Friday, August 24, 2012

Summer Squash Relish


Summer Squash Relish

Our garden is flourishing this year even though we lost our yellow summer squash plants. Honestly, I'm not sure we could handle any more loaded plants so perhaps the attack of the cut worm is a blessing in disguise.

My sister has a good portion of my aunt's garden and she grows it mostly to share. So we end up with tons of squash anyway. I told her we would take any of the over sized zucchini and squash she had to make relish. Ask and ye shall receive!

My search for a good and simple recipe lead me to this Summer Squash Relish recipe. Honestly, when I first tasted it just after we made it I thought the cinnamon was too strong. But a couple of days later it's perfect! It was simple to make, especially with my new birthday food processor!

As you can see, the recipe calls for apple cider. We assumed it was apple cider vinegar since it's a relish, so that's what we used. You can click here for the recipe or read it below.

Summer Squash Relish

10 cups chopped zucchini and yellow summer squash
1 medium white onion chopped
1 medium red bell pepper chopped
1 medium green bell pepper chopped
2 cups apple cider
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons mustard seed
2 teaspoons celery seed
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons turmeric
1 teaspoon pickling salt

Combine all ingredients in large sauce pot, then bring to a boil over medium heat.
Stir occasionally, then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Immediately fill hot pint jars with mixture, leaving 1/2" head space.
Carefully run a nonmetallic utensil down the inside of jars to remove trapped air bubbles
Wipe jar tops and threads clean, then adjust two pieces.
Process jars in boiling water canner for 15 minutes.

And that's that! Super easy and double dog yummy!

Lemon-Zucchini Loaf


LEMON-ZUCCHINI LOAF WITH LEMON GLAZE by NancyCreative
Makes one 9×5″ loaf
  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • Juice of 1 lemon (or 2 Tablespoons lemon juice)
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 cup grated zucchini (you don’t need to peel the zucchini before grating it)
Preheat oven to 35o degrees. Grease and flour a 9×5″ loaf pan; set aside.
In large bowl, blend flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
In medium bowl, beat 2 eggs well, then add canola oil and sugar, and blend well. Then add the buttermilk, lemon juice, and lemon zest and blend everything well. Fold in zucchini and stir until evenly distributed in mixture.
Add this mixture to the dry ingredients in the large bowl and blend everything together, but don’t overmix.
Pour batter into prepared 9×5″ loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (if your oven tends to run hot, check the loaf after 40 minutes; also, if you make this in an 8×4″ loaf pan, your baking time may be a little longer…about 5 to 10 minutes more). Cool in pan 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack and cool completely. While loaf is cooling, you can make the glaze…
LEMON GLAZE
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • Juice of 1 lemon (or 2 Tablespoons lemon juice)
In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and lemon juice until well blended. Spoon glaze over cooled loaf. Let glaze set, then serve.
This Lemon-Zucchini Loaf is great way to use the zucchini from your garden this summer!