There are seeds, and then there are seeds!  Have any of you stopped recently to browse in the garden section of your local big box, nursery, or home improvement retailer?  Just a couple of days ago, in a weak moment, I was strolling through my local, favorite retailer – the one to whom my Social Security check is assigned - (deciding to let that be my “walking” for the day), when my eye caught the spectacular display of SEEDS!  Talk about overwhelming and confusing!  Now, I’ll just be upfront here: Normally, I am one who prefers instant blooms, rather than digging, planting, weeding, watering, spraying bugs, and finally harvesting, if that season ever comes; but still, there is something rewarding about growing your own stuff, they tell me.  So why on earth I ended up in that department is anybody’s guess.

Honestly, there must have been at least one trillion choices of every vegetable seed known to woman.  Granted, there’s a ways to go before competing with our national debt. The Squash display, however, is the one that caught my eye.  I just love ‘em, and actually had a craving flung on me for some roasted or fried down squash - right there in Wally World!  Now, if you are wondering what fried down squash is, you wouldn’t understand if I told you.  For a fleeting moment, I envisioned that I would be harvesting squash right off the patio; furthermore, I might actually become a candidate for supplying squash to the local farmer’s market.  How much is a booth, by the way?  And, besides, squash -- is that plural and singular, too? -- are just so cute, colorful, and so prolific!  Or, failing that objective, I might at least impress my neighbors with the fruit of my obviously hard work.

As mentioned, there were endless varieties of squash seeds displayed, each packet bearing its picture-perfect photos, but none of them were the old familiar, yellow crook-neck kind I grew up on in Texas.  In fact, I was practically a member of AARP before I even attempted to explore some of those fancier varieties of squash, that in my opinion belonged only to those city folks, or those “up north”.  Hey, if the plants/vines of our squash didn’t grow a long green stem that also doubled as a whistle, to boot, then I considered them suspect, anyway.  Know what I mean?  And I won’t even begin to tell you what I thought when I first heard the term Spaghetti Squash!  Seriously?

With a little bit of tongue-in-cheek humor going on here, through the years I’ve learned that there are other wonderful varieties of Squash, Zucchini, and such, that are very delicious, and sound oh, so fancy, when used in a recipe or perused on a menu!  I mean, doesn’t it just whet your appetite to dream about going out and dining somewhere at one of those elegant restaurants when you hear that they are serving Zucchini Risotto tonight? 

Just ruminate a moment on the words Zucchini Risotto: makes you want to dig out that long-tailed black dress, spiff up your closest accomplice, splash on a spray or two of Evening in Paris, wait for twilight, and head out in search of some Zucchini Risotto, doesn't it?  Besides, hasn’t it been a while you enjoyed the benefit of valet parking?  And, to add to the ambiance of the evening, there’s the glow of candlelight casting its enticing shadows, while waiting for your Zucchini Risotto. 

But, if for some unimaginable reason, you are either unable or unwilling to go out on the town, there’s still hope for you.  You can still enjoy one of hundreds of other Zucchini delicacies, without all the drama!  Read on if you are still with me.

For sure, there’s always a downside to every upside.  But still.  According to allrecipes.com, their Creamy Zucchini recipe, for instance, uses ingredients you may already have on hand!  How thoughtful of them!  A sure way to burst your bubble, just when you are all psyched-up to spend a romantic evening in a private, secluded setting, giving thanks that you were seated before you tripped and/or stumbled in the dark.  Their website boasts further, that the end result of their Creamy Zucchini is a dish which is lovely, with a light flavor, and is a very filling meal.  This does beg the question, though: can anything light ever be good?  Still want to cook at home?

As if that weren’t enough, there’s always Chicken Tortellini Soup with Zucchini and Tomatoes.  Now, just the mention of tomatoes - I get it.  I grew up with them literally growing in my backyard, and beyond.  Varieties?  You bet!  But that’s another whole story.  Tomatoes can get mighty fancy and hold their own with the best of ‘em!  But Zucchini?  No, that was a word that ranked up there with Rhubarb.  Those intriguing, mysterious words belonged to the Upper Crust of Society, not to this farmer’s daughter.

In case you aren’t feeling sufficiently overwhelmed yet, try on this bit of good news: there are roughly about 7,410,000 recipes in which to use Zucchini in your very own kitchen, per Mrs. Google (so it must be true, right?).  For starters, there are:  Fried Zucchini, Grilled Zucchini, Quick and Easy Zucchini, Stuffed Zucchini, Vegetarian Zucchini, Zucchini Appetizers, Zucchini Casserole, Zucchini Dessert, Zucchini Pasta, Zucchini Breads and Muffins!  You can dig till your heart’s content into each of these categories and find recipes to last a lifetime.  My personal favorites, of course, are nestled among the Muffins and Sweet Breads categories.

It might be noted here that as soon as I dejectedly left the Seeds department, I later found solace in the frozen foods section of WW among their GV brands.  (Aren’t steamers just oh, so wonderful?)  Just so you know, those initials are code letters for Wally World and Great Value. 

I might never master the planting or preparing of Zucchini or other fancies, but I can tell you that you will fall in love with Spaghetti Squash.  Don’t be intimidated any longer; go ahead, jump in there, and whatever you do, by all means stay out of the Seeds department!  I think I saw the word, W O R K, along with a banner that read: Not Responsible for Results.  I always heed appropriate warnings, so I made a quick get-away.

All joking aside, this recipe for Spaghetti Squash looks delicious: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/spaghetti-squash-i/Detail.aspx.  Just so you know what you’re up against - and so you won’t be aghast - according to one reviewer, "The flesh of Spaghetti Squash comes out in long strands, very much resembling the noodles for which it is named.   In this recipe, the 'noodles' are tossed with vegetables and feta cheese. You can substitute different vegetables, but be sure to use ones that have contrasting colors."  By all means, go for the color.   Colors cover a multitude of mistakes!

Now, to the best part of all! 36,418 people have saved this recipe!  Doesn’t say what they did after that.  I mean, that’s kind of like buying a cookbook, right?  It looks pretty on our counter, but somehow the finished product doesn’t appear until someone gets moving in the kitchen.  I am so guilty!  Somehow, after I’ve read a ton of recipes, Bill says I always end up with Old Faithful: Green Bean Casserole!  Reckon Zucchini might be a good substitute for the green beans?  I might be on to something here!

Happy gardening, everyone!  And relax.  I just uncrossed my fingers, and none of the above is even true or believable!  But what is totally believable for you local folks:  You can dine on the most delectable fresh squash anywhere on this planet, right here at our local Wagon Wheel Restaurant in nearby Fort Lawn, SC; it is widely acclaimed for its fried squash!  Truly, it is a MUST, and it is always in season.  Plus, you don’t even have to struggle into your black dress to dine there and you won't need reservations – not saying dining there won’t cause you to struggle into your ordinary jeans!  While there, you just might hear all the local news – true, and otherwise embellished.  And, if you have been in Lancaster County very long, no matter what time you go there, you will run into someone you know at the Wagon Wheel, so be on your best behavior!


                        A Squash by any other name is still a Squash!