Forum home› Talkback

Talkback: Not another courgette!

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
Do you find gardening is an excellent way to sample other's home-baking, I wonder? I certainly do. The link to the garden blog below details - amongst other things, gardening included -the possibility of blueberry muffins on offer tomorrow. The life o a jobbing gardener, eh?
rambling bloke blog
«1

Posts

  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    We all experience gluts of courgettes. I just love eating them steamed with nothing on (the courgettes have nothing on - not me). This year I have planted a late crop. The 2nd crop are just starting to produce courgettes now. They should last into the Autumn. Yum
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Mine are going crazy now too, last night we had courgette lasagne!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    As a very much newbie gardener I am finally seeing the fruits of my labour, and I cannot believe just how much I have grown! I highly recommend growing courgettes to anyone who is new to growing veg!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    As a very much newbie gardener I am finally seeing the fruits of my labour, and I cannot believe just how much I have grown! I highly recommend growing courgettes to anyone who is new to growing veg!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Thanks for the recipe Ruffy - sounds very simple quick and tasty. I tried Sophie G's risotto the other night and it was fab - I can totally recommend it! It's got loads of fresh herbs in it and very little parmesan so it's fresh and light - a perfect summer risotto in fact.
    PS I too love them nude Matron (there's a carry on joke there, isn't there?) but Paul's not so keen - it will have to reamin a private pleasure so to speak!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    All the rain and sunshine has produced a huge crop of courgettes, beans, tomatoes and chillis. My favourite recipe is ratatouille,which is basically a french vegetable stew.

    Soften onions, garlic, courgettes, mushrooms,aubergines,in olive oil.Add in lots of peeled and chopped tomatoes,about 1/4 bottle of red wine, some water depending on how many vegetables you have, salt and pepper and simmer for an hour with lid off pan to let it thicken and reduce.Sit back and enjoy rest of red wine. Perfect for barbecues,especially when you have to resort to eating inside because it is raining and cold! Freezes well! I have also added in runner beans and leeks when available.

  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Glut????? So why have mine grown and then rotted off in the worst summer for rain?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I disguised yellow courgettes in "carrot" cake. make as for carrot cake and don't tell the courgette detractors! They won't notice the difference.

    This week I am mostly eating courgette pakoras.

  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    How I envy you all, my first sowing of courgetts got eaten by the snails, they were quite a nice size by the time I put them out too. The next lot I sowed have been very slow to do anything, I kept them in the greenhouse in pots because the nights seemed so cold and have been taking off the male flowers to help (I thought) save the strength to go to the little courgetts, then I saw Jamie Oliver on TV, and his gardener said he would not get any courgetts if he took all the male flowers to cook in batter! now I am leaving them and at last a few are getting a decent size. Be warned!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Courgette chocolate cake:

    Ingredients
    180g good plain chocolate
    200g plain flour
    1 teaspn baking powder
    1/2 teaspn bicarb. of soda
    1/2 teaspn salt
    125 g caster sugar
    2 large eggs
    6 fl.oz vegetable oil
    225g peeled weight courgettes
    60g chopped walnuts

    Method
    Preheat oven 180C.
    Grease and flour a 2 lb loaf tin.
    Sift all the dry ingredients into a large bowl.
    Beat the oil in to the eggs
    Finely grate the courgettes collecting any juice Melt chocolate over hot water Mix eggs and oil into dry ingredients and then add the chocolate and courgettes.
    Stir to combine everything well and then mix in the nuts.
    Pour into loaf tin and bake for 50 - 55 mins.
    Leave in tin for 5 mins before turning out onto a wire rack.
    Serve sliced with vanilla ice cream!
    You could also divide the mixture into 2 x 8 1/2inch sandwich tins and then sandwich together with choc. butter cream.

    (NB It does not taste of courgettes they just add to the moistness.)
Sign In or Register to comment.