Fried crookneck squash, zucchini casserole, and sweet or bread and butter pickles are what most folks think of as southern food and they are right.  These really are delicous comfort foods I enjoyed as a kid. There is so much more you can do with zucchini, crookneck squash and cucumbers and now that the yields are higher I have some awesome recipes! 

• Pickled Purslane- soon this herb will be gone for the season. 
• Herb infused cucumber slices
• Garlicky cucumber slices
• Zucchini Breakfast casserole
• Pickled Zucchini
• bread and butter zucchini
• Crookneck squash chips
• Crookneck casserole
• veggie pot

To get these recipes email me and in the subject line put July 29 recipes

Additional recipes available for Crookneck squash and Zucchini.  To get these recipes email me with the veg you want in the subject line.

What I remember most about food growing up is the leisurely time we took with meals.  Now a days that almost never happens.  Which is too bad because it is very satisfying and enjoyable.  Grandma always had a plate of seasonal veggies at every meal.  It was not unusual to have a small portion of meat, 2-3 veg entrees and then dessert. A typical supper(mid day meal) would include a relish tray of zuch sticks, cuke slices, crookneck squash slices, sliced onions rings and sliced tomatoes.  There might be a dip for dipping, I definately do that now. 

We would start off the meal with casual conversation and nibble the relish tray while supper was getting put on the table.  The meat could be roasted beef or pork, sliced turkey or baked chicken.  We didn't eat the portions of meat that is so prevelant today.  Probably 3-4 ounces unless it was Sunday supper.  T

The entrees could be a crookneck or zucchine casserole, bread and butter pickles and maybe a mashed squash dish.  For dessert whatever fruit was in season Grandma would make cobbler.  Papa always had iced tea and we always had water. 

We would eat a little bit of everything instead of having a supersized portion of one thing.  The relish tray would stay out all day for snacking and be empty by 4 or so.  Sunday supper was a different story and we did that up until I moved away from home.  Some day I will blog about that, I still love Sunday supper! 

So hopefully you can take a day when the entire family can sit and eat together.  If you did this a few times a month you will be amazed at the fun that happens. Pick the foods you like and don't make it complicated.  Mealtime is an event and should be experienced with ease and joy.