Sweet and Sour Pattypan Squash

1/2 pound green beans, trimmed
2 cups seasoned rice vinegar
2 cups white vinegar
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
5 cups halved yellow baby pattypan squash (about 1 1/2 pounds)
3 tablespoons thinly sliced shallots
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
12 black peppercorns
12 cilantro sprigs
4 garlic cloves, crushed
4 (1/4-inch-thick) slices peeled fresh ginger

1. Cook green beans in boiling water 1 minute. Drain and plunge beans into ice water; drain.
2. Combine rice vinegar and next 3 ingredients (through salt) in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook until sugar dissolves.

3. Combine beans, squash, and remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Pour hot vinegar mixture over squash mixture. Toss well. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours, stirring occasionally.

Note: Squash mixture can be evenly divided among 4 (1-pint) jars. Store in refrigerator up to 1 week.

Yield: 8 cups (serving size: 1/4 cup)

RESULTS:
I made this recipe for a BBQ at Jeremy's house. I was a little worried about it because 1) could not find cilantro in the store so I replaced the herbs with sage and dill, 2)I had unseasoned rice vinegar, 3) I didn't have enough rice vinegar so I had to 4) use some apple cider vinegar and sake to make up for that. However, I turned out pretty tasty, and it was super easy. It was VERY strong smelling, and that might have been because of the apple cider vinegar. I think I would have prefered it a little more subtle.

It's been an interesting Fourth of July weekend. Chris and I went out to a fancy pants dinner at a place called the Scholar's Inn on Thursday as a late anniversary celebration. I had fish with a red rice risotto, which I've never heard of but it was delicious. Then, Friday I went to the bbq and had a great time there. Saturday Brad, Suz and I and a few other of my Bloomington friends went out to a place in the middle of nowhere called the Story Inn (motto: One inconvenient location since 1851) for a roots / string band music festival out by the barn, which is one of three buildings in Story. Three. It was a beautiful location, smack in the rolling hills, forests, and wildness of Brown County, surrounded by horse trails and fields. Really, very romantic and picturesque. Take a look at the pictures. This is definitely one of the things I love about southern Indiana (There are a lot of things I DON'T like, of course). There's a strong community feeling in Bloomington and a desire to keep the traditions of this area still going, and this whole event was in support of the community radio station which tends to either play great local bluegrass or broadcast the goings on from the Bloomington town meetings. Anyway, it was a wonderful, beautiful day with ideal weather.

All that was wonderful. What was rather heartbreaking and sad was that Harper has discovered she is terrified of firecrackers. She's hiding in the bedroom right now, which is where she's been for a lot of the weekend. We haven't been able to go for a walk, no matter how short, without somone setting some off, and then her ears and tail get all scared and she makes herself so small. If they keep going off she panics and makes a beeline for home, regardless of whether there are obstacles in the way such as houses, trees, moving cars, etc. I've had to pull her out of the street at least twice because she doesn't mind the oncoming cars. It's so sad! My brave little puppy is scared of firecrackers. The worst is that there's nothing I can do except get her home as soon as possible. All this is confirmation that she would not be a very good gun dog.