Before we went on vacation, I took a look at my garden to decide what I should harvest before I left. The squash seemed a little on the small size, so I left it to grow for a few more days. Big mistake! I came home to an overwhelming amount of squash:
I only planted two zucchini plants this year, three yellow straight neck squash and one pattypan squash. That combined with rich compost is enough to produce more than my family of 5 can eat. Fortunately, the excess can be diced and frozen.
I have compiled a list of summer squash recipes the last two summers to address the abundance, and decided it was time to do it again this year.
Recipes that are in my meal rotation now:
~Sautéed Summer Squash and Zucchini
~Herbed Chicken on Vegetable Confetti
~Sautéed Squash with Onions Shelia at KnitsCooksCrochets prepares her yellow squash in a similar manner only she sautés her onions in butter instead of olive oil.
Most of the above recipes allow us to savor the fresh picked squash. As we tire of eating it every.single.day I will move to recipes where the squash will acquire more flavor from the recipe’s other ingredients.
Recipes that you will find on my Menu in the near future:
~Squash-sagna and here are more recipes that use squash as an alternative to noodles
~Chicken Pesto and Couscous Salad
~Pasta and Vegetables in Lemon Parmesan Sauce
~Angel Hair Squash with Garden Vegetables
Visit Amy at The Finer Things in Life . She compiled a wonderful list of zucchini recipes many of which could be adapted to include summer squash.
Squash Tips:
~Summer Squash is a broad term that includes all squash that reach maturity in the summer (instead of fall like pumpkins). When I am in the garden I am inclusive in my definition, but once I step into the kitchen I tend to limit my definition to the yellow varieties.
~If you have a choice, choose smaller squash since they have less seeds.
~Grated summer squash can be used to replace carrots in carrot cake!
~You can freeze your squash. Cut it up into bite size pieces or shred it then freeze it. Erin at $5 Dinners cuts up summer squash along with zucchini, carrots, onion,and celery then freezes it so she can pull it out and add it when she makes Zucchini Freezer Soup.
~You can pickle squash! Kendra at New Life on the Homestead has a recipe for Squash Pickles that I am excited to try.
~You can eat it uncooked. Try adding some to your next salad.
~You can easily grill squash. Cut yellow squash in half inch thick slices, coat with you favorite marinade, and grill it alongside your steaks.
What is your favorite way to eat squash? If you have any favorite summer squash recipes that you would like to share, please leave me a link in the comments and I will include it in the list.
This post is linked to The Hearth and Soul Hop, Tasty Tuesday, Works for Me Wednesday, and Real Food Wednesday.
Our garden isn’t doing well at all, but these recipes looks great. Wish I had some more zucchini to use up! I do have some in the freezer though and that might work for a few recipes.
I love to make zucchini bread
Oh, what a great round up and inspiration! I do love to just slice and microwave garden squash but this will surely expand our squash horizons
I have a blog award for you over on Hodgepodge: http://www.hodgepodge.me/2011/08/sweet/
Awesome tips and dishes! I love them all- now I just have to decide which one to do first!
Thanks for linking to one of my recipes – I had it for dinner the other night too!
This is a great list; I’ll be checking out a lot of these excellent looking recipes!
What a great roundup of articles. I’m off to check that first one – it looks interesting.
Mmmm… chicken squash bake… I’m glad it made your list!
I LOVE yellow squash… but unfortunately have not had a bumper crop (or a crop at all) for a number of years. 
I’m a frittata fan and also of the julienne. I have a vegetable dicer thats called the chop wizard that I found at Bed Bath & Beyond that I LOVE. Perfect 1/2 or 1/4 strips.
Thanks for hosting and posting at the hearth and soul hop.
Squash can grow on you in a hurry! Zucchini is tricky too since they blend in with the leaves. One day you see nothing, the next a monster!
Great round-up of squash recipes and info.
My favorite is grilled or sauteed w/ lemon juice and garlic.
My favorite use of fresh summer squash:
Slice up 1 squash, 1 bell pepper, 1 onion. Saute all in butter until just tender. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss in a handfull of corn meal, stir and saute til soft. Nothing better! Can’t believe the difference the corn meal makes!!!
That sounds delicious! I will have to give it a try.
I make pickles with my zucinni. I use Mrs Wrights Bread and Pickle mix. YUMMY!! Can and eat all year long!!