Notes From Nikki-Summer Squash Pancakes and Honey-Drizzled Delicata Rings

Roasted Honey-Drizzled Delicata Squash Rings over Garlicky Greens

I was elated to see delicata squash when we picked up our Inverbrook share this week. Delicata is my absolute favorite winter squash. I love that it doesn't need to be peeled and that the skin is entirely delicious and edible, not to mention its inherent beauty. This dish showcases its good looks as the squash is cut into rings and served over a bed of greens. Splendid! My kids devoured these rings, by the way. A nice alternative to onion rings or fries. Enjoy!

Ingredients

2 T extra virgin olive oil

1 T honey

2 delicata squash, sliced 1/4-1/3" thick (use a pairing knife to scrape the seeds from the slices, creating rings)

2 bunches chard (or other cooking greens), stemmed and chopped

1-2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 T extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt

Fresh ground pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 400.

2. Drizzle 2 T olive oil onto a baking sheet, and arrange the squash rings atop in one layer.
3. Drizzle the rings with honey, and season with sea salt and pepper.
4. Roast for about 7 minutes, turn the rings, and then roast for another 7 (give or take... you want the rings to be golden brown on both sides and cooked through).
5. While the squash is roasting, heat 2 T olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
6. Saute the garlic until fragrant, and then add in the greens, sea salt, and pepper.
7. Saute just until the greens wilt, and then turn off the heat.
8. Turn the greens out onto a plate, and top with the roasted squash rings (I like to arrange them in a pile).

9. Serve family style.

Serves 2-3 as a side dish


Summer Squash Pancakes

So, my kids are sick of summer squash. Every time I put a dish on the table, they ask me if there is zucchini in it. ;-) I don't blame them. I do have a tendency to sneak it into just about everything this time of year. (Note to self: do NOT plant summer squash in the garden next year. Claire will provide plenty enough. ;-)) Despite their protests, they sincerely enjoyed the following dish. Pancakes! What's not to like? These work out to be something like a potato pancake, only instead of grated potatoes, you use grated summer squash. Super easy and quite tasty. Enjoy! Oh, incidentally, my kids insisted on topping these with ketchup (the horror!). Feel free to heed their advice if you must, although I wouldn't do it. ;-)

Ingredients
3-4 T extra virgin olive oil
3 medium summer squash (I used 1 zephyr and 2 pattypan), grated (largest holes)
2 eggs
1 C bread crumbs (toast 2 slices of your favorite bread, allow to cool, and then give them a whirl in the food processor)
Small handful of chopped chives
1 clove garlic, minced
Sea salt
Fresh ground pepper
Grated parmesan for topping (optional)
Basil leaves for garnishing

1. Preheat the oven to 200.
2. Toss the grated squash with a bit of salt and set in a colander to drain for about 20 minutes or so.
3. Squeeze the drained squash by the handful to remove excess water, and then combine it with the eggs, chives, garlic, bread crumbs, a bit more sea salt, and pepper.
4. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and form the squash mixture into patties (use about 1/4-1/3 C for each patty), one at a time, adding them directly to the skillet.
5. Place up to 4 patties at a time in the skillet, using a spatula to flatten them to about 1/4" thick.
6. Cook until the patties are golden brown on the bottom, and then flip (be careful, they're a little flimsy for the first flip).
7. Re-flatten a bit with the spatula, and cook again until the other side is golden brown (it should take a good 7 minutes or so per side; if you flip too early, you can always re-flip; I re-flipped a few times [I was feeling impatient ;-)]).
8. Place the finished patties on a baking sheet in the oven so they stay warm while you cook the other patties.
9. Serve each pancake topped with grated parmesan and a few basil leaves.

Makes approximately 8 pancakes.