2011 has been a fruitful year so far in terms of our garden. The zucchini are the most productive vegetable of the entire garden. Yesterday I harvested over 3 kilos of zucchini, and that was after I had harvested the zucchini patch two days prior. They grow so fast I can't keep up with them. Planting, caring for and then harvesting these vegetables has been very gratifying work. I have long hot days in Rome and I look forward to digging in the earth, tending to the garden and being able to harvest fresh vegetables for the dinner table. I love knowing where my food is coming from. I also enjoy being a guest at a friend's house and instead of bringing a store bought bottle of wine, I bring vegetables I have produced. All of my local friends can look forward to receiving lots of zucchini as there is no way we will eat them as fast as they are growing.
On some days I will pick zucchini in the morning and go back in the late afternoon before sunset and there are already more to be picked. I plan to leave a few on the plants so I can have larger ones for stuffing. There are so many great vegan recipes that use zucchini, and I imagine I will have to use as many as I can so that I do not get bored with eating these lovely vegetables that are an excellent source of fiber, potassium. vitamin A, and magnesium.
I am looking forward to summer pasta salads with zucchini, zucchini bread, pickled zucchini, blending them into a smoothie for added nutrition in my diet, eating them raw with hummus, and more. What are your favorite zucchini dishes?
