What to Do with a Giant Zucchini

OK, so you're wondering what to do with that hummer of a zucchini that got away from you and now is the size of a small child. Here's what I do: make zucchini relish! We were introduced to this tasty treat several years ago by one of my visiting teachers, and now we won't eat any other kind. Even picky eaters like this relish! Here's the recipe:

Zucchini Relish

4 to 4-1/2 lb. Zucchini squash (peeled, seeded)

2 med. Onions

1 sweet red pepper

2 Tbsp. Canning Salt

2 C. sugar

1 C. cider vinegar

1/2 C. water

2 tsp. Celery seed

2 tsp. Ground turmeric

1 tsp. Ground nutmeg

1/8 tsp. Pepper

Cut up vegetables; grind in food chopper, using coarse blade, being careful not to over process. (I pulse mine in the food processor.) Add salt. Cover; refrigerate overnight.

Rinse in cold water. Drain well in colander.

In 4- to 5-quart kettle combine vegetable mixture, sugar, vinegar, water, celery seed, turmeric, nutmeg, and pepper. Bring to boil. Cover; boil gently for 10 minutes, stirring often.

Ladle hot mixture into hot, clean pint jars; leave ½-inch headspace. Prepare lids according to manufacturer’s directions. Remove air bubbles with a non-metallic spatula. Wipe jar rim. Adjust lid. Process jars in boiling water bath 15 minutes (start timing when water returns to boil). Makes 4-7 pints.

This is great on hot dogs, tuna sandwiches, anything!

Heather needs a job

So, Heather's summer job ended and her expenses haven't. Life seems so much more expensive now than it was when I was a kid. Especially with her driving... So, this is my attempt at networking.

She has applied to work at Court Sports Kids Klub and at the River Road Park, but we won't know if either of those pan out for some time. I don't know--is it just me? This whole looking for a job thing wigs me out!

She worked about 20 minutes this summer at KFC. (Well, maybe a few minutes more.) But between girls camp and volunteering at cub camp and family vacation and getting her wisdom teeth out, she really didn't work many hours. And she says she HATED it and will not work fast food again. (I keep telling her she's lucky not to have to work at the potato factory where I worked for three summers, standing in the cold, noisy, smelly factory cutting black spots off potatoes all NIGHT long. She says that sounds fun...)


I know this is rambling, but I am really wondering what to encourage her to do. Jobs for teens seem hard to find. Especially ones that won't insist on her working Sundays, which is strictly off-limits for us. If anyone has any ideas or leads, I'd be grateful. Or if you need a babysitter, she's really good with kids. Or you can just pray for us... :-)