I had a private email from a friend who reads my blog and she said Dick's Sporting Goods has trampolines on sale sometimes for $150. Her kids have had one for a while and no mishaps have occurred. Then Kikilia left a comment with a link that says they are terribly dangerous. Didn't realize I was making a controversial statement about the trampolines...
If I had small children or physically un-coordinated kids I would probably heed the advice of the experts, but I think my kids can use the trampoline responsibly, if I can scrape together the money to buy it. We will see.
My garden is doing well. When my friend Kate was over last weekend I showed her the garden, and she said "Dee, these are WEEDS!" pointing out a plant which was, indeed, a weed. I said "Yep, just yank it out. I just can't keep up with them all." Kate weeded my entire little garden while we talked. Now that's a friend. LOL
I kept hoping we would get some rain yesterday - it was overcast and looked like it - but we didn't. I need to go water this morning before it gets too hot.
Remember the corn plants growing up under the bird feeder? Lesleigh found what looks like an embryonic cob of corn on one of them. If it actually grows into corn, I'll suggest we leave it for the squirrels. It will be fun to see, though.
I had a request for squash recipes. Kikilia said she is overrun with squash. I wish that were true for me - I LOVE yellow squash. I've only gotten one squash out of 5 plants. Of course, 3 plants died from some sort of bug issue.
In the past, when I had lots of time, I have gotten fresh squash and washed and chopped it, then put it in a plastic freezer bag and frozen it. I have done the same for tomatoes. Mother taught me to save the tomatoes, then you can make excellent marinara sauce in the dead of winter. We always dip them in boiling water for about 10 seconds because it makes skinning them easier.
When I fix squash I usually don't use a recipe. I wash it and chop it up and set it aside. In a heavy skillet I brown up a chopped onion in olive oil until it's crunchy, then I throw in my squash. I add a little butter, some Lawry's Seasoning Salt, garlic powder, freshly ground black pepper, and usually some parmesan or asiago cheese. I stand there or close by to tend it, because I like it crispy on the bottom.
Another way to fix it, which is easier, is to get some Lipton Onion Soup Mix, throw your chopped squash in a big plastic bag with the soup mix and olive oil and shake it well, then spread it out on a cookie sheet and run it under the broiler. You can add extra seasonings and cheese if you want, but you have to watch it carefully. Lipton makes several varieties of soup mix now.
If I have some extra time, I like to make squash cakes. That recipe is below, from Paula Deen. It's fabulous.
SQUASH AND ZUCCHINI CAKES
3 medium zucchini
3 medium yellow squash
1 cup toasted bread crumbs
1 cup shredded Parmesan
1/3 cup minced Vidalia onion
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 jar store-bought marinara sauce
Grate zucchini and squash with a fine
grater. Press between paper towels to remove excess moisture.
In a medium bowl, combine grated zucchini and squash and next 7 ingredients. Shape mixture into 2-inch patties, pressing together firmly.
In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook squash and zucchini cakes 3 to 4 minutes per side or until lightly browned.
Place onto serving platter and serve with marinara sauce.
These are SO YUMMY!!
Remember I said we had lunch last Sunday with cousin Jan? Here's a photo she took and sent to us, below. I don't know why Alesia looks so grumpy - probably PMS.
