Zucchini Archives - East of Eden Cooking

2015/07/302018/01/03

Zucchini Bread with Biscoff and Toasted Pecans

Too much of a good thing.

“And you want to know what to do about it? Sure I do.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Too much zucchini? What a wonderful problem! Let’s call it an opportunity. I’ve worked my way through more versions of zucchini bread than blossoms on a squash vine. This is where I‘ve landed, a place where Biscoff and toasted pecans transform the humble quick-bread to a memorable and requested treat. Biscoff is a version of the famous European cookie, Speculoos. The cookies are sweetly spiced with a pleasant crunch and the spread can be found in smooth or crunchy. Cinnamon and ginger flavored, Biscoff is reminiscent of graham crackers and mild mannered ginger snaps. These are flavors that pair exceeding well with zucchini or other summer squash. READ MORE . . .

2013/06/032017/12/26

Stuffed Zucchini

Summer Dreams

“Adam brooded around the house all morning, and at noon he went to find Lee, who was spading the dark composted earth of his vegetable garden and planting his spring vegetables, carrots and beets, turnips, peas, and string beans, rutabaga and kale.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Each spring I get excited about gardening and have dreams of growing vegetables. Nothing exotic, tomatoes and zucchini would make me happy. I would love to be complaining about too much zucchini and hundreds of cherry tomatoes! My enthusiasm is always dampened by the coastal fog and the stealth army of snails that that greedily devour our little seedlings. I am hopeful. This year the month of May has been filled with sunshine. Even when the day begins covered with a gray blanket of damp fog the sun has arrived mid-day. With almost daily sunshine the tomato plants are growing. The snails are being snobs and ignoring the Romano beans I planted on a whim. After I transplanted them I wistfully wondered if they would last. The second planting of zucchini is surrounded by a copper rings and the snails have mostly found other tender delicacies for their insatiable appetites. I am hopeful. READ MORE . . .

2011/09/082017/12/26

Zucchini Pancakes with Feta

Celebrate too much zucchini!

“Sometimes in the summer evenings they walked up the hill to watch the afterglow clinging to the tops of the western mountains and to feel the breeze drawn into the valley by the day-heated air.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Zucchini and summer, like peas in their pod. Early in the season we wait patiently for the plants to grow. As the summer progresses, we tire of too many vegetables to harvest. And then
what to do with the harvest? When there is an abundance of zucchini in the summer I make these pancakes. This recipe has evolved over time. When I first made zucchini pancakes, I just stirred in a few eggs to bind the mixture together. We lived in the county and had lots of zucchini and eggs. This was the recipe my mom taught me. My pancakes are now full of flavor and worthy to share. Recently I went to the local fish market to purchase salmon for dinner. Another customer came into the market and gave me zucchini from his garden. I had never met this customer, but I thanked him for his gift of zucchini. The poor man, he just had too much zucchini! It was time to make zucchini pancakes. READ MORE . . .