Yes, lots of people guessed right yesterday. It's a cane topper. I would have loved to have bought a dozen but that would have been rather extravagant............... so just one for a memento and I'll carry on using flower pots on the top of all the other canes.
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There's a partial eclipse of the sun this evening - I no longer have Col's welding mask that we would have used in the almost total eclipse of 1999 except that the cloud over the coast meant we didn't see it properly. It was in the summer holidays so YD was at home and we went outside as the day went grey and felt very weird. I think there have been other partial eclipses since then - can't remember them though. I know I won't be around to see the next total eclipse as it's in 2090!
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What about the guys in the European Championships 100 metres last night - Gold and Silver medals - how good is that. I've been enjoying watching morning and evening sessions on the BBC (unlike the Commonwealth Games a couple of weeks ago which were only on paid-for TV channels except for an hour each evening)
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As usual at this time of year I've been eating courgettes, as many as I can, every other day - there are so many it's like free food.
No apologies for repeating three of the recipes I use. I think I include them every year.
COURGETTE FRITTERS
For one person I use 1 courgette, grated. Mixed with a tablespoon of flour, a small egg, small pinch salt and good amount of black pepper and half a teaspoon of curry powder (or not)
Drop spoons full into hot oil in frying pan and press down, turn over when browned and press down again. Drain on kitchen paper. For a different version of most fritter type recipes some grated cheese can be added but I don't and serve up mine with a couple of rashers of bacon and some tomato ketchup.
CRUMBLE TOPPED COURGETTES
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COURGETTE and PESTO PASTA SAUCE
Start cooking pasta then heat a little oil in a pan on low heat then add grated courgette, cook until soft. Stir in a spoonful of pesto and then the cooked drained pasta and serve up with grated cheddar and parmesan. (I just use cheddar)
And Finally..................
A while ago Steve at Shadows and Light Blog was mentioning itchy arms after working in the garden. Courgettes leaves are one of those things that really irritate my skin along with the leaves of beans, cucumber, goosegrass and many other things. I have to hurry in and wash arms quickly.
I love roasted or fried courgettes.
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of roasted - they just seem to be a soggy mess! Think I'm doing it wrong!
DeleteOoh, will have to try the courgette crumble recipe!
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit fiddly for one person but used to do it for whole family and serve up with chips !
DeleteLast time there was an eclipse, we were told to look at the refection in a car window it worked, so I aim to do the samr tonight.
ReplyDeleteI just heard that even a welding mask shouldn't be used . I'll just enjoy the weirdness without looking too closely
DeleteMy grandson has made a cereal box pinhole camera
ReplyDeleteVery clever
DeleteI thought I was the only person with skin so sensitive that just brushing past certain plants (runner beans, courgettes, cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, raspberries and most other soft fruit, corn cockle, corn flowers the list goes on) that I have taken to wearing a long sleeved, cotton shirt when I am going to work in the garden for any length of time. That and an antihistamine tablet help to keep the worst of the reactions at bay.
ReplyDeleteJane, Nottinghamshire
It's not too bad for me, just irritating and washing quickly always works
DeleteI am just about managing to keep up with the courgette production, but I am struggling to eat all the cucumbers. The leaves off both of them really irritate me too, I always wear gloves when I'm out picking.
ReplyDeleteMy cucs were good but then stopped - too hot for them in the greenhouse I think
DeleteI’m very itchy after picking beans, courgettes, cucumbers and even tomatoes .
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder that there’s much more to courgettes than just steamed or fried in butter…….I'm really going to miss them when they’re over.
Alison in Devon x
The green dust from tomatoes needs washing off quickly too - it can affect lungs.
DeleteYour recipes sound good. I wonder why we call these vegetables zucchini and Brits call them courgettes?
ReplyDeleteThat's one of those lovely differences to the same language.
DeleteIs a cane topper a decoration for the garden - you put in on the top of a stick? Not for the top of a walking cane, right? I've never heard of them before.
ReplyDeleteI made zucchini bread and had a yummy zucchini casserole last week. I have lots of shredded zucchini in the freezer so I may try one of your recipes. Thanks, Sue!
Putting something on the top of garden canes is for safety so that anyone bending over one (Used for tying plants to to stop them falling over) doesn't get poked in the eye!
DeleteIm another one who is sensitive to the hairs on leaves of plants, especially cucumbers, tomatoes and beans. My arms sting and I get a rash if I don't wash thoroughly. Gray thinks I'm barmy when I put on long sleeves to pick the produce even in the hottest weather. I always take a big bottle of tap water to the allotment with us so that I can wash my arms there when I've finished . The irritation is not pleasant 😒
ReplyDeleteThanks for the courgette recipes, Sue, I quite fancy the fritters 👍
Angie
The fritters are my favourites - take just minutes to have a very filling meal
DeleteI've never tried to grow courgettes so I don't know whether they'd bother my arms or not. Oddly (or perhaps not) my itchiness has subsided now that I've stopped picking the blackberries, which are pretty much done now anyway. If it wasn't due to an irritating plant, it could have been minute insects.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear you have no more itchiness!
DeleteI like raw courgette in salads.
ReplyDeleteNot a fan!
DeleteYour courgettes grow well and the recipes look terrific.
ReplyDeleteI grew two large acorn and butternut squash plants, and they were full of blossoms. Overnight the deer came in and ate nearly all the blossoms. I got two squashes but should have gotten many more. There is a mother deer with a fawn, and I believe they are hungry.
Itchy skin is not pleasant. I get severe poison ivy, and oak so must be careful.
There are 5 butternuts on my one squash plant which I'm really pleased with.
DeleteLuckily we don't have anything like poison ivy or oak here. The irritation from leaves is just annoying not serious and soon washed away
The recipes sound delicious!
ReplyDeleteMy reward for watering is free courgettes. There's a lovely cucumber nearly ready, but that will go to the crew watering next week . . .
ReplyDeleteI agree - free food at the moment. Freezing some of mine but the yellow ones are in nearly every meal.
Your cane topper is pretty. I have some little plastic toppers which I got in a pack at the garden centre.