Zucchini Fritters

     Zucchini can take many forms as a side dish. A medium zucchini,  shredded with peel intact to add color and texture, was a perfect amount for a batch of Zucchini Fritters and using a box grater made cleanup easy (sometimes I prefer my grater instead of a food processor for simple jobs

Chives, cottage cheese, parmesan, egg, flour, etc. were mixed together with the zucchini and dropped by spoonfuls into a quarter inch of oil heated in a frying pan. Turning once to brown both sides, they puffed slightly and were served immediately. 

The entree of baked stuffed chicken breasts was planned to be ready at the same as the side dish  so the meat would be juicy and the fritters would be crispy-edged. Pop declared the meal extraordinary and counted it as one of his new favorites.

Sad Struggle of a Watermelon Vine

     The big news story this week is Hurricane Irene, which is wreaking havoc all along the east coast of the Unted States. Terrific winds, rain and waves (I've learned a new term today - astronomical high tide) are moving slowly northward, pounding the area and I hope my cousins in Natick, Massachusetts stay safe. Here at home it seems petty to complain about the drought we're experiencing; lack of rainfall is easier to countenance than an overabundance. This poor little watermelon vine has struggled for two months, even with regular watering from a garden hose. Relentless heat and sun have continued to burn and wither the blossoms, and the plant is stunted with puny leaves. However this morning I was delighted to find a tiny fruit beginning to swell on the vine. With hope and a little careful nurturing, we may be able to enjoy a slice of homegrown watermelon on Labor Day!

Cycling the Katy Trail

     Late in the summer when the mornings are a bit cooler, we get our bicycles out of storage and plan a few riding trips. Because we are not die-hard enthusiasts, a flat terrain with interesting scenery is most appealing so a good place to ride is on the nearby Katy Trail. Actually a Missouri State Park, it is the right-of-way of the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad and in all is 225 miles long, stretching from St. Charles to Clinton (which is seventy-five miles southeast of Kansas City). However we recently chose to ride a portion of the trail that runs from Defiance to Augusta, a distance of 7.3 miles, which is perfect for a leisurely morning of exercise and site-seeing. The trail follows the curves of the Missouri River and is lined with forests, farmland and even some beautiful limestone bluffs. In Augusta, we stopped at a riverfront winery for a cool drink and a sandwich on an outdoor patio, before heading back to our starting point. I am already looking forward to riding the Katy in October, to experience a totally different season and scenery!

Girls in the Kitchen

     Two little visitors wanted to help with dinner and I never turn down that request. Since they were surprise visitors, dinner was impromptu (planning ahead with extra pasta in the pantry and sauce in the freezer pays off). A tube of refrigerated breadstick dough proved to be the perfect hands-on fare. The plan was to twist the dough and sprinkle parmesan and garlic over the sticks before baking. However they decided to try braiding the dough and after a little demonstration, were able to produce impressive creations of their own. Very proud of my little filles de cuisine!

Summery Green Necklace

     A box of multicolored beads with a summery theme yielded three contenders for a possible necklace to match a lime green blouse (which is a favorite because of  its pretty embroidered edges and cool cotton fabric). In the end, I combined all of them as pendants on a single ring and slipped it on a sterling chain from my jewelry box. Compliments recieved made me consider some other color combinations as well, so I will be off to the drawing (or beading) board quite soon .

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Crumble Bars

     A young Amish couple, selling produce at a local farmer's market, offered also a selection of jams and jellies. We could not resist this jar of strawberry conserves and were not disappointed. Toast, biscuits and even french toast proved sweetly irresistable with this topping. For last weekend's baking session, I searched for a recipe to include the conserves. (For my own satisfaction, I also had to investigate the difference between preserves and conserves. Preserves, or jam with a high fruit content, contain pectin or some other jelling agent; conserves are fruit stewed in sugar, resulting in a somewhat softer set.)

     It was easy to find a recipe, though the recipe was a little less than easy, actually a series of steps. Butter, flour and brown sugar were combined (and some reserved) to pat into a pan and bake for ten minutes. Chocolate chips melted together with sweetened condensed milk was poured over the crust and the strawberry conserve spooned over. The reserved flour mixture and then chocolate chips were sprinkled atop all and then the pan was placed back into the oven for twenty-five more minutes. The resulting bars were a crumbly delight - a  chocolate strawberry seduction. Hmmm, maybe I should rename the recipe.

Pickling Time

     Summer's end is approaching, which means an abundance of cucumbers from the garden. And that means it's pickling time. A wonderful aroma of vinegar and spices fills the house as the brine begins to simmer on the stove. This week I am making garlic dill slices and hopefully will have enough cucumbers next week to make a bread and butter variety. Both will be refrigerator pickles as my small harvest doesn't warrant enough jars for processing in hot water baths.

     The entire procedure of growing, harvesting and canning products from the garden is a comforting one. Although I am far from being a self-reliant gardener (the yield would never see us through the winter), the process reminds me of a time, perhaps my great-grandmother's, when preserving food was essential and not to be taken lightly.  A time when colored jars lining pantry shelves indicated not just a pretty display but the satisfaction of a competent, prepared homemaker.

     In our lives today we are far removed from that homemaker. There are few women, or should I say people, in urban areas who would have the knowledge to even make an attempt. I have a little of that learning, but luckily I also have a wonderful book to guide me. The pages are yellow and somewhat stained yet priceless beyond measure.