This zucchini bread is a crowd-pleaser. I know because my Aunt Marie brought it to my Easter party last week and it very much pleased us all.
Aunt Marie calls it bread. It contains Bisquick, so that makes sense. I thought it was more like a crustless quiche, but wouldn’t that be a frittata? But the recipe does not include milk. What’s in a name? Call it what you will, this recipe is bellissimo!
The taste is punchy. The sweet onions and parmesan cheese are rich and dominant. The texture is fluffy with a complementary crispy edge. Aunt Marie says, “Serve it very hot!”
What I like and most often gravitate toward in a recipe is simplicity. This one is that. Let the flavors of the limited ingredients shine. Italian Zucchini Bread is perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or to impress guests at a party.*
Ingredients:
2 cups diced zucchini (peeled or unpeeled)
1 large white onion chopped
1/2 cup extra light Colavita oil (or vegetable oil as a last resort)
1/2 cup parmesan (or more, you know how we Italians do it)
1 cup Bisquick
4 eggs beaten
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Grease a 9 inch pie pan or a 9×9 square pan
Combine all ingredients
Bake at 350 for 35-40 Minutes or until lightly brown
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Update: My friend Roberta said after reading my column that this recipe was on the back of the Bisquick box back in the day and many homemakers of the time would make this bread!
by Paula D.
on April 20, 2023 10:16 am in Animals / Cats
My cat Johny unexpectedly passed away last week. The whole ordeal has been quite traumatic for me.
I heard a scuffle in the middle of the night. He was limp in the legs, yowling and breathing heavily. I knew immediately this was an emergency. I got him in a carrier, found my keys, and headed to VERG Animal Hospital at four something in the morning. I was f*!king frantic. I was exhausted, yet fired with adrenaline. I was driving dangerously through red lights. I pulled up and just left my car outside the building on 4th Avenue, later to find a hefty ticket on my windshield. One of two from that morning. I don’t even care.
I was in absolute hysterics. The doors flew open and they took Johny STAT. Someone put me in a little square waiting room. But I didn’t have to wait long. Dr. James, the emergency medicine physician on at the time, entered to find me on the floor screaming and crying. I was told about feline cardiomyopathy. The heart condition is most often undetectable, until it’s too late. I believe John actually passed away in the car with me on the way to Brooklyn.
Johny’s life could have ended 7 years ago. He was on the ACC kill list with 48 hours to go. Through my friend Chris and his team at Bushwick Street Cats, we rescued John. He was emaciated and severely dehydrated. His road to physical and mental recovery was a long one. In time though, Johny settled and I feel, finally found happiness and felt loved.
Johny enjoyed using computers and playing with paper and plastic bags. He always asked to be brushed before his breakfast. He preferred crunchy dry food over wet food. Johny was very smart. I discovered that early on, when he started opening doors in the house! He had a complex, deep personality. John was a people cat. He loved the attention from me and visitors that came to the house. John had beautiful gold eyes. Friends said Johny resembled Steve Buscemi!
While this has been an arduous mourning process, I have also been given a gift – sincere compassion and love from my family, my friends, and two special strangers.
My people have left little presents outside my door – chocolate, a cool jello-like squishy fake tomato, cards, and a slice of pizza. Other friends have texted kind condolences. The morning it all happened, and a dear Brooklyn friend showed up at the animal hospital, unannounced after receiving my text. I am filled with gratitude for this.
The two strangers, not strangers anymore…
Dominique, who works at VERG came around from her desk, embraced me as I cried and said, “I feel your energy.” That brief moment of compassion from Dominique I will never forget.
Dr. James could not 100% confirm the diagnosis of heart disease. Therefore, I was contemplating a necropsy. I felt I needed to know. It was all so sudden and unexplained. I felt guilty, maybe I could have prevented it? But if I ok’d the necropsy, Johny wouldn’t have a proper cremation and I wouldn’t receive a beautiful imprint of his paw. I could not think clearly.
Dr. James was assisting me with this difficult choice, patiently and empathically. Truly more than was required of her. Before I made my decision against the necropsy – on her break – Dr. James went to Target, purchased a clay imprint kit, and made a print of Johny’s paw. I am beyond overwhelmed by this gesture of kindness. Dr. James’ dedication to her practice, to the animals she cares for and their humans is exceptional. She gives me hope.
There was nothing else I could possibly write about this week. I gather many of you have suffered the loss of a beloved animal family member. I hope some of these words comfort you and I appreciate you taking the time to read this column.
“Paula! Mercury is in retrograde this weekend, be careful.” My friend called out. “Oh shit, thanks!” I shouted back as I swung the bodega door open. Sign talk is everywhere in Rockaway – on the boulevard, on the beach, on your board, at the gym… waiting for the shuttle. “He had a great aura in the water today.” “Why are there so many Aries in Rockaway?” But wait… what is your rising sign?” “Crystals.”
I’m a novice. I didn’t know what Mercury in retrograde ment until like two years ago. Guess what? The messenger planet does not move backwards. It moves slower and therefore, in the simplest of terms, things are out of whack. This phenomenon happens three to four times a year, for about a three to four week period.
What will happen to you when Mercury is in retrograde tomorrow? According to various questionable websites on the internet, earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) in particular will feel unmoored. We need to be especially careful when this cosmic occurrence ensues. Unresolved situations from our past may surface. Mercury’s lethargy will bring attention to situations that are unsettled in our lives. A positive perhaps… this allows us latitude to gain closure, putting the difficult past behind us if we choose. Mercury is the planet of communication, intellect, memory, and transportation, therefore for the next few weeks, expect trouble in all of those areas. I suggest taking the ferry instead of the A train.
A day after my friend kindly warned me that my Universe will turn upside down, my other friend, who is a Casual Sorcerer, comes by for morning coffee. Lauren brings with her six different Tarot card decks (casual Monday). She tells me to choose one. “It is a gift!” she says. All the decks looked precious. They were so worn, I could almost see the stories they had predicted. It was hard to choose. The cards were beautifully designed with illustrations and mystifying unknown symbols. “Take the one that calls to you,” Lauren suggests.
The Casual Sorcerer also gave me a sacred book, The Message Of The Stars. It opens, “It’s a matter of common knowledge among mystics that the evolutionary career of mankind is indissoluble bound up with the divine hierarchies who rule the planets and the signs of the Zodiac, and that the passage of the Sun and the planets through the twelve signs of the Zodiac, marks man’s progress in time and space.” I’m keeping caution with this book. I’ve placed it by the brass, holy water crucifix my father found on the job,* which he gave to me years ago. I will read the book, bit by bit when I feel open to its pages.
Between my “lay low” Mercury is in Retrograde reminder and the new presence of tarot cards in my life, I feel I’ve received a message. I’m unclear what the Universe is trying to tell me but my mind is open to listening and my body is ready to receive it.
Disclaimer: I’m a witch in training, consequently, I have know idea what I’m talking about. But I’m learning new things, so there’s that! See my journey through Mercury in retrograde on IG – @theglorifiedtomato.
*NYC Sanitation Dept.
The peninsula is geographically special. We have manifested here in fire, earth, air and water. These elements throughout our seasons in Rockaway are more extreme than elsewhere. The sun’s fire over the ocean sweats our drive and pride into the sea. We planted our roots in earth’s soil on the edge of the ocean. We swim in the water we hear when we sleep deeply, entering our psychic realm. The windy air blows freedom through these connections, calling the misfits and mystics to Rockaway.
According to the NYC Department of Sanitation 31% of the waste collected in the city is organic.
Curbside composting which was on pause through the winter is back, effective immediately. Put your brown bins out curbside this week on the same day as recycling. You may also use any can/bin labeled “Composting Bin.”
Compost collection is available to all Rockaway residents – single family homes, small apartment buildings, and multi-unit residential buildings. No sign-up required.
As a refresher, below is a list of common (and not so common) materials that should be added to your compost bin.
From the kitchen: All fruit and vegetable scraps (remove stickers and rubber bands), meat, bones, rice, pasta, bread, cereal, grains, eggshells, coffee grinds, soiled paper products such as napkins, paper plates, teabags, coffee filters, cupcake holders, etc.
From the garden: leaves, grass clippings, garden trimmings, bark, plants, flowers, soil, house plants, and branches.
Weird stuff: Hair from your brush, cat or dog hair and food, used tissues (bodily fluids such as saliva, tears and mucus are compostable), failed jello sculptures.
And remember, these items should not be composted: diapers, personal hygiene products, animal waste, cat litter, food wrappers, non-paper packaging, and foam.
Pro-tip: Keep a compost bag or brown bag in your freezer. Once full with your kitchen scraps, bring it outside into your brown bin. Currently I have a butter village in my freezer (I’ll explain in a later column), so I came up with an alternative storage method just as simple. Clear out one crisper draw in your refrigerator. Line it with a compostable bag. The closed drawer keeps the food scraps contained until you’re ready to bring the bag outside. With these compost storage methods, there’s no worry of ants under the sink or other pests in the kitchen. There’s no excuse people!
The goal of the NYC Organics Program is to reduce waste in our landfills while creating clean energy and compost for our gardens and city parks. Think of all those delicious tomatoes! The success of the organics program is dependent on us. Pledge to protect our planet by taking part and reducing your personal footprint.
Source: www.grownyc.org, www.nyc.gov
