Zucchini Overload!

This week, Khalil offers up some fresh and easy ideas for summertimes most prolific vegetable--zucchini!

By Khalil Hymore

The best thing about joining my local CSA is not having to shop for vegetables each week. You really would not believe how much time that saves in the grocery store. Scott and I get a weeks worth vegetables for about $12 a week! For the most part the the selection hasn't been too monotonous, as can be the case with CSA's. So far we've received kale, spinach, radishes, salad greens, fresh garlic, and eggplant and it's been great.

The one item that we have gotten consistently every week is summer squash--zucchini, yellow crooknecks, and pattypans and frankly I'm sick of 'em! I'm completely overwhelmed and feeling frustrated by my zucchini bounty.  A quick internet search revealed these gems (Kayln's Kitchen has lots of ideas for using up an abundance of zucchini squash):

Zucchini Walnut Bread - This week I shared my Zucchini Walnut Bread recipe with you (I currently have about 3 bricks of it in my freezer) and as great as it is on it's own, it's even better toasted (or grilled!) and served with a heaping scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of hot fudge. You could even make muffins and then frost them and turn them into cupcakes.

Zucchini Carpaccio - I've been tossing chunks of zucchini with my salads for a while now, but this "salad" is a delicious and easy use of the tender summer squash. It's also extremely beautiful and impressive when plunked down onto the table for guests!

Zucchini Lasagna - There is nothing better than good old fashioned lasagna, but when summer vegetables are at their peak it's great to use fresh strips of zucchini in place of the noodles for a non-traditional twist.

Zucchini Gratin - Gratins are usually associated with winter vegetables--potatoes, cauliflower, or butternut squash, but summertime gratins and casseroles can be an easy way to use up an abundance of summer veggies, like zucchini. Try this Summer Squash Gratin recipe from 101 Cookbooks.

How are you dealing with your summer bounties--whether it be summer squashes, peaches, tomatoes, corn, or fresh peppers?