Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Summer Fare And An Answer To Bill Trussell's Question

Zucchini Pancakes
One of the most common summer vegetables is the Zucchini squash. When it's hot these long green beauties can be found on sale in markets and farm stands everywhere. The price can be cheap and I for one take advantage of it. A simple way of fixing zucchini is one that I make often, it includes garlic, tomatoes, onions and zucchini. All baked together. Another way is fried zucchini, this includes sliced squash, bread crumbs, eggs and grated cheese. The squash is fried in oil until golden brown. The issue with this form of preparation is the amount of oil the squash absorbs.

Zucchini pancakes is a better way to fix this squash. It starts with the squash being grated, a bit of baking powder, 2 eggs, salt and pepper, grated cheese and enough flour to help absorb the liquid. If you take the time to drain and squeeze the squash the less flour you'll use. The mixture is placed in a fry pan and cooked until golden brown. Prepared this way the amount of oil is less then half the amount used in typical fried zucchini.


Native pickling cukes, sliced red onions, olive oil, salt and pepper. Everyday lunch for me. Simple and light and really tasty.


Awhile back frequent contributor Bill Trussell asked me a question. He asked do you see many snakes while fishing those small streams. My answer was yes, but I pass many more that I don't see. Here is one that I almost put my hand on while climbing up a stream bank. A water snake, non venomous but very aggressive and they will bite. This one was quite still and very wet. In his mouth was a brook trout he had just taken from the stream.








26 comments:

  1. "When it's hot these long green beauties can be found on sale in markets and farm stands everywhere." or in my back yard. We always have Zucchini in the garden. I hate snakes.

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    1. Mark Kautz
      Thanks
      Mark I should have mentioned home gardens. I am often given home grown zucchini. What I do really enjoy is zucchini bread, but can't make it.

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  2. Hi Alan I'm not a fan of snakes but in general I leave them alone, live and let live. This May I was tying on a fly and therefore standing motionless when out of my peripheral vision I noticed something coming toward me against the current. Realizing it was a Water snake in the 4' range I quickly made my presence known by moving, he turned and went the other way which made us both feel a lot better. Though non venomous they are notoriously ill tempered and can give a painful bite. It caught me off guard because in mid May the river was still really cold and a snake was the last thing I expected to see. I do look for them in the warmer months. Best to watch where you step and where you put your hands-

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    1. Dean F
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      Dean they are short tempered and should be given the right of way. You say 4' and that's a large snake. I once saw a mating ball of water snakes, gave me the chills. I respect them and know they are a part of the natural world but I don't like them.

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  3. That's awesome Alan - I got a pic of one a few years back doing that as well. Amazing to see those snakes catch fish like that!

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    1. Hibernation
      Thanks
      Will they are fast and they can get into those undercut banks. I chapter in Harry Murray's book on Shenandoah fishing stated that one pool had more snakes in it chasing brookies then there were brookies. That's spooky.

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  4. I see a few snakes in the water at lakes and ponds here. In fact I saw one last Fri. I've only seen one rattler here in NM, small and a few years back.

    I love potato pancakes but your zucchini ones look tasty!

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    1. billp
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      Bill rattlers are here but seen very little by fishermen, hikers etc.
      Potato pancakes are tops.

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  5. Alan
    That squash looks delicious along with the green salad; healthy eating for sure. I'm not a fan of snakes even those non poisonous ones. That Water Snake could pass as a tree root. Great post,thanks for sharing

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    1. Bill Trussell
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      Bill I try to be aware of my surroundings but sometimes I make mistakes. Luckily this guy was eating and did not respond to me being close.

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  6. We don't see many snakes up here, Garter snakes usually, and all small. I don't mind snakes at all; it's spiders that I can't handle. My wife is the zucchini lover in the family. I confess it's not my favorite veggie, though your pancakes look mighty tasty.

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    1. mike
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      Mike spiders are OK, but hornets and wasps are another thing. The issue with zucchini is that it's bland. Good seasoning is key to a tasty finished product.

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  7. Brk Trt, yes zucchini!! I do like it as well. My mother use to make it in place of egg plant and parmesan it. Man that's good!!
    The closest I come to snakes of any kind on any regular basis, are those same northern brown water snakes, or the black racers that are speedy fast. Yikes!!
    So as far as snakes, not a huge fan. But actually a friend this past early spring came across a juvenile timber rattler in the Pittsfield mass state forest It was all coiled up on a trail in the sun and spotted while walking his dog. Did a little research, and even as young ones, they are still venomous and actually more dangerous. Apparently juveniles can't control the amount of venom they expel when they bite like the adults can. I may not have believed it myself until I saw the cool pictures he took as evidence and confirmation.

    Also lets just say I don't want to find out if that venom info is true or not....Phil

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    1. DRYFLYGUY
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      Phil I actually prefer zucchini to eggplant which can be quite bitter at times. Rattlers are here but I can say I've never encountered one. We have a forest here who's Indian name means land of the snake. I never knew the young ones carried such potent bites.

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  8. wow I don't want to go fishing over there ...great pankake..

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    1. Armando Milosevic
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      Armando they are not that bad. But you have to be alert.

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  9. Alan,

    I bet those water snakes and other predators really do a number on trout in small streams. Yet some survive and get to be one of those real big ones you catch from time to time.

    We have had a bumper crop of zucchini and summer squash from our garden this year and I really enjoy it, though I have about had my fill of it now. Cukes have done real well too resulting in numerous jars of pickles in the fridge. Tomatoes, got my first one yesterday and holy cow was it good. Many more to come as time goes on.

    Be well,
    Sam

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    1. Sam
      Thanks
      Sam Kingfishers eat their share as do Herons. I guess that's what makes wild trout so "on their toes" so to speak.
      It must be nice to have a big garden. Going out and selecting your salad within minutes of eating it. Envy, envy...

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  10. Years back if you didn't lock your car door someone would likely leave a bag of zucchini on the seat. Of course now we lock them for different reasons.

    I've seen a lot of snakes over the years but up here it's garters and cute little copperbellys. I kinda' like them, but I know those common water snakes have a mean streak -- watch your step.

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    1. Al R.
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      All I have not heard that before..
      Garters are plentiful and like all snakes they provide a valuable service. It's just that they are so scary at least to me.

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  11. Adders and grass snakes are our lot over here, grass snakes spend a lot if time swimming if they get a chance.

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    1. BUREBOYBLOG
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      It's cool watching snakes swim. Most can really move in the water.

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  12. As Bure Boy said, Adders and Grass Snakes here and some of the Grass Snakes are big. The Terriers disturbed one about three feet long, a female I think, it went into the dyke and the terriers were utterly perplexed. All the best, John

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    1. The Two Terriers
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      John a 3' foot snake is impressive. The faces on the terriers must have been something. I had a Brittany that would point snakes while we were hunting.

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  13. Alan, When they met the grass snake, Barney froze and the Lucie jumped vertically with eye like organ stops! Another experience and a little more wary of stuffing her head into the reeds. John

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    1. John a lesson learned. And I'm sure it will not be forgotten.

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