Tuesday 20 July 2010

Courgette Pickle and TDF - Blog 97

Too many Courgettes? (zucchini or squash) Very easy recipe.

My Courgette Pickle

½ litre white wine vinegar
3 ½ cups sugar
1 packet of pickling spice mix (I used South African) Tie into a muslin bag.
Put into a stainless steel pan and bring to the boil.

Then add
8 cups of chopped courgette (about 1 cm square)
2 cups of sliced onions
1 cup sliced peppers


Simmer for 10 minutes. While that is happening, heat the jars in the oven - 100 degrees C for about 10-15 minutes. The hot jars are then tightly packed with the cooked vegetables and then filled to overflowing with the boiling vinegar liquid. The lids are screwed tight, and the sticky overflow liquid is washed off with hot water. The lids may need re-tightening as the jars cool down. Label and date. Delicious.


TOUR DE FRANCE

Stage 14 - Revel - Ax 3 Domaines 184.5 km Sunday 18 July

Another stage win by a Frenchman; this has been one of the more successful TDF for the French in recent years.
1. Christophe Riblon (ALM) France
2. Denis Menchov (RAB) Russia
3. Samuel Anchez (EUS) Spain
4. Andy Schleck (SAX) Luxembourg

Again the positions for the yellow jersey changed very little. Schleck is still 31 seconds ahead of Contador, despite the latter making several charges to get away. Andy Schleck was watching him like a hawk and every move Contador made was matched by Schleck. They finished in the same time group.

Stage 15 – Pamiers - Bagnères-de-Luchon 187.5 k Monday 19 July

It was the celebration of the 100th ride in the Pyrenees today, so it was  perhaps appropriate  that once again, we had a Frenchman winning the stage.
1. Thomas Voeckler (BTL) France
2. Alessandro Ballan (BMC) Italy
3. Aitor Perez Arrieta (FOT) Spain

Overall there was a major change today; sadly, Andy Schleck’s chain came off just before he reached the top of the  last climb, just 20 km from the finish. The delay to replace the chain  cost him a lot of time, so he lost his 31 second overall lead, and a bit more. He ended up in second place 8 seconds behind Alberto Contador, who now wears the yellow jersey. In third place is Samuel Sanchez, who is 2 minutes behind Contador.

Andy Schleck is still in the white jersey as the best young rider, but he will now need to do something special to beat Contador, who is expected to do better in the upcoming time trial stage at Bordeaux. The polka dot jersey (King of the Mountains) - the first three places are held by Frenchmen, but the jersey is being worn by leader Anthony Charteau. No changes in the green jersey competition, which is still led by Alessandro Petacchi.

32 comments:

  1. I'm wondering what is courgette, it's summer squash or known as zucchini. Now, I learn something new and this is what I like, thanks for sharing with us.
    Have a nice day!

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  2. Thanks for the recipe. It looks great Diane!

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  3. We are just managaging to keep ahead of the courgettes, so not had to resort to making pickle yet, was it not too hot for working in the kitchen?

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  4. The pickle looks wonderful - I have a scrummy recipe for cucumber pickle somewhere - I will have to dig it out for you (and me)!xx

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  5. Recipe looks great, and will try it when our courgettes decide to grow in profusion. Bought a type of courgette which was supposed to freeze well, but it is a lazy plant and fruits slowly. But should it decide to get a move on, I will try the recipe. Any hints on where to get pickling spices?

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  6. I've never pickled anything. I imagine your courgette pickles will be delicious!

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  7. I love this recipe! It would be great on hamburgers. My friend has a beautiful garden, I guess I will have to go and raid it so I can whip up this recipe!

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  8. This looks like a tasty recipe that's really easy to make, too. I often have lots of spare courgettes lying around, so this recipe would be perfect!

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  9. One thing I do when I'm tired of the squash is to shred and freeze it. Then I can make zucchini bread in the dead of winter.

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  10. I always smile when I see your addendum about the Tour de France.
    I haven't seen it once. I even don't know what channel it is on since we have soooooo many of them. I tried on sunday early morning then in the afternoon (ESPN, the regular channel... nothing). I even missed it when they left from Rodez (where my parents and one sister live). I was up at 3 am and couldn't find it. Maybe the last day will be "live".

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  11. Lani. In France everything that looks like anything zucchini to squash is called courgette:) Diane

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  12. Lyndsey, It really is yummy. I made it last year and it was a definite on the list for this year. Diane

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  13. Lindy the sun is on the kitchen windows early morning, I have been opening the windows and keeping the shutters closed. There is enought light from the glass door and the other side. The kitchen stays around 23C if I do this so it is not too bad. Diane

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  14. Roz I have many cucumbers coming on so I would really like the recipe if you can find it. Sure it will work well for the courgettes as well. Diane

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  15. Vera this recipe is so easy and so quick. I have not looked for pickling spice here, (it may be around)as I have quite a lot from S.A. but I have seen boxes of it in the U.K. Maybe somone can send to you. Diane

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  16. Pam it really is delicious and sooooo easy to do. Diane

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  17. Linda, yep good idea to raid the garden as this recipe is really worthwhile. Diane

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  18. Lynda, it is such a good way of using up surplus courgettes and we only finished last years a couple of weeks ago, Diane

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  19. Marjie my freezer space is not very big so pickling was a good way of keeping them. When we move the freezer from the UK we will be in a better position. Diane

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  20. Nadege it is sad you cannot get it as the photography around France has been brilliant. It may even make you home sick :-) Diane

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  21. Your courgettes are so pretty, with the pale, silvery skin. What do they look like inside?

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  22. My courgettes have been pathetic for the last two years. The year before we had tons of them. All grown in pots in exactly the same way.
    This is a shame as we love courgettes and I resent having to buy them when they should be so easy to grow!
    Two years ago I made a chocolate courgette cake, several times, we had so many to use up. It was delicious.

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  23. I would never have thought of making pickle out of them Diane but what a great idea!!

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  24. Mickle. They are almost white inside with soft seeds. The larger one I took the seeds out of, but the smaller one I did not. I cut the rest up, skin and all, for ordinary cooking and eating, pickle and jam, recipe to follow in a few days. Luv to Zebby. Diane

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  25. Joan it is so yummy:) I also make jam, recipe to follow in a few days. Diane

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  26. Hi Jean, I find my courgettes grow like weeds! I have the round green ones, and the longer larger ones as in the picture, I also have yellow round ones as well. The latter just seem to re-seed with no help from me :-) Pity I cannot send you some. The cake looks good. Diane

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  27. Your courgette pickle sounds wonderful. As more zucchini become available, I'll have to give it a try. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  28. Mary it really is worth doing as it is so easy and the taste is wonderful. Nigel enthuses over it. Diane

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  29. Diane, way to go! It looks delicious and I must try it! Does it keep well?

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  30. Yes Pam, we have just finished a bottle from last year and it is 100%. Diane

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  31. Ok I don't know much about pickling stuff but my mother in law does this and I drive all the way to Murrysburg in the Karoo for her pickled onions YUMMY :)

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  32. Philip I also love pickled onions. They just take up too much space in the garden:( Diane

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