Well, I've woken up the past few mornings to a slower sunrise, crispy air, and a craving for some spicy chai; and we've already spent time making apple pie and apple butter from our old tree. Fall is in the air--but not entirely. We've still got zucchini out the wahzoo and have been enjoying some fantastic sunny days.
First the zucchini! My mother-in-law sent me a simple and tasty soup recipe. I made a huge pot of it and we enjoyed it for more than a week. Any soup that I can enjoy that long, must be good.
Joann's Zucchini Soup
olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tsp. curry powder
pinch of cayenne
2-3 lb shredded zucchini
4 cups of stock
salt and pepper to taste
a few handfuls of spinach (optional--if you have a boatload of that growing in your garden too)
1. Saute onions and garlic in olive oil over medium-high until they are soft.
2. Add curry powder and cayenne; cook for about 30 seconds.
3. Add zucchini, reduce to medium heat and cook for about 5 minutes.
4. Add stock, bring to boil and reduce heat. Simmer about 20 minutes.
4. Puree the soup in batches and return to the pot. Season with salt and pepper and toss in spinach right before you serve it.
Enjoy!
I also did a simple marinated salad with Zucchini that was fresh, cool, and made the squash disappear.
Mint and Zucchini Salad
1-2 lb zucchini--sliced into very thin rounds
a handful of mint leaves, chopped into ribbons
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1/4 c. olive oil
3 TBS. lemon juice
salt and pepper
1. Combine mint and zucchini in a bowl and let em sit together.
2. Combine garlic, oil, and lemon juice in a jar with a lid. Shake it up!
3. Pour the dressing over the minty squash, toss, and season.
4. Chill for a bit and then enjoy!
Speaking of chilling, Justin and I got to chill in some alpine lakes this last weekend. We did a pretty big (for me) day hike around the Seven Lakes Basin in the Sol Duc. While we covered somewhere between 17 and 19 miles that day, we had time to swim in a few lakes, gaze in awe at Mt. Olympus, whistle for marmots, smell flowers, pick some wild mushrooms and celebrate our 3rd anniversary. It was the perfect sunny - with wispy clouds - day. Our legs were pooped by the end, but I think both of our spirits were lighter! These days remind us why we live where we live!
