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| More Zucchini, Anyone? |
Today, I took the last dose of the antiviral medication. Now, let's hope it does what it is supposed to do and I can feel the effects sooner rather than later! It has been another pain-free day and, although I spent most of the day in bed, I did walk around the house a little bit!
Today's high light was the second zucchini harvest! M was here in the early evening to tend to the garden and he picked eight more zucchini! Plus a peach that had fallen. He tried a piece of daughter's peach pie and said it was very good.
While I was standing by the backdoor, talking to M, we noticed that the serrano chilli plant had been nibbled on and one of the tomato plant cages had fallen over. I also noticed the white bunny hopping away from that area when M went to raise the tomato cage - wonder if that was just a coincidence! Hey, Bun-Bun, the chilli plant and tomato plants aren't meant for you! I wonder if it is time for a scarecrow to make an appearance in the garden? Would the neighbor's rabbit pay any attention to one?
We are very pleased with the zucchini harvest, so far! What an abundance! Such a blessing! Not only do we have some homegrown vegetables for ourselves, we are able to share with our friends, too! So far, our offers of zucchini and peaches have been accepted with pleasure.
I grated some of the zucchini that was picked earlier in the week and froze them, in packages containing two cups of grated zucchini each. It is at times like these that I wish I had a second freezer! I've also read that you can dehydrate zucchini, and while I don't have a dehydrator, I could try dehydrating them in the oven.
Lunch had been a cold cuts sandwich that daughter made for me before she had to attend a training workshop that lasted most of the afternoon. Dinner was rice, chicken curry, broccoli, and sliced zucchini that had been steamed for two minutes in the microwave - it was crisp, yet tender, and I think I've discovered a new favorite way to have zucchini! Dessert was a slice of peach pie!
Today, I am grateful for:
- Finishing the course of antiviral medication without any noticeable adverse side effects
- Another pain free day
- The garden bounty!
- M tending to the garden
- My daughter tending to me
Today's joyful activities included harvesting the zucchini and being able to offer some of the garden bounty to friends.
No firm plans for the weekend; I'm still taking it one day at a time. But, I hope I might be able to do some knitting, tomorrow.
How was your Friday? What are your plans for the weekend?
It's good news that you've had another pain free day. Let's hope you've turned the corner now and things will improve for you. Is your foot still swollen?
ReplyDeleteI've never tried freezing courgettes, so that's interesting. It'd be a useful addition to the freezer. Is this something you've done before or just a trial to see how it works out?
I spent most of yesterday (Friday) working in the garden but will have a quiet day today, just pottering at home. I want to cook some chicken I took out to defrost but haven't decided what to make yet. The finished result will be frozen in portions and I will also make a soup/broth with the odds and ends of vegetables and freeze that as well.
Thank you, Eileen. No, my foot is no longer swollen. Still numb, but, not swollen.
DeleteI have frozen grated zucchini before. They get rather watery when thawed, but, I use them to make zucchini bread and the moisture gets absorbed. Lady Ella mentioned in a comment that she has frozen courgettes to add to soups.
Sounds like you'll have a busy day cooking, today. Hope you find a good recipe for the chicken.
I baked some of the chicken to eat cold with salad for the next two day's meals, and made hunters chicken and tandoori chicken to portion and freeze. 😊
DeleteYes, I cut them into chunks and freeze raw. They do tend to get mushy when thawed, but you can just about get away with roasting them if you don't mind an aubergine-like texture. I toss in oil, honey and balsamic vinegar, and roast with peppers, carrots, squash, sausages... anything that is going really!
DeleteTo make soup, I let the chunks thaw and then boil them in their own water with a little oil, herbs of choice, chilli if wanted and a couple of stock cubes. When really soft, mash with a potato masher and blend. Add more water, cream cheese or whatever else you like. Makes a really tasty, glossy soup!
Now that sounds delicious! I had to look up hunters chicken and I think I would like to try that, one day. :)
DeleteI also read, online, that blanching the zucchini pieces before freezing cuts down on them getting mushy when thawed.
DeleteToo lazy! And not worth it for soup. I do it religiously for runner beans because it makes a real difference to the quality and I love runner beans.
DeleteJust remembered: last year I froze thin slices of courgette to add to fried rice/stir fries etc. Worked well ... although the slices were inclined to stick together in the freezer bags, but it wasn't a massive problem.
I need to find more room in my freezer! I was reading up on dehydrating zucchini. I don't have a dehydrator, but, they can be dried in the oven - at low temps for 7-8 hours! Not sure if I want to go that route, though!
DeleteWith 12 plants, if I'm remembering correctly, I see a lot more zucchini in your future. I finally found a spot for a couple of zucchini plants yesterday. We'll see if they survive the multiple bunnies we are seeing.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are at least 12 plants! It might even be 14! I think I was supposed to thin them out - I transplanted 4 that were thinned out but the others were left in place because I couldn't attend to the garden. M has been feeding them and tending to them and they are growing like never before! Not sure how well they will survive once the temperature rises, but, so far, our temperature has been mild.
DeleteOh, I hope your zucchini plants will survive the bunnies! Can you put something like a tomato cage around them to try and deter the bunnies? At least until they become established?
What a beautiful harvest! You've done really well with the zucchini Bless. I hope you have a nice weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha. I hope you, too, have a nice weekend. :)
DeleteI'm so happy to learn that you have had another pain free day. The rest and anti-viral medication must be paying off. Those fresh zucchini look lovely and you are making good use of them sharing them and freezing some for later. I haven't tried steaming zucchini, usually I saute slices in butter.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bushlady; I'm hoping the meds are working. I am glad that the garden is producing enough to share. People have been so kind to me, I feel that this is a small way of thanking them and returning the favor. I, too, usually saute the zucchini in butter, but, steaming them in the microwave for that short time left them crunchy.
DeleteAnother great harvest. I didn't realise you could freeze zucchini, as only yesterday I needed to throw one on the compost. X
ReplyDeleteThank you! The plants are producing like crazy! I love it! I have only frozen grated zucchini to use in zucchini bread, but, you can freeze slices and pieces, too (I've read that you should blanch them first).
DeleteI agree, apart from the satisfaction of successfully growing veg to eat, one of the nicest things is being able to share the surplus. Glad you are getting such a good harvest. I've found the recipe and put it out ready to scan.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lady Ella. Sharing the bounty of the garden is a nice way to repay the people who have been so kind and generous to me, especially over the past year. Looking forward to the recipe. :)
DeleteI’m glad you had another pain free day, Bless.
ReplyDeleteThe other day I saw zucchini mallung recipe on YouTube. 😊
Thank you, Nil. Yes, I, too, found a zucchini mallung recipe on YouTube, yesterday, and showed it to my daughter, too. I think we might try making it! :)
DeleteI like the bit where you say "so far, our offers have been accepted with pleasure"! G always says people's faces are elated early in the season, and by the end they are running away when they see her coming!! I don't think it is quite true... I for one gladly accept the offerings, and share them around if too much. (Sometimes she deliberately gives enough to pass on.)
ReplyDeleteHa, ha, I've heard about people leaving bags of surplus garden produce on other people's doorsteps and running away! :D I've still a few people to offer zucchini to! I honestly don't know how the zucchini plants will fare once the temperatures climb up to the upper 90s and 100s. I've a feeling they won't continue to produce as many zucchinis in late summer.
DeleteAnd you haven't seen me when I have a glut of lemons! I've been known to leave boxes of them at the temple, give bags of them to staff at the pharmacy and the doctor's office, hand them to strangers riding the elevator (lift) with me, and even mail them to blog friends across the states! :D
Hahaha. Lucky elevator companions! I bought some lemons today, because they were on special offer and I thought they'd be handy to have in the freezer for marmalade.
DeleteI wonder if you could find needy/willing takers via Freecycle. I have received surplus rhubarb and grapes, for example, via the site. I often see people offering apples and plums, when in season, too...
That's a possibility. I haven't participated in Freecycle, though, for various reasons. The temple has been a good place to drop off extra garden produce. Or, I can leave stuff by the drive way with a "Free" sign.
DeleteWe are just at the beginning of the garden harvest, but it looks like there is going to be a lot of zucchini again!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your zucchini harvest! May you, too, find lots of willing recipients for them! :D
DeleteReading through the comments I see you planted possibly 14 zucchini plants. I don't remember that! You are going to have so much zucchini. I will look forward to seeing what you make with your abundant harvest.
ReplyDeleteWith my new sunshine let in from the removed trees, I have potted up 6 tomato plants and also planted a potato slip from my gardener neighbor that is growing nicely
Also I've planted some basil and parsley.
Not a lot but it's exciting to grow food.
In my defense, I didn't expect them all to grow! The last time I planted zucchini, I think I planted 6 seeds and only one plant survived to produce two zucchini! I've another neighbor and a friend lined up for the next zucchini harvest! LOL. I think once the temperature climbs up, the plants will stop producing.
DeleteSounds like you've the beginnings of a nice vegetable garden, with the tomatoes, potatoes, and herbs. Maybe next you, you might find yourself planting more!
Hope you are having a pleasant Sunday and the coming week will be a good one.