RECIPE: SOUTHERN SUMMER SQUASH WITH SWEET ONIONS

Where I live in Alabama, we are able to grow an abundance of yellow (summer) squash in the garden and it is always on the table in the summer. This is the way my mom cooked yellow squash and it is still my favorite way. Although I used black pepper for this batch, my mom only used white pepper for her squash.

For summer squash from the garden, you can cook it with or without onions. We prefer sweet onions but yellow (Spanish) onions are equally delicious. There's also the white pepper vs black pepper debate. Purists will say you must only use white pepper. You can see I opted for black pepper here.

SUMMER SQUASH AND SWEET ONIONS

Skill Level: Easy    Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 35-40 minutes

INGREDIENTS

6-8 medium yellow squash, sliced

1-2 Vidalia onions, sliced thin

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 cup cold water

1 teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper (the old school way is with white pepper so use that if you have it)

INSTRUCTIONS

Use a large skillet with a lid. Put the butter in the skillet and let it melt over low heat. Once it is melted, add the onions and increase the heat to medium. Stir and cook the onion until it is softened and turns yellow, about 15 minutes. Be careful not to brown the onion, you want to cook them slowly. Add the squash and salt. Stir once. Put the lid on and let it cook for 5 minutes without opening the lid. Stir. Add the water. Bring to a boil and cook without the lid for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Continue to cook with the lid on, stirring occasionally for about 20 minutes or until the squash is tender. Check seasoning; add more salt and pepper if you need to.

PARTY THEME: HOST A PICKLING PARTY

Getting pickled at girls’ night has a whole new meaning! Who knew? Canning and pickling are the hip new trend! With more people planting a garden or hitting the farmers’ market in an effort to save money and eat a healthier diet, what could be better than a pickling party? Putting up fresh fruit and veggies, making homemade pickles, chow-chow, salsa, soup mix, and chutney is not only fun, it is economical and you get a jump on special homemade holiday gifts, too! So gather your girlfriends for this recession buster bash and get pickling!

When I start working on a party theme—I try to find one central item to design the whole party around. For this party, glass mason jars, and pretty repurposed bottles will take center stage. Other essential items will be baskets of produce and tons of spices. Greet your guests with an inexpensive monogrammed apron; many of the monogram stores now have them for under $10. This is a functional favor that will last long after the party is over!   

This party is all about the activity. Everyone gets in on the action… the result? Guests get to take home the goodies to fill the pantry or to gift. But you certainly don’t need 20 jars of pickles in your pantry. When I hosted my party, I asked each guest if they had a recipe they’d like to make. We decided on the recipes and each guest brought items necessary for their recipe. I provided the mason jars, the food, and the fun.

Canning jars are the centerpiece of the party.

Baskets of produce is a functional decoration; use them for canning and pickling.

Make your own pepper sauce to use as a condiment for turnip or collard greens; make enough to give as holiday gifts.

My easy White Cheddar Cheese Puffs are the perfect make-ahead for this party.

For the food, I kept it simple. An appetizer buffet is really the best way to go. Select items that can sit out and don’t require a lot of attention; you’ll be busy pickling. Try easy to make recipes like these Cheese Puffs or my ever-popular Ham Delights.  You can't go wrong with Southern Classics like homemade Cheese Straws or even a simple cheese board with do the trick.

For the drinks, a signature cocktail is always easy because you can make them in advance and nobody gets stuck with bartending duties. I love Sangria for a party like this---easy to make and perfect for a crowd.

For our party, we made Peppery Texas Pickles, Green Tomato Pickles and Easy Refrigerator Pickles. And because they are perfect in a Bloody Mary or in a salad, we made Dilled Green Beans, Spicy Pickled Okra, and Spicy Pickled Vegetables. In the South, we like a garden in our Bloody Mary but there are many other easy to make recipes available.

Homemade pickles are the perfect housewarming, hostess, or holiday gifts. Other easy to make ideas include: Infused oils, vanilla sugar, Limoncello, and homemade pepper sauce Give them alone or in a gift basket with homemade or bakery bread. Or you could do a Bloody Mary basket complete with your pickled veggies, a bottle of Bloody Mary mix, and your favorite vodka. Your friends will love getting these gifts and you’ll love all the fun you had making them!

Add a jar of homemade pickled okra, pickled green beans, or pepper sauce to a Bloody Mary gift basket- perfect for holiday giving.

For our party, we made Peppery Texas Pickles, Green Tomato Pickles and Easy Refrigerator Pickles. And because they are perfect in a Bloody Mary or in a salad, we made Dilled Green Beans, Spicy Pickled Okra, and Spicy Pickled Vegetables. In the South, we like a garden in our Bloody Mary but there are many other easy to make recipes available.

Homemade pickles are the perfect housewarming, hostess, or holiday gifts. Other easy to make ideas include: Infused oils, vanilla sugar, Limoncello, and homemade pepper sauce Give them alone or in a gift basket with homemade or bakery bread. Or you could do a Bloody Mary basket complete with your pickled veggies, a bottle of Bloody Mary mix, and your favorite vodka. Your friends will love getting these gifts and you’ll love all the fun you had making them!

Get more recipes for this party from MyRecipes.com and watch my Pickling Party video for tips!

RECIPES: HOMEMADE QUICK PICKLES

In the South, canning and pickling are a part of life. I've been so excited to find that our cultural tradition is popping up on trendy restaurant menus and at America's top BBQ havens, too. It isn't enough to have a pickle on the side anymore... you gotta make 'em yourself! We always made pickles when I was growing up. We canned a lot of summer goodness... it was cheaper and so much better than store bought. I promise if you make these delicious quick pickles, people will want to know where they can buy them! I made them for the Hangout Festival's Super VIP party last year and still get messages asking if I'm selling them yet!

They will keep in the fridge for a week or two.

HOMEMADE QUICK PICKLES

Difficulty: Easy

Prep Time: 10 minutes   Cook Time: no cook recipe

 INGREDIENTS

10 Kirby, small or pickling cucumbers

2 Spanish onions, sliced very thin and separated into rings

1/3 cup kosher salt

9 cups water

6 cups white vinegar

3 cups granulated sugar

1/3 cup celery seed

2 teaspoons mustard seeds

1 teaspoon coriander seeds

½ cup fresh dill, roughly chopped

Big pinch red pepper flakes

 INSTRUCTIONS

Prepare glass canning jars and lids by sterilizing them in a water bath according to manufacturer’s directions. Set aside on a rimmed baking sheet lined with a clean dish towel and cover.  

Put cucumbers and onion into a glass bowl. Add the salt; toss well and set aside for 1 hour. In a large saucepan over medium high heat, add the water, vinegar, sugar, seeds, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil. Transfer the cucumbers to a colander and rinse the salt from them. Spoon the cucumbers into the prepared jars, filling about 2/3 full. Sprinkle dill over the cucumbers and onions. When the mixture comes to a boil, pour over the cucumbers. Add a few more cucumbers to the fill line on the jars. Check the seasoning. You may need to add a little more salt or maybe a more red pepper flakes. Allow to cool to room temperature.