Winter squash aren't so much picked by size as by maturity -- as indicated by the rind hardening to the point that you can't put a fingernail through it.

Two favorite recipes I created when I had too much of everything coming all at once. Both are family favorites. ZUCCHINI POTATO SAUTE ¼ Pound Bacon, diced 2 Cups Diced Potatoes, ½" dice 1 Medium Onion, minced 6 Cloves Garlic, finely minced 1 Medium Zucchini, ½" dice 1 Medium Green Pepper, seeded and diced 4 Ounces sliced Fresh Mushrooms 6 Plum Tomatoes, diced, keep the seeds and juice Butter and Olive Oil for sautéing In a large frying pan, add the Bacon and sauté until fat is starting to render. Add the Potatoes and cook over medium heat, covered until Potatoes begin to get tender. Add Onions and Garlic and sauté only until Onion just starts to go clear. Pour into a bowl and cover to keep warm. In the same pan add a swirl of Olive Oil and sauté the Zucchini and Mushrooms uncovered over high heat, until they begin to color up but is still al dente. Reduce heat, add the Potato Onion mixture back in. Add the Peppers and stir to combine. Season with MortonÂs NatureÂs Seasons, add 2 tablespoons Butter to moisten. Heat until the Peppers become just tender, add the Tomatoes, cover and turn off the heat. Let stand 5 minutes and stir to combine. Serve immediately. and: ZUCCHINI FETA PANCAKES 1 Pound Zucchini, grated. 1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt ¾ Cup crumbled Feta Cheese 3 Large Eggs, lightly beaten 3 Green Onions, tops and whites thinly sliced 1 Cup All-purpose Flour ¼ Cup Chopped Pine Nuts 3 Tablespoon Chopped Fresh Dill 3 Teaspoons Chopped Fresh Oregano 4 Garlic Cloves, finely minced ¼ Teaspoon freshly ground Black Pepper Olive Oil, for frying Combine Zucchini and Salt in a mesh colander and set aside. Rinse in cold water and press as much of the water out as possible. In the mean time, combine Cheese, Eggs, Green Onion, Pine Nuts, Dill, Oregano, Garlic and Pepper in a large bowl. Fold in drained Zucchini and just enough Flour to hold the batter together. Using an ice cream scoop to portion the batter, fry in Olive Oil until golden, flip and cook the other side. Continue frying in batches until all batter is used, holding the cooked cakes on a plate in a warm oven. For the pancakes I shred and pack one pound bags and freeze them for use in the winter. Because so much of the water goes away when you thaw and drain I use 2 bags. Also go easy on the flour, you really want just enough to bind the mixture, not to make a batter.

Just got this email update on desserts :o) We will also have Strawberry Lemonade IceBox Pie. I knew I was forgetting something. -- The TownHouse Tea Shoppe

Maryann, No you don't really taste the cottage cheese in the cooked cornbread. It just gives it a moister taste. But, I like cottage cheese. Now my husband Hates cottage cheese, but he LOVED this recipe with the cooked cottage cheese. He said he like it better than regular cornbread, so I am going to start using this recipe for our cornbread but leave the broccoli off unless I want it in there. It is just a better tasting cornbread. I don't think I will use it for my cracklin' cornbread recipe, though. I was thinking of ideas, and I think you could substitute the broccoli for corn, green tomatoes, or bell peppers. I think either of those would be worth a try....That is what I am going to experiment with anyways...LOL. But that is just me....LOL