Grilled Yellow Squash

This is a tasty way to use up all the yellow squash you have pouring out of your garden every summer. I also do this same thing with zucchini.

Ingredients

• 4 medium yellow squash

• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed

• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat the grill for medium heat.

• Step 2

  Cut the squash horizontally into 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch thick slices so that you have nice long strips that won't fall through the grill.

• Step 3

  Heat olive oil in a small pan, and add garlic cloves. Cook over medium heat until the garlic starts to sizzle and become fragrant. Brush the slices of squash with the garlic oil, and season with salt and pepper.

• Step 4

  Grill squash slices for 5 to 10 minutes per side, until they reach the desired tenderness. Brush with additional garlic oil, and turn occasionally to prevent sticking or burning.

Zucchini Patties

These cheesy zucchini patties are easy to make and an excellent way to use up that abundance of zucchini from the garden.

Ingredients

• 2 cups grated zucchini

• 2 eggs, beaten

• ½ cup all-purpose flour

• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• ¼ cup chopped onion

• salt to taste

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions

1. Place zucchini, eggs, flour, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, onion, and salt in a medium bowl; stir until well combined.

2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.

3. Scoop tablespoonfuls of zucchini mixture into hot oil and fry, working in batches, until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.

Greek Green Beans

A nice mix of green beans, onion, and tomatoes simmered until soft and delicious!

Ingredients

• ¾ cup olive oil

• 2 cups chopped onions

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 2 pounds fresh green beans, rinsed and trimmed

• 3 large tomatoes, diced

• 2 teaspoons sugar

• salt to taste

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

2. Cook and stir the onions and garlic in the skillet until tender.

3. Mix the green beans, tomatoes, sugar, and salt into the skillet.

4. Reduce heat to low, and continue cooking 45 minutes, or until beans are soft.

Spanakopita

This is an authentic Greek spanakopita pie recipe featuring layers of crispy, flaky phyllo dough and a rich spinach and feta cheese filling. Serve warm for an impressive but easy to make vegetarian main dish.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 1 bunch green onions, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 pounds spinach, rinsed and chopped

• ½ cup chopped fresh parsley

• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese

• ½ cup ricotta cheese

• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten

• 8 sheets phyllo dough

• ¼ cup olive oil, or as needed

Directions

1. Gather all ingredients.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil a 9-inch square baking pan.

3. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute chopped onion, green onions, and garlic in the hot oil until soft and lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

4. Stir in spinach and parsley, and continue to saute until spinach is limp, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

5. Mix feta cheese, ricotta cheese, and eggs in a medium bowl until well combined. Stir in spinach mixture.

6. Lay one sheet of phyllo dough in the prepared baking pan, and brush lightly with olive oil. Lay another sheet of phyllo dough on top and brush with olive oil. Repeat the process with two more sheets of phyllo dough; the sheets will overlap the pan.

7. Spread spinach and cheese mixture into the pan. Fold any overhanging dough over the filling. Brush with oil.

8. Layer the remaining 4 sheets of phyllo dough, brushing each with oil. Tuck overhanging dough into the pan to seal the filling.

9. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes.

10. Cut into squares and serve while hot.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Combining these two classic spring crops is the perfect way to bring in some refreshing, uplifting flavors as bright as a sunny spring day.

Ingredients

Dressing:

• ½ cup white sugar

• ½ cup olive oil

• ¼ cup distilled white vinegar

• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

• 1 tablespoon minced onion

• ¼ teaspoon paprika

• ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Salad:

• 1 quart strawberries - cleaned, hulled and sliced

• 10 ounces fresh spinach - rinsed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces

• ¼ cup almonds, blanched and slivered

Directions

1. Make dressing: Whisk together sugar, oil, vinegar, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion, paprika, and Worcestershire in a medium bowl. Cover and chill for 1 hour.

2. Make salad: Combine strawberries, spinach, and almonds in a large bowl.

3. Pour dressing over salad; toss to coat. Refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Zucchini Roses

I have a confession to make. I’m a guy that watches British fashion vloggers. Well … my wife does, and I’m just there for the gardening bits. One of the vloggers she follows recently posted a video making Courgette Roses. (“Courgettes” are what Brits call zucchini and summer squash. They have some weird names for veggies. Aubergine? Really?) Anyway, I found a version of the recipe with the temperatures and measurements converted to US units. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (about 8 ounces)

• All-purpose flour, for rolling out dough

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves

• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

• 1 small summer squash (about 6 ounces), cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced diagonally

• 1 small zucchini (about 6 ounces), cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced diagonally

• Nonstick cooking spray

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Roll the puff pastry out to a 12-inch square on a floured work surface.

2. Brush lightly with the olive oil and sprinkle evenly with the cheese, thyme and lemon zest.

3. Cut into 6 even strips.

4. Shingle alternating yellow and green slices of squash and zucchini along the length of each strip of dough making sure to leave half the dough strip uncovered and allowing the green and yellow skins to hang over one edge slightly.

5. Fold the uncovered dough over the squash and pinch together at the two ends.

6. Starting at one end, roll each strip into a spiral.

7. Lightly press the rolled tarts into a muffin tin sprayed with cooking spray.

8. Bake until the crusts are browned and crisp on the bottom, the top is dry and crisp and the squash is tender and browned on the edges, about 40 minutes.

9. Remove to a rack to cool slightly. Serve warm.