Zucchini is just one group of summer squashes that also includes yellow straightnecks, scallops, and yellow crooknecks. All of these squashes grow on short-vining bushes, pump out beautiful yellow squash blossoms and can be ready to harvest in as little as 40 days.

They’re also quite prolific. That means when you add a few squash plants to the vegetable garden you’ll need some kitchen inspiration. 

Here are some of my best ideas for enjoying zucchinis and yellow summer squashes while they’re at the peak of perfection:

• Chocolate squash cake has to be at the top of the list of ways to use summer squash. Zucchini or yellow squashes make a moist snack cake that easily hides the fact it’s made from a garden vegetable.
• Trade out large slices of zucchini for eggplant and turn it into a zucchini parmesan.
• Shred the squash and mix with egg, bread crumbs and your favorite spices to fry up a big batch of zucchini pancakes.
• Freeze zucchini slices to use this winter in minestrone soup and other cold-weather dishes.
• A frittata loaded with fresh vegetables from the garden can include a layer of zucchini slices or chopped squash. Frittatas aren’t just for breakfast, but make a great dinner, too. Leftover slices are handy for brown-bag lunches.
• Stuff squash halves with any favorite meatloaf mixture or make them meat-free. Eat a few and freeze a few to grab and go this fall.
• A tasty and easy afterschool snack uses sliced zucchini quarters to dip into ranch dressing.
• Save for winter by shredding, filling freezer containers with 2 cups and freezing to make zucchini breads around the holidays.

Whatever you do, don’t let a single summer squash go to waste! If there’s just too many to use, donate the extra zucchini and summer squash to a food pantry in your neighborhood.

What are your favorite ways to use zucchini in your cooking? Please add your ideas here.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Buy at Amazon

Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade, Trenching Shovel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Ideal Tool for All Gardeners Use: Our heavy duty trenching shovel is designed by a professional gardening tool designer. Lifetime Durability: This heavy duty drain spade is made of high-quality stainless steel, it is very strong and durable, even if it is used for high-strength work, it will not bend. Ergonomic Wood Handle: The handle of this planting spade is made of ash hardwood harvested from FSC-certified forests and has an ergonomically streamlined design, making it very suitable for everyone's hands. Multi-Use: This digging shovel is generally used for digging trenches, digging holes, transplanting, edging, moving compost, cutting thick turf and furrowing. The sharp blade allows you to cut, scoop, dig, lift and dice in hard soil.

Buy at Amazon

Gardener's Log Book from NYBG

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features: · Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil · Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds · Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when · Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening · Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting · Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.

Buy at Amazon