Zucchini Beef Bake

4 small zucchini
1# ground beef
1/2 C. chopped onions
1 1/2 C. bread crumbs
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp thyme
1/8 tsp pepper
1 Tblsp butter
1 Tblsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 c. milk
1 -5 oz jar hickory flavor processed cheese(have been unable to get this and use instead about 1 cup any kind hard cheese,shredded, and add about 2 tsp-1 TBLsp smoke liquid-hickory or plain flavored smoke)

Cut zucchini into 1/2 inch slices. Seam 4 minutes(not any longer as looses color) and drain. Brown beef with onion. Drain fat.
Stir in bread crumbs, salt, thyme, pepper. Remove from heat and set aside. Make white sauce by melting butter adding salt and flour and adding milk. After it comes to boil add cheese and liquid smoke. Stir and allow cheese to melt til smooth and thick. Add meat, crumb, onions mixture. Place in casserole-alternating layers of zucchini and meat mixture. Place crumbs and butter mixture on tap if you wish. Bake without cover for 35 min. at 350.

Depending on your desired thickness, the white sauce could be thicker or more cheese added. Also depending on smoke taste, more or less liquid smoke can be added. I like this cassrole best if it is somewhat formed but creamy and notice that steaming vegetables for short time; using small zucchini; and adding cracked wheat bread crumbs help this. I have not yet cracked just wheat and softened it with 11/2 cups boiling water and letting it stand before adding to the meat mixture but I think it would be great as with just the cracked wheat bread it is crunchy and very nice texture especially for adults needing fiber. Also I'm going to try Red River Whole Wheat Cereal sometime. If you use larger zucchini remove seed core. Be sure skin is not tough.