Monday, August 3, 2009

My Favorite Summer Dish



Sayre is our fun hostess this week and this is what she has to say.

What I want from you is a step-by-step guide (pictures encouraged) for making your favorite summertime dish. This can be an entree, a vegetable, a casserole, or a dessert. Hopefully it will be quick and easy so we can spend August playing more and cooking less
When it comes to summer, these two things come to mind...cucumbers and zucchini. There are so many ways you can prepare these two very versatile veggies. The cukes came from my one lone plant and the zucchini was bought at a road side stand. Next year I am having a bigger garden. I love making pickles, cucumber salad and zucchini pie and bread. Most of the time I make enough to give away. A loaf of zucchini bread or a jar of pickles make a very nice hostess gift. Here are two of my favorite recipes.


ZUCCHINI BREAD
(makes two loafs)
3 eggs ------ 3 cups flour
2 cups sugar ------ 2 cups grated zucchini ---peeled
1 cup oil ----- 1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla----- 1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
Mix all ingredients, grease and flour two loaf pans... pour equal amounts in both. Bake at 325 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes. Can also use mini loaf pans...makes 4-6
SWEET AN SOUR CUCUMBERS
2 Large cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced
3 green onions, thinly sliced with 3 inches of green tops
2/3 cup rice vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
combine all ingredients; marinate for at least 1/2 to 1 hour. Serves 4
These are always a hit with friends and family. Now go see some more yummy dishes! click here. Thanks for hosting this week Sayre!

11 comments:

Gattina said...

Sounds good to me. Have never eaten zucchini bread !
Happy to hear that you know now what to cook tonight, lol !

Anonymous said...

I might have to use your zucchini bread recipe. Mine calls for 4 eggs (that is a lot when you double it!).

I make a similar cucumber dish, but have never added the green onions. I'll have to try this addition!

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

Zucchini bread is a favorite of mine! Yummo!

Faye said...

Great minds Janis--the neighbors left a bag of zukes on the door handle so I made bread-similar to your recipe, but gilded the lily by adding crushed pineapple also. Great breakfast. We also make zucchini appetizers--little quiche thingeys that freeze great.

Your sweet and sour pickles sound like something that you need to keep going in the fridge all summer.

eastcoastlife said...

I have never heard of zucchini bread and I'm going to try baking it. It seems easy. Thanks for the recipe.

gracie said...

wow Zucchini bread, I should try it, thanks for sharing, grace

Sayre said...

That zucchini bread sounds wonderful! I'm not a big fan of pickles (though I love cukes) but yours is the second pickle recipe I've seen today - I may have to give them another chance.

Hula Girl at Heart said...

I love sweet and sour cucumbers! We eat them regularly around here in the summer...at least until my mouth gets sore from the vinegar and the acid in all of the tomatoes I eat.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the recipes! I LOVE zucchini bread, and now I am going to make it. LOL

Living Life said...

I always love your zucchini bread, & zucchini pie. I like that you come up with quick and easy recipes. I guess I get it honest.

m (the misanthrope) said...

Wow! Yummy Yummy! Let me know what time to show up - I'll bring my appetite and a plate ;-) I have so much catching up to do. Thanks for checking in; I (again) am truly touched at all the wonderful comments from you and others, who seemed to miss my babbling :-) I might not get to visit everyone tonight but I'll be back, just like Ahnold :-)