Topic: Courgettes

[wardy]

I think you can only gain confidence by doing it.  I haven't done much but have just done my first lot of beetroot which is great.  Have dried chillies but they DID go mouldy  :(  I've just found a home freezing book which I'm going to flick through as I want to freeze some of those courgettes I seem to have quite a few of.  Good idea about the courgettey tomato sauce.  I think the sound of that  :)

[moonbells]

Try cubing the courgettes in 1cm-2cm cubes and freezing those.  I use them like frozen peas... stir fries... chucking in sauces... great if you've both yellow and green!

moonbells

[wardy]

Cubing courgettes!  Is what I shall be mostly doing today, or tomorrow as I think rain is forecast  :)  I cut some into chunks t'other day for veggie kebabs too

I used a big courgette the other day, and Tim is quite right, they don't lose quality just cos they're big.  I thought they might go watery but they don't.  I sliced some off for my courgette omelette and it was fine and I still have loads of it left.  It's still good after a couple of days in the fridge. 

I have a B & B guest at the mo and we've done a deal. He's bought me plums and he's going home with courgettes  ;D

[Mrs Ava]

I have about 15 bags of cubed courgettes in the freezer now, and at least 8 pints of courgette and roast garlic soup!  Picked the last I am planning to pick today.  Made 4Ib of Tim's courgette bread to go in the freezer and 4 of DorisPinks courgette cakes to freeze.  I want a couple of whoppers to make some River Cottage chutters, the rest can grow into marrows for winter use. 

[Debs]

Two questions EJ...

(1) How many freezers do you own  ;D

and

(2) What are River Cottage Chutters?? - anything to do with Hugh

     fearney thingamybob??

Debs

[tim]

This slot has had almost as many views as we've had courgettes?

Damned things - Ronde just would not get going - & now?? 6-8 a day - cricket ball size.
 And taking over the garden.

[Mrs Ava]

Debs, have 2 freezers, one a huge old chest freezer, and one an upright.  Careful packing and stacking is the way.

River cottage chutters - taken from a posting made by Adamhill100 last august!

1kg Marrow or overgrown courgettes.. Diced
1kg Tomitillos or unripe toms diced and peeled.
500g Sultanas (I used mixed fruit )
500g soft brown sugar
2 x Limes Juice & Zest from one of them
500g Cooking apples peeled and diced ( I used Granny Smiths. )
400ml White wine vinegar
500g Onions chopped 
3 finger chillies chopped finely (This is something I added )
Pinch Salt (Personal pref here)
I also added a couple of shakes of Balsamic vinegar

For the Spice bag (Square of Tea Towel tied with string)

12 Cloves
2 Tea Spoon Black or Mixed Peppercorns.
2 Tea Spoon Coriander seeds
Couple of pieces fresh ginger.

[redimp]

Urgh  :-X - never liked chutney - sorry!

[wardy]

Have you ever really tried it?  There are thousands of chutneys out there and there will be lots you;ll like.  You just have to make that leap of faith  ;D I didn't think I liked them but then I didn't really know what they were.

I made a chutney at evening class at my first ever Indian cookery class and we had to make sweet tomato chutney to go with the teacher's Keema.  Since then I have been a convert  ;D

[wardy]

Speakin of courgettes.  Went to pub quiz tonight.  Our team topically enough was called The Zucchini's.  One of the questions was"what is the other name for zucchini" ?   No-one in the pub knew.  Can you believe it  :o :o :o Anyway The Zucchini's came away with a gallon of beer and £15  ;D ;D

[redimp]

Have you ever really tried it?  There are thousands of chutneys out there and there will be lots you;ll like.  You just have to make that leap of faith  ;D I didn't think I liked them but then I didn't really know what they were.

I made a chutney at evening class at my first ever Indian cookery class and we had to make sweet tomato chutney to go with the teacher's Keema.  Since then I have been a convert  ;D

OK persuaded - everybody else in my house likes chutney so I will be brave  :).  I generally have the same reaction to quiche as well. It is those two foods that are my nemesis. ???

[wardy]

RC   I don't like cold quiche.  In a hot oven to brown the top til the cheese has gone golden then I adore it  :)

[RobinOfTheHood]

Men and quiche do not mix (not real men anyway)  ;)

Don't ever try to feed it to us, it's JUST NOT RIGHT!!!!!!

 ;D ;D

[wivvles]

Smashing piece of homemade cold quiche for lunch today.   ;D

Sausages, potatoes, sweetcorn, courgettes and runners for tea tonight, followed by rhubarb crumble.  Only the sausages not homegrown.
NB. This menu assumes that the badger that has taken out two lots of sweetcorn already this week didn't manage to get past my defences last night...

[wardy]

Rhubarb crumble here too!  Just got it out of oven.  I'm having mine cold with single cream on  :)

I swopped three courgettes, one lettuce and one red onion for a bag of rhubarb and a box of plums  :)

[BAGGY]

Wardy - I cant do cold quiche either.  It's a texture thing. 'puking smiley'

[moonbells]

Iwish I *didn't* like veggie quiche as I think it's way too moreish. I can eat it hot, cold, microwaved... 

moonbells

[Mrs Ava]

You and me both moonbells!  And the same with bubby crumble!

[Debs]

..and here too!

Here's to cold quiche and cold crumble.

HIP HIP HOORAY ;D

[Debs]

...and most importantly.

Ihave picked 3 (YES 3) courgettes today.

Not a feast but neither a famine  ;)

Debs