Heavenly Recipes

Heavenly Recipes

Christy Voisin

Christy makes a: HEALTHY CASSEROLE

Story and Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier

This month’s heavenly recipe, zucchini pizza casserole, comes from Christy Voisin, who was born and raised in East Houma. Christy says that she grew up as a parishioner of Annunziata Church and received almost all of her sacraments there. She is still a parishioner of Annunziata. Christy, an only child, grew up in a devout Catholic family. Her mother Anne taught religion at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral School for 29 years. Her father Kervin, a life-long member of the Knights of Columbus, is a fourth degree knight in the Our Lady of the Good Voyage Council 7722, Grand Caillou, and a third degree knight at Annunziata Council 10612.

Christy is a liturgical minister at Annunziata and belongs to various ministries in the parish. “I am an extraordinary minister, a member of the Altar Society and Ladies Auxiliary.”

Christy has been working at the Pastoral Center in Schriever for a little under two years as administrative manager and executive assistant to the chief operating and financial officer.

Over the past year Christy has experienced a transformation in her life. “During the pandemic I decided to get healthy and change my eating habits. A friend asked me to join Optavia, which is not a diet but a lifestyle change. Over the course of about a year this lifestyle change has helped me lose 74 pounds. In fact, the zucchini pizza casserole recipe comes from the Optavia plan. It is a low sugar, low carb diet.”

Christy says that she also had a support system to help her along the way to her weight loss. “There are priests and colleagues around the diocese who are also on the plan who are part of a support system. The plan does not include or require an exercise program, however with the extra energy that I started having, I began walking a mile every day on my lunch hour, then it

Zucchini Pizza Casserole

INGREDIENTS:

3-1/2 cups shredded, unpeeled zucchini (about 2 medium zucchini) 1/4 tsp. salt 2 eggs 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese 4 oz. reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese, divided 4 oz. reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese, divided Cooking spray 1/2 lb. 90-94 percent lean ground beef 1/4 cup chopped onion 1-14.5 oz. can Rotel 1 small bell pepper (any color), chopped

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place zucchini in a strainer, and sprinkle with salt. Let stand 10 minutes, and then press to release moisture. Combine zucchini with eggs, parmesan cheese, and half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Press mixture into a lightly greased baking dish (9 x 13). Bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the beef, onions and bell pepper in a medium skillet until done. Drain any liquid and then stir in tomatoes. Pour beef mixture over the zucchini and sprinkle top with the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 20 minutes or until heated through.

gradually increased. Now I run three miles around three to six days a week. It has changed my life.” Christy enjoys working at the Pastoral Center and working for the diocese. “I have always heard from my mom that it was great to work for the diocese. I felt an instant connection with the people when I came to work here. I actually got to know everyone very quickly. Over here it is a family first atmosphere.”

Christy doesn’t have children. She does have a love for dachshunds. She has one named Bijou. She also has a goddaughter named Katelyn. She is an active member of the Mardi Gras Krewe Aquarius where she is float captain and an executive board member. BC