Zucchini

This post is in honor of my sister, Megan, who has been so patiently reading about my exploits as a chicken butcher. She is a vegetarian so it can't have been too interesting, or even fun, for that matter. I have been meaning to do this for a while but I was waiting for some zucchini to be big enough for a picture. Because what would a post about zucchini be without a picture of that very thing?? THEN, I read this post by my other sister: Poohsticks: Backyard garden. Now it is going to look like I am copying. Or at least maybe rubbing in the fact that I have zucchini and she doesn't. Hmmm, poor soul, SHE doesn't have ANY ZUCCHINI. I do. And I am going to eat it ALL MYSELF.

Anyway, I love zucchini. Yes, mom, you read it right. Your picky daughter not only likes a vegetable (besides corn, and who doesn't like corn?) but she LOVES zucchini. Not only that, but my favorite way to eat zucchini is cooked. Actually, lightly sauted in a little butter. But the point is that while I do like several vegetables (like tomatoes, carrots, and...uh...that's all I can think of for now) the best way to eat them is usually raw---not zucchini.


Pick them small. No baseball bat zucchini here. Slice thin, melt a little butter in a frying pan and dump them in. I stir it up and put a lid on the pan for a bit. Keep stirring until they are done to your satisfaction. I don't like them too crispy. Never add salt until you are eating your zucchini. For some reason, adding salt during cooking does nothing toward changing the taste so it is best to add your salt as you eat. Salt a layer, eat it. And so on.

I can't properly put into words how I feel about zucchini so I thought "Hey, Google can help me out!" Quickly I type in the words "Ode to a Zucchini" into the box...and I find this:

Ode to the Zucchini

Green you lie before me, stretched
Your skin darkly, a little still of earth stains
Gently still your meat wähnt itself
My stroking does not draw noise from you

But my intention with you is clear
My demand fast obviously becomes
Because it says to you now my stomach
That over hunger it must complain

Gently drives the knife by your entrails
It does not want that one of us suffers both longer
I cut lengthwise you into small disks
So breath-thinly, as if must I you fast incorporate

Thus you are appropriate for O Zucchini, my vegetable before me,
And move last by my Kombüse
Schmaus will give me a lecker
But with your life is it now out.

Okay, so it doesn't quite do it. And really, it seems a little obscene. Maybe something is lost in translation, because the original version is in German. At least it made me giggle.
There is always this. Which isn't exactly true either, but at this point I am giving up. I guess I will have to write my own "Ode to the Zucchini" if I want it done right.


While on the subject of gardens I can't resist showing off my corn:



It is taller than me, and even more impressive, it is taller than my 6 foot tall husband. We will be having corn soon!

Lastly, not worthy of it's own post but exciting nonetheless is this:




The first load of wood for us to get started framing the garage. Pretty dinky. The next load is supposed to arrive on Monday. I say supposed to because this load was scheduled to arrive at 9am Friday and didn't get here until late afternoon. Hopefully tomorrow we will break it open and get started.