Okay, it has been a great year for my garden. I am loving it - but it is a little too much of a good thing. Any thoughts on using: zucchini, cucumbers, jalapenos, green beans? I have made pickles and frozen shredded zucchini and jalapenos. I have made tons of zucchini bread and mailed it off to friends and family...any other thoughts? Especially any ideas for things that could be frozen would be wonderful!

Thanks!

Here in Texas, jalapeno jelly is a favorite.

Oh great idea! Thank you....I had no idea that jalapenos would be so happy in New England!

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Originally posted by Nancy L:
Here in Texas, jalapeno jelly is a favorite.

OOh..OOh..recipe please!!!

You could make batches of zucchini Parmiggiana: just cut the succhini in ribbons, fry and use as a substitute for eggplant. You can freeze the uncooked parmiggiana, when you feel like some of it, just thaw and bake.

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zucchini, cucumbers, jalapenos, green beans

My mom makes the most amazing dilled green bean pickles. Everybody loves them.

We had a ton of green beans a few weeks ago, and I froze a bunch of them. I blanched them, cooled them in ice water, and then put them in ziplocks. Plan to use them this winter for minestrone.

Hi all-

This is the site where I found the jalapeno jelly recipe, it came out very welljalapeno madnessIt says it serves two, but it actually makes about two pints.

Thanks for all the other suggestions...I wasn't sure if a zucchini parmiggiana would freeze, I will give that a try!

And we love those dilled green beans! Will have to make some of those...

And there were the two huge bags I brought to our community food pantry....

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And there were the two huge bags I brought to our community food pantry....

coming up to Quincy any time soon?

My garden hasn't produced anything except fat squirrels.

Yum, zucchini bread.

Mindy

How about Chocolate Zucchini Cake from the Chocolate & Zucchini blog by Clotilde Dusoulier? I haven't made it, but it sounds delicious.

-Krista

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Originally posted by katecoleman:
And there were the two huge bags I brought to our community food pantry....

Kate brings up a great point--a produce surplus can be really appreciated by clients of food pantries, and especially shelters that serve women and children. The family shelter I work with tends to get a lot of cooked food donations, but not nearly enough in the way of good, fresh fruits and vegs.

Kate, for your cucumbers, a vinegary cucumber salad with thinly sliced cukes and extremely thinly sliced onions and a sprinkling of dill and sugar - I find to be a great use for lots of cukes, and they keep for a while. Actually gets better as it sits in the vinegar.

Another trought that I just had: isn't there any organization for bartering goods in your area? You may barter the surplus vegetables with other veggies you don't produce, or even with other products or services: a load of homegrown fresh-off-the-plant zucchini for... A load of tomatoes or half a load of tomatoes and half a load of basil, or a pair of handknitted socks, or two hours of a guy that will fix your broken kitchen window...