By Patrice Powers-Barker, Ohio State University Extension, Lucas County
The Truth Contributor
Sneak some squash in your menu this month. The most common types of summer squash are scallop (or patty pan), yellow crookneck, yellow straightneck, and zucchini. Summer squash is very versatile vegetable and is often used raw, sauteed, grilled or baked. Summer squash is high in vitamin C, vitamin A and fiber. Summer squash is usually available at the grocery store year round, but are often less expensive to buy in July and August as the local sources are in season.
When purchasing, look for squash with bright and glossy skin. Avoid squash with soft spots, wrinkles or mold. Store in the refrigerator in an open plastic or paper bag to keep dry. For best quality use within three to four days. Smaller squash has good flavor and texture. Long types of summer squash should be six to eight inches long and round types should be three to four inches across. You can eat the peel and tiny seeds of smaller squash. Larger summer squash have bigger seeds and less flavor but can be tasty and useful for recipes like stuffed squash or it can be grated and used in baked goods. Remove the seed of larger squash before using.
Summer Salsa, 4 servings
Ingredients
1 medium zucchini, diced
1 onion, diced
3 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 jalapeño pepper (optional)
4 cloves garlic, minced OR 4 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 cup fresh cilantro OR parsley, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup lemon OR lime juice
Instructions
- Before you begin, wash your hands, surfaces, utensils, and produce.
- If using a jalapeño, put on disposable gloves and remove the pepper seeds. Dice small. If you don’t have gloves, wash your hands with soap and water after handling the jalapeño.
- Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and stir to combine.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving so flavors can blend.
Tips
- Try adding other in-season vegetables to this dish to compliment the tomato and onion, such as cucumber, yellow squash, green pepper, broccoli, or corn.
- For a sweeter version of this recipe, use fruit such as blueberries, oranges, apples, and peaches. Remove the garlic to compliment the less savory flavor. (recipe from Celebrate Your Plate)
Why “sneak” a zucchini? If you are a vegetable gardener – or live near one – you will know that if you grow a healthy zucchini plant, you will have so much summer squash that you will have to find ways to use all of it. On August 8, vegetable gardeners celebrate the summer holiday/joke of “Sneak A Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch”. Tom Roy of Pennsylvania is credited with putting the event on the calendar. We’re guessing that this holiday was celebrated on many different nights for many centuries before he officially entered it onto Chase’s 1998 Calendar of Events. Have you ever filled stockings in the winter, snuck money under pillows or hidden eggs around the yard? If so, this is the summer equivalent of those other folkloric happenings. The best part of this one is that it comes straight from the garden.
All joking aside, excess zucchini from the garden is a good reminder that an overabundance of any fresh produce can be shared with local food banks, emergency food pantries and soup kitchens. Please remember to share only high-quality fresh produce. If it is too ripe for you to use, it will not be useful to others.
In northwest Ohio, one in seven people and one in five children experience food insecurity. Access to fresh produce can be especially difficult for those in need. Consider donating fresh produce to a local food pantry and join us on August 8 to share produce with those in need.
Sneak a Zucchini on OUR Porch – this event will be Thursday, August 8, from 7:00 a.m. – noon. There will be a drive through drop off at OSU Extension office at the Toledo Botanical Garden at 5403 Elmer Drive, Toledo, Ohio. Celebrate the annual gardeners’ holiday by donating your excess produce to help reduce hunger in our community. Bring your clean homegrown vegetables and fruits to the Lucas County Extension office. All food will be shared with local food pantries. For more details visit www.lucas.osu.edu/zucchini
If you ever have questions about gardening or insects or plants, the Master Gardener Volunteer Horticulture Hotline runs every Monday and Wednesday from 10am – 1pm. You can call 419-578-6783 or email lucascountymastergardener@gmail.com. If you have questions about home food preservation like canning or freezing, the OSU Extension office will be offering two free community classes on Tuesday, August 20 from 6-7 p.m. at South Branch Library and Monday August 26 6-7 p.m., at Reynolds Corner Library.
Enjoy this summer season and keep finding ways to “sneak” some fresh produce into your meals.