August 8: It’s a Zucchini Holiday

No kidding.   Today is really an “official” Zucchini Holiday, better known as “Sneak some Zuchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night.”   Most of the “celebration” happens after sundown, apparently.  

I sent Stephanie home yesterday with an armload of zucchini and she  was searching  www.allrecipes.com  for a fresh and creative way to serve it and happened across the article on how to properly celebrate this holiday.   I am only printing portions of it here, but you may verify the whole thing by linking the title in the first paragraph.

By the way, my 3 favorite ways with zucchini are

  1. Tossed in an extra-virgin olive oil, sprinkled with garlic powder, salt and pepper, maybe some Mrs Dash or crushed red pepper flakes  and grilled just long enough for some beautiful black grill marks, as it caramelizes and gets sweet.
  2. Same as above, except popped under the broiler until you see the carmelization begin.
  3. Severed into 1/4″ succulent slices, dipped in Tempura batter (grab a box from the Asian food aisle for the simplest, crispest breading ever using very cold water) and fried in canola oil until light and crisp (not brown).   Dip in Ranch dressing.   This breading and frying technique works for mushrooms, cut up leftover chicken or pork, green tomatoes, corn on the cob.   Mmmmm.

Dave, of course, still prefers his zuchini shredded beyond recognition and turned into sort of a “stuffing-type” casserole.   Yes, he likes church-dinner food.

The article:

Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night

By:   Allrecipes Staff

Celebrate this fun holiday on August 8!

Established by Pennsylvanian Tom Roy, this day encourages sharing. “Due to the overzealous planting of zucchini, citizens are asked to drop off baskets of the squash on neighbors’ doorsteps.”

 

About the holiday

A few suggestions from Tom Roy’s “Top 20 List for successful sneaking of Zucchini or otherwise ridding yourself of unwanted surplus summer squash:”

(Note:Allrecipes does not endorse any of these activities.)

(ANOTHER NOTE:   Nor does Jeanie)

 

  • Carefully place a dozen or more zucchini in a large, sturdy black plastic trash bag, then add a couple layers of unwanted clothing. Drive to nearest Goodwill or Salvation Army, hand over bag to nearest volunteer. Politely refuse any offered receipt. Leave quickly.
  • Look for out-of-the-way places which have signs posted, “Clean Fill Wanted.”
  • Under light of full moon, either stark naked or wearing full army camouflage, carrying a machete or any garden implement, run amuck in your zucchini patch, cutting and slashing. Be sure to thank Mother Nature for her bounty before and after this cathartic experience.
  • Gather all available plastic containers and freezer bags.  Puree all zucchini, even if it takes all night. Package, freeze,  and create an artistic, holiday label: “For Zucchini Nut Bread Recipe.” These  gifts are now ready to be freely given, along with copies of recipe, to  everyone on your Christmas list.

 

Do you have any ideas to add?…Jeanie

 

NOTE TO SELF: I am keeping mine: Zucchini summer pasta…zucchini brownies…stuffed zucchini…zucchini marmelade…zucchini parmesan…zucchini relish…stir-fried zucchini…Mexican zucchini soup…Crab-stuffed zucchini…chocolate chip zucchini muffins…need  I say more?

 

 

 

5 thoughts on “August 8: It’s a Zucchini Holiday

  1. I made zucchini linguine last night in honor of the holiday;o) It was tasty, but zucchini can never hold a candle to my first green love – broccoli. It’s just the best veggie out there…

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