Zucchinni Recipes

It that time of year, the garden is in full swing. Green beans, broccoli, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, and squash and more zucchini and even more squash and I think you get the picture. So my freezer is absolutely full of shredded and diced squash. I have given it away. And we are eating lots of squash dishes and desserts. So I thought I would share a few of my family's favorites.

Pork Chops with Squash
1 t. salt
1 t. garlic salt
1 t. chili powder
1/4 t. coarse ground black pepper
a shake or two cayenne pepper
1 c. raw rice
4 pork chops 3/4 inch thick
1 1/2 c. diced tomatoes or 2 cans
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 c. water
2 c. thinly sliced zucchini or summer squash
1 c. shredded Mexican blend cheese

Mix salt, garlic salt, chili powder and pepper. Trim pork chops of fat. Heat oil in skillet; brown pork chops, seasoning with 1/2 of the seasoning mixture. Drain oil from pan. Add rice, tomatoes, onion and water. Arrange zucchini around edge of skillet and sprinkle with remaining seasoning mixture. cover and cooking stirring occasionally for 30- 40 minutes or until pork is cooked through and tender. Top with cheese and cover to melt cheese.

A friend of mine makes the above recipe omitting the pork chops and adding more veggies for a flavorful vegetarian dish.

Summer Squash Patties

2 c. grated summer squash (I use yellow crook neck)
1/4 c. self rising four
1/3 c. self rising cornmeal
1 small onion (I have also used a few shakes of Tastefully Simple Onion Onion)
1 egg, beaten
pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together. Spoon out into hot greased frying pan. Brown both sides. Drain on paper towel. We love these extra crispy!

If you have any other family approved squash recipes, please share!

Tea for Me.... and my Friends

Ann has been asking to have a tea party for weeks and I have been putting her off. I finally ran out of excuses this week and we invited friends to tea yesterday. The girls love to put on their princess costumes and play act as adults taking tea, this time Snow white and a Pirate Princess. The Pirate Princess (Kay) became a 'nude' Princess when she shucked her clothing shortly before our guests arrived. We went on to have a great tea without further incident. Our Menu included- Mini Ham Crescent Puffs, Cherry Chicken Salad, Cream Cheese and Strawberry Sandwiches, Deviled Eggs, Lemon Shortbread Cookies and Strawberry Cupcakes, all served with Stash Vanilla Chai Tea(very good). I am delighted to say that I made everything myself save the cookies.

Here is a recipe for the particularly easy Mini Ham Crescent Puffs-

1 (2.5 oz) pkg. processed ham
1 Tbs. Onion Onion seasoning from Tastefully Simple
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 c. shredded cheese (I used Mexican blend cheese that I had on hand)
1/8 tsp. course ground black pepper
1 1/2 tsp. mustard
Cooking spray
1 (8 oz.) pkg. crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Chop in food chopper. Place in bowl. Add Onion onion, egg, cheese, pepper, and mustard. Stir to combine. Spray mini muffin pan with cooking spray. Unroll crescent rolls and press dough into one large rectangle. Cut rectangle into 24 pieces using a pizza cutter. Place dough pieces in mini muffin pan cups. place filling in cups. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly brown.