Family gatherings can be fun, as long as nobody talks politics.
Recently, the Guthrie family held their 100th annual reunion in Guthriesville, Chester County. Since Patti’s family name is Guthrie, we’ve been attending for several years. The one thing everyone has in common is Guthrie – either they are one, related to one, or married to one, as in my case. Guthrie’s have quite a long history in Scotland, dating back to before the 1580s when the tower of their castle was constructed.
Everyone is asked to bring their own table settings and a dish for the “smorgasbord” table. Generally, the food is varied and good. Because this was the 100th, there was a good turnout with a bagpiper to greet attendees and lots of tasty dishes, including a sheet cake decorated to honor the occasion.
Each year, I take my baked beans, which most people like. This year, a young lady brought a zucchini lasagna. I’m not a fan of this vegetable. It’s tasteless and just takes up room. However, she was so proud of it and refers to herself as the “midnight chef” that I had to try it. It was incredibly good! She used lots of Parmesan cheese and wheat germ. Her dish had texture and very subtle good flavor. Maybe zucchini isn’t so bad when it’s cooked like this.
Most home gardeners grow zucchini. Often, they end up giving a lot of it away to anyone who will take it. I do like it sauteed in olive oil and served with garlic powder and lots of freshly grated Parmesan. Nearly every cookbook I own has recipes for zucchini. Even some European cookbooks have recipes. Zucchini is a good substitute for meat in some recipes. I’m glad so many people enjoy this squash that’s plentiful right now and available in supermarkets nearly all year.
Enjoy and stay safe!
If you have questions or suggestions for this column, please contact me either at this newspaper at www.buckscountyherald.com or directly at guthrielarason@verizon.net.
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