Zucchini!

[LoboGunLeather]

My zucchini plants are in full blossom. About 5 years growing this same strain, so I know that I will start getting zucchini in about 10 days.

Very late spring this year, overnight temps in the low to mid 30F range well into May. I was not able to set out my seedlings until May 14 and have been a little concerned about the prospects. This week our days are 101-103F and sunny, so everything is growing like crazy. A 2-leaf cucumber start 4 weeks ago now has 2 feet of vine and blossoms starting. 3-4" tomato starts are now 18" up and ready for the cages. Pepper plants look like they are actively competing with each other.

Here are a couple of things I'm looking forward to:

Stovetop Italian zucchini:
-young zucchini sliced about 1/4" thick
-your favorite spaghetti or marinara sauce, brought to a boil in a sauce pan (I like garlic & basil. For a variation add 1 teaspoon ground oregano during the steaming for extra aroma and flavor).
-turn off the burner, add zucchini to the sauce pan, cover and let it steam for about 10 minutes
-serve as a side dish, sprinkled with romano or parmesan cheese (also good served over pasta)

Zucchini strips:
-young zucchini quartered lengthwise, cut into finger lengths
-place on aluminum foil
-sprinkle lightly with olive oil
-sprinkle with garlic salt
-sprinkle with parmesan cheese
-wrap foil tightly, set on top rack of the grill while cooking your main course (steaks, chicken, ribs, whatever)
-remove from heat after 15 minutes, serve hot

Grilled zucchini:
-young zucchini quartered lengthwise, cut into finger lengths
-add a strip of fresh goat cheese to each piece
-wrap each in bacon
-cook on the grill over moderately high heat until bacon is crispy.
-some folks like these with a creamy ranch dressing dip

About the worst thing we can do with zucchini is to wait until it has grown into something ready to appear in a science fiction movie. I like them when they reach the size of a beer bottle, about a pound each. After they get much bigger (they will grow to 5 or 10 pounds) about all that can be done is strip the seeds out and grind them up for making zucchini bread, and that is where my wife takes over.

 

[bigwheelzip]

My zucchini plants are in full blossom.

Mom used to make outrageous batter-dipped zucchini flowers.

 

[sureshotbob]

My wife makes a really good zucchini soup with stewed tomatoes ,onion ,egg noodles and a stick of butter !
The recipe is very easy just cook the onion in the butter then add the stewed tomatoes with the juice add the diced zucchini some chicken or vegetable stock and Italian spice then add the egg noodles at the end if you like you can add a dash of parmesan on top .
Also she takes a loaf of Italian bread cuts it in half with garlic powder and mozzarella then toast it in the oven till the cheese melts.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Ruthie makes a wonderful veggie casserole with zucchini, butternut squash, tomatoes and onions with a crust of cheese and crushed kettle chips.

I'd also stack her zucchini bread (along with her pumpkin bread) against anyone's.

 

[Rudi]

I have several Zukes coming on. The entire garden is going Gonzo.

 

[Pig Hunter]

Around here later in the season you have to lock your car doors or you will end up with a backseat full of zucchini ! I do like zucchini bread with raisins and chocolate chips. My lovely bride makes it and I don't know the recipe.

 

[Tubbsy]

They make a great casserole, and even better pickles....

 

[SS336]

My wife makes zucchini bread too.

 

[robvious]

I slice them into 5/8" thick rounds.. salt to draw water out... pat dry... marinade overnight... grill and place a piece of sharp cheese on to melt... yummy... will edit later with recipe...

recipe added... let me know if you can't read it... make it your own if you are missing anything

 

[ACP230]

I was listening to the radio on our place outside Ontonagon, MI one afternoon. The announcer said, "And now, as the great tide of zucchini creeps across Wisconsin..." and the station went off the air.

I always figured the zukes covered the station and got him. A bad
way to go, I think.

We grew way too much zucchini in an early garden. I have avoided
it, as much as possible, since. Give me yellow crooknecks and not
too many of them, either.

 

[moosedog]

Chocolate Zucchini Bread made with Ghirardelli Cacao Chocolate and a cup of coffee.

 

[spricks]

Yep, we grow alot of the veggie and use it in all the ways posted so far.
The really big ones that get away from us are cut in half length way and enjoyed my chickens....they leave only the outside skin that curls up and ends in the compost pile.....good veggie we always grow.

 

[Kinman]

Mom used to make outrageous batter-dipped zucchini flowers.

Thats my favorite way to eat zucchini...Krusteaz pancake mix and flat beer, along with a couple Walla Walla sweets onion rings.

 

[Greyman50]

Try 1/4” slices with chopped sweet onions, cut in half small portabella mushrooms, cleaned red, orange and yellow small sweet peppers cut in 4 pieces, about pound of broken off asparagus cut in small pieces all cooked in air fryer on french fry setting.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

I grew so many last year from four plants that the boss around here
forbid me to plant any this year.

 

[Greyman50]

Have to wait til get my own place , then I’ll have a garden, can’t wait. Any you guys grown butternut squash? Talk about good pies and bread.

 

[SMSgt]

When I lived in Spokane, WA, my little backyard garden produced more zucchini and beefsteak tomatoes that we could ever eat. I used to take grocery bags of both to work at the AF base for my troops, and all of it would disappear in a hurry. Glad to put them to good use.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Friends don't let friends grow zucchini.

Don't be that guy that shows up at someone's house with a shopping bag full of zucchinis.

I suppose I sound like someone that was bitten by a zucchini as a child, but no. I framed my response to zucchini because my FIL was the guy with the bags of zucchini and my wife cooked it - repeatedly.

I like it well enough, but eat anything too much...

 

[raisedin99]

I will always remember what a friend, Stanley Orms used to say about zucchini.

According to Stanley it was always easy to tell when zucchini was in season as
all the car doors in the church parking lot were locked.

terry

 

[Marshwheeling]

It may have been Shel Silverstein, or if not him somebody in the same vein, who wrot and illustrated a poem called “The Zucchini will get you, if you don’t Watch Out”.

My favorite is kousa with zum, the Lebanese stuffed zucchini served with the thin broth.

No matter how many zucchini you grow, you can’t possibly grow enough in one season to prepare one example of every zucchini recipe out there.