Zucchini

Hey, look at what I grew in a big plastic rubbermaid tub in my very own greenhouse:

I was out in there the other day showing my mom all the growing things and pointed out this zucchini to her and said, "Yeah, it's getting fat and round but it's long gaining any length yet. What's up with that?"

Mom: "Uh, I think it's supposed to be round."

I dove into the big leaves and rummaged around then popped back out with the tag it came with and brushed off all the wet potting soil.

Eight Ball Zucchini.

Oh.

It was time to eat that bad boy. My husband has no respect for my gardening skills (and rightly so). I showed him the zucchini and it took him a few moments to process why I was presenting it to him so proudly, holding it aloft in one palm the way they used to do at modern dance recitals in college -- twirling while staring wonderously at the invisible globe you were holding in one hand was the most popular dance move going back then, the vacant stare brought on my an all-too-common eating disorder, no doubt. My friend in college was a modern dance major. I went to alot of recitals. They're all the same.

Husband: "OH! You grew that?"

And he said it like YOU pause GREW pause THAT?

Whatever.

I'll have you know there's one pea pod sprouting on my peas-gone-wild vines.

AND, an eight ball zucchini works quite nicely for holding back the pages of a cookbook if you should want to follow more than one recipe at at time:

In a single night I made this recipe for fried zucchini and, if you'll reference my last post, a spaghetti tetrazzini, both from my recent library score, Jamie's Italy. I'm really enjoying this book -- I like Mr. Oliver's books alot but I can't bring myself to watch him on tv -- he takes himself a bit too seriously, don't you think? I try renting his dvds but usually have to turn them off halfway through and put them back in the mail, just like Grey's Anatomy (I am through with that show, wtf is its problem, every episode something tragically tragic was happening to every character and then the very next show they'd be skipping around like happy grade schoolers. It was like Little House on the Prairie in Seattle. I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt at first even though I thought they should have called him McAsshole not McDreamy. It was light and frolicky entertainment, in spite of the tragedies befalling left and right. But then a couple of episodes into the third season, mid-episode, I leapt off the couch and angrily snatched the dvd from the player and declared, That's It I Am Done With This Show.)

But I digress...

This recipe for zucchini in padella (fried zucchini) was quite tasty. It takes a bunch of seemingly disaparate ingredients -- chilis, fresh marjoram, anchovies, lemon -- and throws them all together and it all works. I wasn't sure if anything could top plain old oven-roasted or grilled zucchini but this was worth doing again. And I was really happy to find a use for the marjoram-gone-wild growing in a small pot on my front porch.

Fried Zucchini

Serves 4

3 firm medium zucchini, sliced into half-inch pieces

Extra virgin olive oil

3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely sliced

1/2 a fresh chili, sliced, or 1 small dried red chili, crumbled

handul of fresh marjoram or oregano, leaves picked, or 1 t dried oregano

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 good-quality anchovy fillets, in olive oil

zest and juice of half a lemon, in separate bowls

optional: sprig of fresh mint, leaves picked and chopped

Glug some olive oil in a pan on medium heat. Add garlic and chili. After 30 seconds, add zucchini and herbs and season lightly with salt and pepper. Make sure your pan's not too hot -- you don't want the zucchini to cook too quickly. Mix it all up and cover with a lid slightly ajar to hold some steam in. Give pan a little shage every couple of minutes for the next 10 to 12 minutes. For last 2 minutes of cooking, add anchovies and lemon zest. Once anchovies have melted, season to taste, add a squeeze of lemon juice to balanc the chili and seasoning. Serve right away with chopped mint, if desired.

Comments

[Gigi]

Great looking zucchini! I have a small patio garden and am eagerly awaiting for roma tomatoes to turn red! :)

[Ron Rivera]

Oliver's books alot but I can't bring myself to watch him on tv -- he takes himself a bit too seriously, don't you think? I try renting his dvds but usually have to turn them off halfway through and put them back in the mail, just like Grey's Anatomy.