Author: The Plot Twisted

Cooking Without Photos – Zucchini and Garbanzos Oregano

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This week we travel out west to Payson, AZ. First things first though, I’ve never been to Arizona. This cookbook somehow made its way to Hot Springs Village, AR where I picked it up. Oh the tales these books could tell.

Payson, AZ was established in 1882 and was originally named Green Valley. A post office arrived in 1884 with the help of Illinois Representative Levi Joseph Payson. The town’s name was changed in his honor.

Payson is home to the World’s Oldest And Continuous Rodeo. The Rodeo began in 1884 and has continued to be held each year since. Das a long time!

Western author Zane Grey wrote several of his books with Payson as the setting. He loved the area so much that he bought some land of his own.

Each year Payson holds the Old Time Fiddlin’ Arizona State Championship. Now that’s something I’d like to see!

On to the recipe!

This week I chose a dish out of the book, “The Versatile Zucchini Cookbook: Compiled by Anglican Church Women, Church Of The Holy Nativity”. First of all, how fitting that a cookbook be dedicated to one vegetable! Somebody was living zucchini every night when they thought this idea up😆

While flipping thru the cookbook, I stopped at Zucchini And Garbanzos Oregano. Garbanzo beans and zucchini together? Let’s do it!

Couple things:

  1. This calls for a ”dash” of cayenne pepper. Apparently my “dash” was too big and I made it entirely too hot for us. Fun fact about me, if I don’t know there is cayenne pepper in a dish then I will go into a coughing fit. I’ll just leave it out next time.
  2. I fixed my blunder by combining it with another dish that I’ll share in a few days. Y’all stay tuned.

Try this! It’s tasty…just lose the cayenne pepper😆😆

Cooking Without Photos – Lemon Squares

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Walking into the Little Rock Zoo, you automatically sense the history that surrounds the entire complex. Personally, I connect with all of the rock work throughout the park. It just makes me feel at home.

Here are some quick facts about the zoo that I bet you didn’t know:

  1. Little Rock zoo began in 1926 with only a timber wolf and a brown bear.
  2. The public quickly rallied, raised money and bought three buffalo. They also donated animals of their own to add to the zoo’s collection.
  3. By 1928, the zoo had about 3 dozen animals.
  4. In 1952 a 13 ft alligator named Big Arkie was on display and drew huge numbers. He lived 18 years at the zoo and was believed to be the largest captive alligator in the western hemisphere at that point.

Over the years several organizations and groups have helped raise money for the zoo and it has held strong. One of those organizations put out a cookbook as a fundraiser for the zoo.

While flipping thru, “What Would Zoo Like For Dinner?: A Cookbook By The Little Rock Chapter AAZK” I came across a recipe for Lemon Squares. Mmmmmmmmm! Yes please!

Couple things:

  1. It didn’t say to use self rising flour. I did.
  2. It says to “mix” the crust ingredients together. I found it difficult to “mix” butter with dry ingredients. I tried a pastry blender too. Nope. Since I’d made a huge mess, I popped it in the microwave and melted the butter. TaDa! Perfection! Just melt your butter to begin with and you won’t have that problem.
  3. Cooks up pretty!
  4. After tasting it, I feel like it may need more lemon🤔

Enjoy!!!

P.S. I’d estimate the cost of this to be under $3. Very cheap and a whole lot of flavor…just add more lemon😆