini with Vegetable Rice and Cheese recipe with step-by-step images

Summer offers so many wonderful kinds of fruits and vegetables that I don’t even know where to look first or what to grab.

What a wonderful time of year.

I wish there was a country where they have summer all the time.

Or wait …is there a country like that?

Is there?

Then I’m moving right now!

Anyway, these days I just walk through the supermarket aisles and wait excitedly which one of the luscious beauties will speak to me first.

This time it was zucchini and – mmmm – was that a good choice. It allowed me to prepare this truly light, healthy, playful and flavorful dish.

Your body will thank you if you make it too…

Stuffed Zucchini with Vegetable Rice and Cheese recipe with step-by-step images

The ingredients are – as usual with me – very simple.

‘Cause I like simple…

Stuffed Zucchini with Vegetable Rice and Cheese recipe with step-by-step images

1. First, wash the zucchinis and cut them in half lengthwise.

2. Then, using a spoon, scoop out the flesh and set it aside.

Stuffed Zucchini with Vegetable Rice and Cheese recipe with step-by-step images

3. Place the zucchinis into a baking pan…

Stuffed Zucchini with Vegetable Rice and Cheese recipe with step-by-step images

4. …sprinkle them with salt and drizzle with some vegetable oil (if you want to go super-healthy here, then use olive oil).

5. Pop the baking pan into the oven which you have preheated to 350 F (175 C) and bake for about 10 minutes only.

Stuffed Zucchini with Vegetable Rice and Cheese recipe with step-by-step images

6. In the meantime, chop the flesh you have removed from the zucchinis into little pieces.

Stuffed Zucchini with Vegetable Rice and Cheese recipe with step-by-step images

7. Peel and chop the onion.

Stuffed Zucchini with Vegetable Rice and Cheese recipe with step-by-step images

8. Drizzle a frying pan with a little oil.

9. Add the onion, the zucchini flesh, season it with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper and fry, stirring constantly, for about 10 minutes.

Stuffed Zucchini with Vegetable Rice and Cheese recipe with step-by-step images

9. Then add you wonderful, colorful vegetables and fry for another 10 minutes (or until soft).

10. Cook the rice in the vegetable broth.

The picture above shows the initial stage of the rice cooking. When the rice is cooked it should have absorbed all the liquid.

Stuffed Zucchini with Vegetable Rice and Cheese recipe with step-by-step images

11. Grate the cheese.

I am using Edam here; you can choose any cheese that you like or have in the fridge.

Stuffed Zucchini with Vegetable Rice and Cheese recipe with step-by-step images

12. Now combine the vegetable mixture from the frying pan with the rice and 1/2 cup of the grated cheese.

You can even add a few drops of Worcester sauce – it will ‘lift’ the taste slightly and accentuate the other flavors.

Stuffed Zucchini with Vegetable Rice and Cheese recipe with step-by-step images

13. Stuff the zucchini halves with the rice mixture and cover the top with the rest of the grated cheese.

Stuffed Zucchini with Vegetable Rice and Cheese recipe with step-by-step images

14. And now, just for kicks, sprinkle the whole thing with yummy sunflower seeds (or pumpkin seeds if you prefer those).

The seeds add an interesting and surprising twist to this dish, just try it, it’s fun…

Stuffed Zucchini with Vegetable Rice and Cheese recipe with step-by-step images

15. Put the stuffed zucchinis back into the oven and bake them at the same temperature (350 F – 175 C) for 20-25 minutes.

Stuffed Zucchini with Vegetable Rice and Cheese recipe with step-by-step images

It’s delicious, I’m telling you.

A scrumptious, light summer dish.

Yum!

Enjoy, dear friends.

(This recipe makes 2 portions.)

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how to make darkened edges Photoshop picture tutorial, how to create dark vignette in Photoshop step-by-step tutorial

I have something to admit.

There are only few things in this world that I love more than this photo editing technique.

I know, it sounds strange, but right now that is exactly what I feel.

Tomorrow everything might change, especially if I find a new, amazing technique that will fill my heart with joy.

But today I feel like applying a vignette to all the photos that I’ve ever made.

Please, somebody, come and stop me.

how to make darkened edges Photoshop picture tutorial, how to create dark vignette in Photoshop step-by-step tutorial

This is what my picture looked like before.

It is a lovely tomato from my Mom’s garden. Actually, that’s what my diet consists of mostly these days.

how to make darkened edges Photoshop picture tutorial, how to create dark vignette in Photoshop step-by-step tutorial

And this is the same picture after I applied the vignette effect.

Adding a vignette to an image basically involves adding a subtle (or not so subtle) edge effect to it.

A popular vignette technique involves darkening the edges of your image which gives the image a slight border and helps keep the viewer’s eye in the photo.

In other words, the darkened edges make your subject stand out.

Well, who wouldn’t love that?

Let me explain this technique in particular steps – they are very, very easy.

NOTE: I am using Photoshop Elements 8 here (but I suppose that this method works fine with any photo editing program that supports layers and adjusting opacity).

how to make darkened edges Photoshop picture tutorial, how to create dark vignette in Photoshop step-by-step tutorial

1. Open your image in the photo editing program using FILE -> OPEN… .

2. Open a new layer using LAYER -> NEW -> LAYER.

how to make darkened edges Photoshop picture tutorial, how to create dark vignette in Photoshop step-by-step tutorial

3. There are 3 subsequent steps here:

1. In the right-hand layer palette, make sure you click on the top (newly added) layer (it should be darkened now).
2. In the left-hand tools palette, click the Elliptical Marquee Tool (if the Rectangular Marquee Tool is preset then right-click on your mouse and choose the elliptical shape, though it’s actually up to you which shape you choose).Also, have a look at how the ‘feathering’ is set in the upper bar. I had it set to 14. It will determine how strong and defined the border of the vignette will be.
3. Click and drag over the picture to create an oval shape.

how to make darkened edges Photoshop picture tutorial, how to create dark vignette in Photoshop step-by-step tutorial

4. Click SELECT -> INVERSE to invert your selection so the border area is selected .

You will see ‘marching ants’ around your picture now.
how to make darkened edges Photoshop picture tutorial, how to create dark vignette in Photoshop step-by-step tutorial

5. I am describing another three subsequent steps here:

1. Make sure that the foreground color is set to black (if not then just click the letter ‘D’ on your keyboard).

2. In the left-hand tools palette, click the bucket tool.

3. Click anywhere on the border area to fill it with black.

how to make darkened edges Photoshop picture tutorial, how to create dark vignette in Photoshop step-by-step tutorial

6. Now click SELECT -> DESELECT.
how to make darkened edges Photoshop picture tutorial, how to create dark vignette in Photoshop step-by-step tutorial

7. And finally, in the layer palette, adjust the opacity of the border layer to any value you like.

(Though I didn’t do that myself now – at this point, if you find the border too hard – you can also choose FILTER -> BLUR -> GAUSSIAN BLUR and use a high radius value to blur the edge of the border and soften it.)

8. Click LAYER -> FLATTEN IMAGE and then save your new picture.
how to make darkened edges Photoshop picture tutorial, how to create dark vignette in Photoshop step-by-step tutorial

I like it!

how to make darkened edges Photoshop picture tutorial, how to create dark vignette in Photoshop step-by-step tutorial

Hm, what do you think…will you give it a try?

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