Admittedly, I’m not the best listener.
In my defense, I’m actively working on it.
I understand your skepticism of course. It might help to know I have “A Plan,” which probably isn’t a surprise given my love of organizing all the things, especially if I get to pen a list or even better, multiple lists. Bonus points for bullet points. With concrete and clear ideas set in stone or truly etched on paper, I’m certain success will be mine. In fact, I’m ready and listening whenever you feel like agreeing with me.
Naturally, you’re curious about said plan, which is understandable and only right. In fact, I’m sure there are other non-listeners in the audience right now saying, “Wait, this is something you can change. I had no idea. Here I though I was destined to go through life making it all about me.”
No judgment here; I can relate, a little too much, which is why I’m going to share my critically acclaimed three step program with all of you.
The Plan (for Better Listening Skills)
- Stop talking. Pretty simple that first step. Bite your tongue, but not too hard since you wouldn’t want to damage your taste buds. Food is too lovely for that.
- Stay focused, which means no more noodling things over in your noggin, at least not when someone else is talking. Save your brain power for more important things, like how much wood could a woodchuck chuck.
- Engage in what others are saying. Instead of telling your own tales, ask them follow up questions about theirs, which will, of course, require you to employ the skills learned in phase one and two.
There you have it. My entire plan, in all it’s shining glory. It’s practically foolproof, which means even I can manage it.
Now you might be wondering what this has to do with zucchini, and the answer is recently readers have left me comments about drowning in this lovely and phallic green vegetable. I get it.
More importantly, you talked, and I listened, which is why today I’m sharing a plethora of zucchini and summer squash recipes with all of you. Go forth, listen and get your veggie on.
SUMMER SQUASH AND ZUCCHINI RECIPE ROUND UP
Zucchini Bread Pancakes from Kiss My Broccoli
Summer Squash Fritters with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce from Clean Eats, Fast Feets
Grilled Zucchini with Feta from Farm Fresh Feasts
Pesto Parmesan Pancakes (Waffles) from The Big Man’s World
Pesto Infused Summer Squash and Zucchini Quiche from Clean Eats, Fast Feets
Easy Cheesy Vegetable Rice Enchiladas from Farm Fresh Feasts
Zucchini Salad with Parmesan and Basil from Chelsea’s Healthy Kitchen
Flourless Chocolate Zucchini Muffins from Running With Spoons
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Zucchini Brownie Bread from Peas and Crayons
Zucchini Lime Cupcakes from Farm Fresh Feasts
Flourless Greek Yogurt Zucchini Brownies from The Big Man’s World
Last although certainly not least, when you can’t be bothered, simply shred it and stick in the freezer. You can deal with it another day. This is my favorite method because it means I get zucchini bread pancakes, muffins, enchiladas, and fritters all in the dead of winter. Plus I don’t have to drain the liquid. The defrosting process takes care of that minor detail for you.
Do you get lots of summer squash and zucchini? What’s your favorite way to utilize it? Feel free to include a link to the recipe in your comment. The more the merrier.
Juli @1000lovelythings says
Nice roundup! I love summer squash and always have one or two zucchini rotting in my fridge because I buy them and then don’t know what to do with them! I have seen so many recipes combining zucchini and chocolate but I was not brave enough to try it so far! Great improvement of your listning skills 🙂
Just on a sidenote: don’t get too good at it. I am a great listener, I guess because I have to in my job. I engage, ask questions, follow up next time…. People love to talk to me – and stop listening to me 😛
Juli @1000lovelythings recently posted…Homemade Spiced Butter
Meghan says
Well then we need to get together. I can improve my listening skills and you can work on your speaking skills, as in getting a chance to do so.
Shred the zucchini, freeze it and deal with it in the winter when you feel like baking.
Meghan recently posted…Summer Squash & Zucchini Recipe Round Up
Jenn says
Heart you so. Thanks for always listening to me and my craziness <3
Jenn recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday Party #259
Meghan says
But of course.
Meghan recently posted…Summer Squash & Zucchini Recipe Round Up
danielle saucy smith says
these recipes look divine! I love zucchini and all squash, I can’t wait to try these. my hubby is going to the farmer’s market tomorrow morning so i expect him to return with lots of squash, of which i will gladly use. funny story, he’s going with our friend, they are having a ‘man date’ to the farmer’s market! while I go for my long walk at the park with my mentor/godmother/life-coach. i’m pretty stoked how I got this deal! I had no idea my hubby would be so excited to go to the farmers market early on a Saturday morning while i go for my walk.. i’m learning new things that I love about my life each day.
i must comment about the whole listening thing – i had the same problem, too. don’t tell! people think i’m a really good listener, and i am but i have to REALLY try. i used to be so bad at it that i literally would force myself to repeat every single word someone said to me so that i’d engage my brain in their dialogue. people thought i was mentally challenged or rain man for a while, and honestly i was okay with it. i rather be considered a brilliant mad genius and special 🙂
have a fabulous starry spangled 4th!
danielle saucy smith recently posted…Food Glorious Food
Meghan says
You are a lucky one woman. My Hubby could take or leave the farmers market and he’d certainly pass on strawberry picking although I drag him along every year. 🙂
Listening is hard work!!
Happy Star Spangled Weekend to you too. Enjoy it, you brilliant mad genius.
Meghan recently posted…Summer Squash & Zucchini Recipe Round Up
Suzy says
It’s frustrating when people try and top each other’s stories. I’ll be like, “my hamster died” and they’ll be all, “oh I had five hamsters and they all died.” And then I’m left feeling all invalidated. I catch myself doing it to other people sometimes too. I need to just sthu and give them what they need in that moment. I’ll have my turn later. Baked zucchini goods help a lot too.
Suzy recently posted…Blended Family Friday: Taking Turns
Meghan says
I know what you’re talking about. I call those people “Toppers,” and they can be sooo difficult to handle because suddenly you find yourself in a competition when you all wanted to do was talk. Geesh.
Meghan recently posted…Summer Squash & Zucchini Recipe Round Up
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape says
Some great ideas here to choose from! Thanks for rounding these up. (I went with simply grilling the zucchini the other day, tasted great! Can you believe I have never grilled them before? Only sautéed!)
Only since being back at school and training on ‘how to listen’ have I realised how much I didn’t listen before, how hard it is, and how most people can’t listen without giving an opinion!
Hope you have a fab weekend! 🙂 x
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…What I ate Wednesday – Brighton Edition!
Meghan says
Grilled zucchini is fantastic too. It’s how we had it on Sunday night. Simple and easy, and I’m so glad you gave grilling it a whirl too. I bet you’ll do that again.
Listening without an opinion is difficult. Maybe we can work on it together. 🙂 You talk, I’ll listen.
Meghan recently posted…Summer Squash & Zucchini Recipe Round Up
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
I need to follow your plan too. Such a loud mouth…
Also, I have an ass load of zucchini (that’s what she said). Thanks for this.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…The Strange But Good Truth About Uni
Meghan says
I got you, your back and your ass load of zucchini!!
Meghan recently posted…Summer Squash & Zucchini Recipe Round Up
meredith@ Cookie ChRUNicles says
I love this round up!!!! I shared Arman’s recipe too today, so funny. I need to try some of these and I must get a spiralizer already for zucchini. I keep saying it.
meredith@ Cookie ChRUNicles recently posted…Vegetarian Summer Sides & Salads Links
Meghan says
You and me both. I have yet to spiralize anything.
Meghan recently posted…Summer Squash & Zucchini Recipe Round Up
Michele @ paleorunningmomma says
Love the look of that grilled zucchini and feta and the quiche. Summer squash has so many possibilities, how can it not be awesome?
Michele @ paleorunningmomma recently posted…Banana Sunbutter Ice Cream Pie
Meghan says
Exactly right. Bring on the summer squash.
Meghan recently posted…Summer Squash & Zucchini Recipe Round Up
liz says
I heart grilled zucchini. It’s my favorite. But cheese zucchini rice, zucchini bread, zucchini patties: all good in my book. The zucchini lime muffins sound interesting…. I must give them a try!
Meghan says
Yes, I want to try those zucchini lime muffins too. I love anything with citrus. Also Kirsten is the muffin master.
Meghan recently posted…Summer Squash & Zucchini Recipe Round Up
Niki @Life With Niki says
Squash and Zucchini are definitely some of my favorite veggies. I love their thicker texture, as it makes them add a ton of volume to dishes! Not to mention they’re fantastic for baking and do not contribute any funky tastes. Besides stuffing my face with squash and nut butter when I get the chance ;), I also like to eat zucchini frittatas! However I have yet to try these ‘miraculous’ zoodles :).
Niki @Life With Niki recently posted…When Everyone’s Life Is Better Than Yours
Meghan says
I haven’t tried the zoodles yet either, only because I don’t have a spiralizer. I need to get on that.
Meghan recently posted…Summer Squash & Zucchini Recipe Round Up
Chelsea @ Chelsea's Healthy Kitchen says
Awesome round up! Thanks so much for including my recipe.
I actually had no idea you could freeze zucchini – that’s great to know! I just started venturing into the territory of freezing local fruits and vegetables to have for the winter (inspired by my latest read, The 100 Mile Diet). Have you tried freezing it in any form other than shredded (ie. in rounds or sticks)?
Chelsea @ Chelsea’s Healthy Kitchen recently posted…Whole Wheat Flax Baked Chicken Fingers
Meghan says
I’ve never frozen zucchini any other way than shredding it, although I say try it once and see if it works in cubes or rounds. You’ll probably lose the texture but if you’re going to toss it in some soup or something, I bet it would work fine.
Meghan recently posted…Summer Squash & Zucchini Recipe Round Up
Brittany says
Normally I’m all about baking with this stuff, but lately I’ve been ZOODLIN like a mad woman yo!! ALL THE ZUCCHINI in my face like a wannabe noodle.
Brittany recently posted…Annette Lake
Meghan says
You need to bring your spiralizer with you when you come to Cleveland and then we can zoodle everything. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Summer Squash & Zucchini Recipe Round Up
Lucie@FitSwissChick says
You say you are an introvert, I don’t agree. You say you are not a good listener, I disagree once more. Just ask me, I know you.
Shredded zucchini are the best. I make frittata with them – so perfect.
Oh, and here’s a zoodles recipe. Zoodles is close to Awesomecauce and Bloobs which should be forbidden, but it’s between me and you and totally not public, so I can say it out loud.
http://fitswisschick.com/2014/03/04/vegetable-noodle-salad-with-spicy-turmeric-chicken/
Lucie@FitSwissChick recently posted…CrossFit – when mentality takes over
Meghan says
You are proof my listening skills are improving. I’ve been working on it. 🙂
Also, I just spent the entire weekend being social and now I want nothing more than to curl up in a little cave, where’s it’s calm and quiet. Ahhh bliss. You of course are welcome in my cave anytime.
Meghan recently posted…Summer Squash & Zucchini Recipe Round Up
lindsay says
i just bought zucchini today! where do you i start? gah, all look so good but can’t go wrong with dessert. Right?
Meghan says
You can never go wrong with dessert.
Meghan recently posted…Summer Squash & Zucchini Recipe Round Up
Khushboo says
Can you believe I haven’t cooked a single zucchini this whole summer- crazy I know!! Normally I love to slice & grill it or use a spiralizer to make zucchini noodles!
Great round-up here, Meg :)!
Khushboo recently posted…Mindful indulgence
Meghan says
You need to get on the zucchini train. 🙂 You’ll just have to come here since I have both squash and zucchini in my fridge right now. I’d be happy to share.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
Oh wow! SO much deliciousness with squash. We love making fritters. Going to share this on Twitter 🙂
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Meghan says
Thanks. I appreciate the share and I hope you get to enjoy some zucchini fritters soon.
Meghan recently posted…I Must Confess: Round Something or Other
Kirsten says
Do you know how freaky it is when you’re on vacation and check email on your phone once a day or so, have pre-scheduled posts to run while you’re gone, and before you can check and see if your cupcake recipe actually went live, you get an email with it linked in a round up?
That’s pretty freaky.
Thanks.
I am mighty proud to say that tonight’s dinner (day after return from vacation, day before farm share pick up) will be a volunteer zucchini from the garden, a non-volunteer bell pepper from the garden, onions from the garden, and peas from the garden. Cooked somehow, I dunno. Eggs and cheese. We are so done with eating giant slabs of meat.
Kirsten recently posted…Grilled Napa Cabbage and Chicken Skillet–Using the Grill as a Summer Kitchen
Meghan says
I think I need to come to your house for dinner. It sounds delicious cooked in ways even you don’t know.
Those zucchini lime cupcakes were too goo to pass up. I can’t wait to try some. I’ve already added a lime to this weekend’s grocery list.
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