Endless Zucchini
Posted: 7/20/2009 2:31 AM
It seems every day, there's another zucchini waiting to be picked. And if you skip a day, that zucchini will nearly double in size! I like to pick them while they're still small--no more than 8". If they get too large, they get "seedy". It's incredible to think that we've harvested nearly nine pounds of zucchini so far, with plenty more on the way. All that zucchini came from a single seed I planted back in late March. I see people buy six packs of zucchini plants at the nursery and wonder what they could possibly do with all the zucchini they'll harvest. One zucchini plant is more than enough for most families.
In addition to zucchini, this past week we harvested lots of tomatoes, string beans and the first three cucumbers. Look how big the cucumber plant has become--it fills up nearly half the trellis.
Like the zucchini, the cucumbers also grow quickly. But, they're harder to find among the large leaves. Today I noticed a giant cucumber that I didn't even know was there yesterday. With so many cucumbers coming, we're thinking about making pickles. Next week, I'll post a cucumber recipe or two.
The bell peppers are finally turning from green to red. In another day or two, the transformation will be complete. Maybe we'll use them for a Mexican dish.
Here are three excellent zucchini recipes that I prepared this week: Zucchini Lasagna (www.recipezaar.com); Chocolate Zucchini Cake (www.epicurious.com); and Zucchini Frittata (www.recipezaar.com). The three dishes are completely different from one another and all very delicious!
The corn should be ready in a few days--yeah! Next week, I'll share what I've learned about harvesting and preparing home-grown corn.