• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cut zucchini in half and scoop out insides. Place zucchini pulp in a bowl to reserve for later.
• Drizzle about 1 T. olive oil over the insides of the zucchini and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper over each.
• Place zucchini on a baking sheet, inside-up, and bake in preheated oven for 7-8 minutes.
• In a medium-large sauce pan, place olive oil, onions, garlic, salt and pepper. Saute for 2-3 minutes over medium heat.
• Add Italian sausage and cook over medium heat for an additional 8 minutes, or until sausage is almost done.
• Measure out 1 c. of the reserved zucchini pulp. Coarsely chop and then place in the pan with the sausage. Cook over medium heat for another 2-3 minutes, or until zucchini becomes soft.
• Reduce heat to a simmer and add spaghetti sauce. Once mixture is heated through, fill each zucchini boat with equal amounts of the sausage mixture. (Each boat will get about ¼ c. of the mixture.)
• Top each zucchini boat with Mozzarella and 6-8 small pepperonis.
• Return zucchini to the oven and broil for 2-3 minutes, watching closely so the cheese does not burn.
• Top with fresh parsley and Parmesan and enjoy!

Notes:

Want to make them healthier? Substitute half of the Italian sausage for ground turkey, chicken or tofu. Just know they will not have the same robust Italian flavor! Also, you can use turkey pepperonis instead of pork pepperonis.

Want to kick it up a notch? Try adding a bit of sriracha to the spaghetti sauce or using hot Italian sausage instead of mild.

Want more veggies? Top each pizza zucchini boat with roasted onions, bell peppers, mushrooms and olives for a more "grown-up" meal!