Posted on 07/11/2014 2:15:53 PM PDT by greeneyes
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It’s early yet, but my one cucuzza is in the crockpot along with the other ingredients for Kim D.’s Italian Cucuzza Stew. I added some sliced Ichiban eggplants, threw in some tiny onions I pulled this morning that never amounted to much, and I’ll add some fresh thyme instead of dried. I’m also making it thicker & will likely serve it over brown rice tonight. That cucuzza had a really tough skin - I can see how they become gourds if left too long.
As for the Trombettas, the 4 left from my initial harvest will go in something else later today, probably some sort of spaghetti sauce. While I was previously whining about only “boy blooms”, yesterday I noticed a female & this morning I counted at least 6 so there will be more T’s coming. I also saw a male bloom with 4 bumble bees in it! They are definitely hanging out around the blooms and were there 20 minutes before actual sunrise, so if the cucuzza will ever get another female flower, it will probably get pollinated. I also saw my very first squash bug this morning, sitting on the wire - now a squashed bug. Checked the plants over and didn’t see any more.
Something got into the tomatoes yesterday - I found two green ones and 1 ripe one lying next to the raised bed. It looks like something stabbed the soft pulp/seed parts out of them. I’m thinking the crow family rather than squirrels, who tend to carry the tomatoes away. Plus, the garden is out in the open and the squirrels are well aware of the hawks that are in the area and are super nervous about being caught out away from cover. The crow family are troublemakers & into everything. Our fig bush was cold-killed back to the roots this winter; however, it’s bushed back out & now is loaded with marble-sized figs ... the crows will be all over them when they start to ripen, the rascals!
I have two cucuzzi in the oven right now. Nope, not baking them..just stuck them in their diagonally so they'd fit to make them "disappear".
I need to decide how to cook them. I've run out of people to whom I can give them. They sure make a few servings, don't they?
And I haven't tried doing the tenerumi of the cucuzzi yet, either.
BTW, I think I have no new flowers on my cucuzzi right now, and only "boys" on my Trom's. I wonder if it's cyclical? I do have some tiny trom's, not yet big enough to flower. Guess I need to save some pollen for germnation for when that happens.My one tiny cucuzza that is up has not popped the seed husk thingy off yet. I am always tempted to "help" them, but have restrained myself.
Do report back on how your Kim D's Italian Stew turns out.
It was DELICIOUS! I added just over half the water (she said 6 cups), but I filled my 28 oz tomato can with water to get all the tomato juice out & it was perfect for me. I doubled the garlic ‘cause I like it, added some eggplant. I also put a little Louisiana Hot Sauce on it in the bowl & just a tiny sprinkle of koscher salt (didn’t cook with any). Love it - want to try it over some brown rice.
The T’s seem cyclical to me - had all boys, now a bunch of girls. No cucuzza blooms except male - very disappointing.
Maybe I should try ithat recipe with the Cucuzzi that I stuck "out of sight-out of mind" in the oven..
Maybe I should try ithat recipe with the Cucuzzi that I stuck “out of sight-out of mind” in the oven..
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Sounds like a plan! :-) I’m headed outside to finish up a 50 yard section of fence I started clearing yesterday. Everything is cut and down, but I need to haul it away. The heat and humidity are moving back in today so I’m thinking ‘earlier’ will be better than later for working. Once that’s done, I’ll be back inside, making another batch of Kim’s stew with those 4 Trombettas. The stew I can freeze for another day. In about a week, the Trombettas on the vine will be ready so I definitely need to get rid of what I have. The cukes keep rolling in - I’ve made two batches of freezer pickles - they are in the fridge for 3 days and then you freeze them. One batch will make it to the freezer, the other is about gone - delicious snack & good on tuna sandwiches. I need more freezer containers for sure!
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