February 22: Planting squash in Florida!
Zuchinni
Zuchinni is a fruit, yes a fruit. It is also called “summer squash” Lady Moon Farms offers both green and yellow varieties. Zuchinni requires plentiful bees for pollination. If you grow zuchinni at home, you may need to hand pollinate it if a male and female flower are not open at the same time. Unpolinated fruits wither and die.
Selection
Lady Moon Farms zuchinni have smooth firm skin with a shiny appearance and silky texture. Choose zuchinni that are free of wrinkles and pitted areas.
Storage
Store in a plastic container instead of a zipper bag for several days. Placing a damp paper towel in the container can aid in keeping the zuchinni fresh.
Preparation
Wash the zuchinni gently under cool water remove the spiny stalk where it meets the smooth part of the fruit. Prepare with skin intact for maximum nutrition.
Nutrition
Zuchinni is low in calories and is good source of Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Phosphorus and Zinc. It is also a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.
Recipe
Breaded Zuchinni
slice zuchinni crosswise into _” pieces. Dip in flour, then beaten egg then breadcrumbs to bread. Place on electric skillet or stovetop skillet drizzled with butter or olive oil. Heat to a light golden brown, turn over to heat other side (approximately 7-8 minutes per side). Depending on how thick your slices are, you may need to cook them longer. Serve with a dollop of mustard and black pepper and enjoy either on bread or on a plate.
Grilled Zuchinni
Slice lengthwise into strips approximately _” thick, brush both sides with olive oil and cook for 1-2 minutes over a medium hot grill. Optionally, top with finely-grated parmesan cheese as soon as they come off the grill.
