Monday Musings – Giants, Borders, and Hero’s
Happy Monday ladies. We had a fun chat about our upper arms yesterday. The different ways we approach the subject is as varied as we are and fun reading here. I often think the comment section is the best part of this blog:) Here are a few things on my mind this week:
Borders
My daughter has been isolated in her apartment in Vancouver, B.C. for way, way too long. Because she has dual citizenship, she was able to cross the closed border and drive home this weekend. I couldn’t be happier! These are scary and sad times and I really needed to hug her. Because the drive takes longer than one day, my son and I drove to meet her at the halfway mark. We shared adjoining rooms at a motel then I drove the rest of the way home in her car. She will have to quarantine when she crosses the Canadian border but we all felt it was worth it to be together. 
On the drive down we listened to “Just Mercy” which is mind-blowing. It’s been named the most influential book of the decade and is one of the most powerful true stories I’ve ever heard. Bryan Stevenson is an attorney, social justice activist, and hero who has dedicated three decades to helping the poor, incarcerated, and condemned.
Talbots
I finally got into my local Talbots on Friday, which felt like old home week. I was anxious to see new merchandise but the sales floor was still full of older merchandise. My favorite salesperson told me they’re in the process of opening boxes to get the new things on display so I’ll go back this week and try on some new things. Hopefully, I will able to do a dressing room diary.
Some new finds at Talbots
Land of the Giants
Do you remember that show? That’s what I am reminded every time I look at our new veggie boxes. I think know my husband went overboard planting things but we had no idea how robustly things would grow! What we have the most of right now is zucchini and Summer squash. I’m talking about 12” zucchini and a lot of them. Everyday!
I’ve ordered this spiralizer so we can start eating them as pasta but I need more ideas. I have no idea why I need 7 blades but I suppose it will make sense when it arrives. With things as they are, I can’t give them to neighbors and hate to have them go to waste! I’d love any recipes you can share.
When our tomato crop comes is I will have a much better idea what to do with it because we also have tons of basil:)
What’s keeping you busy these days?
Be well and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
We love zucchini but last year we had so much we got tired of eating it. So I tried experimenting with freezing it. I peeled it cut it into chunks, blanched it and froze it. When I defrosted the zucchini it was a bit mushy but i was able to shred it in my food processor and made delicious muffins and bread this winter. This year I’m going to try not blanching it.
I like zucchini sliced longways brushed with olive oil and cooked on the grill. Maybe you could donate to your local food pantry?
Another pasta substitute….slice it length wise, fairly thin, and use it in place of pasta in your favorite lasagna recipe. It was wonderful! You can also cut it into long chunks, like steak fries, and bread it to fry in either your air fryer, bake in the oven, or fry in oil.
We do have an air fryer!! That sounds wonderful.
Try slicing and dehydrating your zucchini (oven baked at a low temperature overnight). You can enjoy them as is or save them in baggies in the freezer to add to things later.
All veggies become extremely tasty when dehydrated. It’s easier than canning and takes less room.
You can also donate to food banks.
Yes, I was thinking of food banks but wasn’t sure if they would take it. I’ll call around to check.
Some of our zucchini favorites:
Sauté slices with onion, garlic in EVOO, drizzle with lime juice. Or sans lime add can roasted tomatoes or fresh, basil too!
Grill horizontal halves brushed with EVOO, garlic powder optional, finish with cut side up and sprinkle on Parmesan cheese til melted.
Horizontal halves again, in microwave a few minutes, then cut side up spread with sour cream, top with shredded cheddar cheese, let melt.
Of course S&P all to taste. Helpful to salt zucchini before cooking to release moisture. Will keep it crisper.
I foresee caprese Salad in your future!
Yum!! That sounds so amazing. Thank you. The sour cream one sounds fascinating. Yup, caprese salad all the time here:)
Tes to Just Mercy! Read the book and saw the move a few weeks ago on Prime. Highly recommend it! If you’re on Pinterest there are lots of itching recipes to try.
The movie version of “Just Mercy” is streaming for free on multiple streaming services during the month of June. https://www.justmercyfilm.com/
You can’t go wrong with chocolate zucchini bread!
Enjoy your time with your daughter. We so miss our family in Oklahoma, including our only grandchild, but are not yet comfortable traveling across the country.
I agree, Chocolate Zucchini Bread sounds perfect.
If you’re into baking (for me, I consider it a form a therapy), here’s a great zucchini bread recipe to use up some of your harvest. It freezes well, so if you bake a bunch now, you can enjoy in the fall and winter!
Double-Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Makes two 8 1/2″ by 4 1/2″ loaves
4 large eggs
2/3 cup honey
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2/3 cup all-purpose baking cocoa or Dutch-process cocoa
3 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
4 cups shredded, unpeeled zucchini, gently pressed to remove excess moisture
2 cups chocolate chips
1. Preheat oven to 350 F and lightly grease two 8 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ loaf pans.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, honey, oil, sugar and vanilla until smooth.
3. Add the salt, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa and flour, mixing until well combined.
4. Stir in the zucchini and chocolate chips.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pans.
6. Bake for 65 to 75 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, save for perhaps a smear of chocolate from the melted chips.
7. Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool 10-15 minutes before turning them out of the pans onto a rack.
8. Cool completely before slicing. Store well-wrapped at room temperature.
This sounds amazing Kelly. Thank you!!! I’m on it:)
Haha! This reminds of the story of the Iowa farmers during zuccini season who used to sneak into church parking lots during services and leave piles of zuccini in people’s back seats to get rid of them. LOL.
So glad your daughter is with you. This is such a challenging time, and I’m sure she’s thrilled to be there.
That is funny and totally understandable.
Eye opening–our book club read and discussed Just Mercy last winter, before the lockdown. Compelling, sad. Some mentioned there was a TV movie or theater movie made or just being made. Not sure of that, though…
Your veggies will provide quite a few Meals…yikes. Maybe bake a few dozen zucchini breads? Lol.
I have a small garden, mostly flowers and herbs and two tiny wee little tomato plants, since I planted them in late May, as advised for New England. Our growing season is not like yours…you’re lucky! I probably won’t see tomatoes til late July.
I’m reading a few Louise Penny mysteries featuring inspector Armand Gamache. They are wonderful! Just visited Caoe Cod (Massachusetts) and tidied up our cottage near the bay there. With the recent travel bans etc around here, it was our first opportunity to get there ……late for us! Sadly very few businesses were open.
I fear for the small businesses. I don’t think many will survive.
My advice is to keep a close eye on your zucchini and pick them while they are still small. We were completely overrun with them last year. I’m so glad you got to spend time with your daughter. I haven’t seen mine since Christmas.
Good advice. They’re out of control here
Oh, Jennifer, I so wish my daughter (who lives in Canada) could visit me in the US! She has dual citizenship but is afraid to cross the border in case of difficulty getting back home to her husband and four children. Darn that border! Enjoy your visit.
I just a read a zucchini recipe that I am going to try. Just cut and roast with yellow squash, , onions, peppers, and mushrooms – after adding a little olive oil and seasonings. Then use a hand blender to purée into tomato sauce. Serve sauce over pasta, sprinkled with cheese. I know I am going to like this dish!
Wow this sounds awesome. I’m trying it. They just opened the border for relatives so she should Check again. I hope she can visit you.
Family is so important! We celebrated my sons birthday yesterday so we were all together which was a blessing. I still haven’t planted my basil. This week! I have the spiralizer. You will enjoy it. 7 blades, 7 different shapes!
Have a wonderful week!
Have a great week Joyce!
Good that you are all together again!
I own a Spiralizer and it great for any solid vegetable! Tomatoes however, won’t work in it if they are ripe. You could try to spiral a solid green tomato and I bet it would make fantastic green tomato fries! Let me know!
I wish I had the nerve to shop online because I would love to have that sundress with the pockets! It’s beautiful!
Enjoy your harvest!
Tomato fries sound ingenious:))
I totally agree with you about Bryan Stevenson’s “Just Mercy”. This is a must read for everyone! It is especially timely right now. Zucchini is one of my favorite vegetables – love it fried in a skillet in a little coconut oil, or cooked on the grill! Enjoy!
Great for you to have the visit with your daughter! Zucchini overload at our house, too. Besides the usual bread, muffins, cake, and grilled, I make various stuffed “boats” such as taco (with hamburger, beans, corn, salsa), Italian (meat sauce, cheese), Asian (ground pork, water chestnuts, hoison). There’s a great poem by Marge Piercy “Attack of the Squash People” that you’d enjoy.
Zucchini boats sounds great:)
It’s so great to hear that you found a way to bring your daughter “home”. We worked so hard to create our homes, the safe zones for our families. It’s all so meaningless without our family being there. We need to gather. With baby steps and thoughtful planning we can slowly get back to our new normal.
I have Just Mercy on my list of future reads. What a timely book!
Our little garden is just getting started. Our spring weather created a real challenge for the little plants, my flowers included. Now, lots of watering to stay ahead of the strong, hot winds that have been torturing the garden. Can’t wait for those first tomatoes!!
Have a great week ladies!! ☀️🌸
I agree about our homes. They’re our sanctuary and we need family around us!!
Your Garden sounds Awesome, Basil into Pesto freezes lovely. Tomatoes Salsa, Spagetti Sauce and other Matvelous dishes.
Here on Lake Huron Radishes are 3″ high, just now planting Tomatoes and Cucumbers.
Love the Summer Harvest, looking forward to Markets and Garage Sales.
You can shred your zucchini and freeze them to use in future zucchini bread or muffins.
That’s a great idea!!
So happy for you that your daughter was able to visit. In my part of Canada, we are now allowed to visit in groups of up to 5, so I was able to see my sister for the first time since January. And since she used to be a hairstylist, she trimmed my hair. Bonus!
Golf courses finally opened here, so that is keeping me busy now. Although it is strange not having the “apres golf” socializing, especially with my ladies league who are a fun group of women. Now we just wave to each other on the course.
I’m looking forward to your colour analysis journey. I’ve been doing some research of my own and find interesting some of the new concepts out there. It has evolved quite a bit since I was involved with the 4 seasonal approach in the 80’s.
I’m glad you can golf. Ours opened a few weeks ago but I don’t golf!