Zucchini (continued) recipe #2 & #3

Use #2 ~ Zucchini and Humus Sandwich

One of my favorite sandwiches is Zucchini and Humus. Fresh homegrown zucchini is best but with the availability of zucchini year round, in the grocery store, this is a sandwich that you can enjoy anytime. It is also an extremely fast sandwich to make if you have been out in the garden for too long and find yourself famished. Simply slice a medium zucchini lengthwise and saute' until golden brown. Then layer the zucchini onto your favorite bread with a thin or thick layer of your favorite humus.  Fast and delicious!

Use #3 ~ Orzo Pasta w/ Zucchini, Sundried Tomatoes, and Artichoke Hearts

Again, so easy and delicious. While your Orzo pasta is cooking you can prepare the vegetables. Dice the zucchini into small 1/4" slices, then saute' with sundried tomatoes and atrichoke hearts. Salt and pepper to taste. When the pasta is done drain it and add it to the sauted veggies. This pasta is good hot or cold. I like a ratio of 3 parts veggies to one part pasta but you can use as much or as little pasta as you like.

Best of Show

The week before last we attended our local fair and we were very fortunate to be able to bring home some “Best of Show” awards. I thought those of you who visit us here would like to see the honors.

Kyrstyn's Beautiful Call Duck Stanley was awarded Grand Champion and the Best Duck in Show. She is a beauty if I say so myself.

Kyrstyn also hand painted a gourd and it was awarded first place for the youth division then Best of Show and it was also given a special award of recognition by the California Gourd Society.

The gourd is painted as if a hand were grasping it ~ however it is hard to show that in a photograph, in person it is stunning. The shading and detailing are amazing.

Kynnedy's crystal bi-cone necklace was also awarded Best of Show.

Again it is hard to show the detail work done on this necklace as well at the other beaded items of Kynnedy's but she has become quite adept at all of her beading ventures.

Kynnedy also won first place with her 'Little Ladies in Blue' and her 'Two Tone Triangle Bracelet' as well as her adorable 'Flying Pig' Christmas ornament.

Kyrstyn brought home a first place ribbon with her water color painting of a parrot.

I often tell the girls how talented they are, but they say, "Awe Mom you are just prejudice." Well maybe, but I still think they are awfully talented.

Recycle, Reduce, Reuse

     Not too long ago I wanted to make a feeder that was cheap and durable with minimal cost, to take to goat shows. I came up with the idea of making a feeder using the sack that grain comes in. 
     Since then, several people have asked me how to make it, so I decided to try to put it into words with a few photos to show everyone how ~ so here goes:

First you get an empty sack (the nylon kind ~ not the paper kind) that grain, chicken food, rabbit food, etc. comes in.



Then cut off the bottom end just above the stitching to make a large tube.



Your assistant may need to make sure you have done a thorough job making the tube.



Next, cut a rectangle in one side of the sack. Then turn the sack inside out. I usually cut the rectangle into the back of the sack as the front normally has a nice photo or art work. Make sure to save the cut out piece as you will use it in another part of the feeder.



Again your assistant may feel the need to check your work before you turn the bag inside out.





Next, make a diagonal cut at each of the four corners of the rectangle, just about a half inch or so.

Then fold the bag in at the diagonal cut and sew down the little flap. Do this on all four sides of the rectangle cut. This helps keep the edges from fraying where the goats (or other hay eating creatures) will stick their heads in.

While your assistant checks to make sure you have all four sides of the rectangle sewn in place you can do the next step.



Remember the inside of the rectangle that you cut from the bag? Well now you need it. Cut it in half and then fold it in thirds so that the pieces overlap just a tiny bit. Sew down the overlap. You are making the piece that will connect the upper and lower parts of the rectangle (see photos below) this helps to give the feeder support.



Remember you are only attaching this to the top and bottom of the rectangle. You should still be able to make the sack into a tube.



Next you need to sew the bottom of the bag closed. I normally sew across the entire bottom twice to make sure it is strong.





When you are done with the bottom then you will need to make a 3" cut on each side of the top. In other words, make sure the bag is laying completely flat then on the right and left side of the bag,  make a cut down about 3".



Fold down the 3" flap and sew it down. Do this on both sides of the bag. When you are done you should have a folded down top that has two slits on each side where the sides come together. When you are done sewing down the top on both sides of the bag then turn it back right side out.

Now for the ties or handles. I cut a piece of baling twine in half and tie one piece to a large (heavy) snap and then thread it through one side of the 3" flaps you just made. When I am done I do the same thing to the other side.



Voila` ~ You just made a nearly free feeder. And you helped save our planet just a little by recycling, reducing and reusing an item that may have ended up in a land fill.



However, if you decide you don't want to use it as a feeder it can double as a cat toy.



Here is a finished feeder with hay added.

A close up of the handles or ties.





101 Uses for Zucchini recipe #1

Use #1 ~ Savory Zucchini Pancakes

     I've often thought if I were a genius and had more time on my hands than I knew what to do with, then I would write a cookbook about all the zucchini I have on my hands and don't know what to do with. 

     I love zucchini and I never tire of it so I decided I'd share some of the recipes that are favorites around our house. Just in case you have too many zucchini and don't want to keep tossing it to your chickens and goats. What? You don't share your extra zucchini with them? We grow extra just for them. Only a few of our goats like it but the chickens go crazy for zucchini and I purposely leave some to grow to enormous lengths just so I can break them into big chunks for them.     

     Today's recipe is Savory Zucchini Pancakes. They are easy to make and you can incorporate just about any savory ingredients into the batter. The photos below are simply:  4 shredded zucchini, 3 eggs, 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese, 1 1/2 cups of flour, and a bit of garlic salt and lemon pepper. Mix with a fork and fry on medium heat until golden brown. They are so versatile that you can add many other ingredients like; sun dried tomatoes, basil, sunflower seeds, grated carrots, fresh goat milk mozzarella, ...

 Or top them with fresh, diced tomatoes and balsamic vinegar ~ delicious and healthy!