Summers Bounty

I was blessed with a basket of zucchini last week. This is always a wonderful month

for receiving all sorts of produce from my gardening family and friends.

So, if you can stand another recipe or two...

First I grated up a few of the zucchinis, if you have a mandolin for this

it makes life much easier this time of year.

On the web I found a recipe for:

 Mom's Zucchini Bread

www.http://allrecipes.com/recipe/6698/moms-zucchini-bread/

I substituted half a cup of apple sauce for half a cup of oil and

it still came out nice and moist.

It makes two generous loaves one for now and one to freeze.

I also, for the first time, made zucchini fritters and they will be making a repeat showing.

 I served them on top of a roasted tomato slice sprinkled more 

parmesan cheese and drizzled balsamic syrup over.

This recipe came out of a cookbook named simply:

Vegetarian

edited by Nicola Graimes

Metro Books

3 1/2 cups grated zucchini

2/3 cup parmesan cheese

2 eggs beaten

4 tablespoons unbleached all purpose flour

vegetable oil for frying

salt and pepper

Squeeze the grated zucchini in a towel to get any excess water out, then combine with

the parmesan, flour, salt and pepper and eggs.

Heat enough oil to cover the base of a large frying pan. Add 2 tablespoons of the mixture 

for each fritter and cook for two to three minutes each side until golden, drain on paper towels.

Yummy!

Susan - DiGilio Designs

St. Patrick's Day Crafting and Snacking Round-Up

It's been a long, cold, snowy winter and I'm personally in a cold weather funk. One way to get the creative juices flowing is to break out the crafting supplies and try out some new ideas - along with some delicious snacks.

Here is a round-up of some fun St. Patrick's Day crafts and snacks.

1. Lucky Penny Letters

photo credit Made by Marzipan

This copper-colored LUCKY sign is something you could keep up all year, but it's also a great leprechaun St. Patrick's Day decoration.  It just uses paper mache letters, pennies, paint and glue.

Full tutorial here at Made by Marzipan


2. Pot o' Gold Cereal Snack

photo credit Yummy Healthy Easy.

Similar to Chex Mix, but sweet and made with Lucky Charms!

Full recipe here at Yummy Healthy Easy.


3. Shamrock Shoes

photo credit by Andres Hurtado / Magic of Ireland

Go thrifting (or maybe dig through your grandfather's closet) and find an old pair of "leprechaun" shoes. Pots of clover can be bought at a garden store, or easily grown yourself (germination is just a few days) and plopped into the shoes. Only catch? Clover needs warmth so this decoration will have to stay indoors if it's still cold where you live. 

4.  Guinness and Cheddar dip

photo credit The Parsley Thief

Beer and cheese. A match made in heaven. This dip has just a few ingredients and can be made in your food processor. It only calls for 1/4 cup of Guinness beer so, sorry, you'll have to finish off the bottle so nothing goes to waste.

Full recipe here at The Parsley Thief

Ryan - Lil' Mint and WickedMint

The Bounty of My Garden

The desire for a medium sized backyard vegetable garden turned out to be too daunting of a project for this summer.

To placate myself for the lack of one garden plot, I cleared a patch of ground outside of our back door. I planted herbs, spread wild flower seeds, and planted one Tomato plant, and one Cucumber plant, in a large galvanized container. In a front yard garden plot, I planted Zinnia seeds, spread wild flower seeds, transplanted Daisies, Black Eyed Susans, and tended to the Roses.

I am still hoping for that medium sized vegetable garden next summer, and intend to begin digging it before the frost starts.

There was something so satisfying about watching the tiny plants and seeds that were planted by my hands, mature into productive plants and flowers of vivid colors. Also satisfying is being able to utilize the bounty from my small garden for summer cooking.

Here is a recipe that is simple, and the ingredients can be adjusted as desired. The amount of each ingredient should be changed according to portions being prepared.


Garden Herbed Potato Salad

Ingredients:
Potatoes of any variety // amount according to portion size
Celery // amount according to portion size
Onion // sweet, red, or yellow variety
Fresh herbs // suggested: Sage, Parsley, Tarragon, Thyme, Chives, Dill, Cilantro
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/8 tsp. Fresh ground pepper
3/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup Vinegar ( I used Apple Cider Vinegar )
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. Prepared Mustard ( I used Yellow organic Mustard )


Peel and cut the potatoes into 1" chunks, and place in a pot with enough water to cover the potatoes. Boil until tender. Rinse and let cool. Chop celery, and onion. Mince herbs. In a lidded jar, add salad dressing ingredients and shake well to mix. Mix up potatoes, herbs, celery, and onion in a bowl. Pour dressing over the potatoes, just enough to wet the mixture. Correct the seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve.

Jenny - Reclaimed Designs

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Egg-free Irish Soda Bread

Because two people in my family are allergic to eggs, I've had to look for baking recipes without eggs.   I keep this scone-like bread in a plastic bag after it cools so it will stay moist.

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

4 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter

1 tsp salt

1 tsp soda

1 tbsp caraway seeds

1 cup raisins

2 cups buttermilk

Chop up butter with flour, sugar, salt and soda in food processor.  Pour mixture into a bowl and add caraway seeds, raisins, and buttermilk.  Should be a very soft, almost runny dough.  Pour out onto a greased baking sheet and with floured hands shape into a circle.  With a knife cut a cross on the top.  Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or just until a toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool, slice, and serve!

Jody

www.astudiobythesea.etsy.com