Monday, June 28, 2010

Zucchini!

When I was younger, my grandfather on my father's side (Nonno) had this HUGE vegetable garden. My cousins and I spent the majority of the day outside when we visited, feasting on rhubarb, blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries during the day. At dinner came the veggies he grew.

I have always wanted my own garden, have attempted one a few times. Once, I thought I was going to be quite successful until the dog somehow got around the fencing and tore it to shreds. It is NOT attractive to see an adult woman sobbing in piles of dirt that is scattered with the remnants of her garden. I will confess to being so furious, I'm amazed the dog lived to see another day.

This year, I decided to try a few garden "pots." Lo and behold, with next to nothing in care arrives the ZUCCHINI!

A favorite of mine is this zucchini soup, which I found on a blog* this past year and tried and absolutely LOVED. If you're into cold soups, it might work. If not, save this recipe until you have too much zucchini and don't know what to do with it. It freezes beautifully and tastes yummy. No squishy zucchini here, it is pureed smooth.

And for those of you on Weight Watchers, I think I remember reading it was a WW soup.


Cream of Zucchini Soup

• 1/2 small onion, quartered

• 2 cloves garlic

• 3 small zucchini skin on cut in large chunks

• 32 oz fat free chicken or veggie stock (I use veggie)

• 2 tbsp lite sour cream ( I use the real stuff)

• salt

• pepper
Combine chicken broth, onion, garlic and zucchini in a medium pot and cook on medium heat.Bring to a boil, lower heat, cover, and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes.

Remove from heat.

Add sour cream. Purée with an immersion blender, until smooth. Or, in a regular blender being VERY CAREFUL not to fill the blender more than 1/2 full.

Stir in salt and pepper to taste.

Top with parmesan cheese.

Let me know if you try it and like it.


* - and as soon as I remember which one, I am going to thank them for posting it!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Eggs

This past Saturday morning was a gorgeous day. While Hubby was at work, I headed off the the Farmer's Market. Not my usual market, but on Sunday we would not be home to attend the usual one. However, I did enjoy this mini market, and came home with everything I had set out to get.

I stopped for some farm eggs on the side of the road on my way home. Back at the house, I make myself a yummy omelet of carmelized onion, mushrooms, broccoli and provolone cheese with some home fries made from leftover roasted potatoes from last night's dinner.

I would have taken a picture, but a dead camera battery prevented me. Please be satisfied with this pic I took after the camera battery charged.

I sat on the deck and started this book: Fourth Tenths of An Acre, I'll let you know how it goes.