How to Cook Teot Bat Put or Asian Zucchini

I was gifted some round, green gourds and told they were Teot Bat Put. Since I had never seen much less cooked this strange vegetable, I began my research.

A few clicks revealed another name, Asian Zucchini. A photo of a prepared dish looked a lot like an Eggplant with Garlic Sauce recipe I've posted.

Armed with that information, the following are directions for preparation and a recipe for Teot Bat Put.

By the way, it was delicious, and easy to make.

1 - Wash Gourd and cut in half.

2 - Scoop out seeds and loose material. This is similar to cleaning out a pumpkin.

3 - Further slice the clean halves lengthwise and peel. This is similar to cantelope preparation.

4 - Cut the slices into bite-sized cubes.

5 - Heat oil in large skillet on medium heat. (Use approximately 1/4 cup.)

6 - Once oil is hot, add cubes and saute. I saute with a lid on to keep moisture in the pan. Stir frequently.

7 - Once cubes are soft, add 1/4 cup gluten-free soy sauce, 4 tablespoons sugar, and 2 tablespoons minced garlic. Stir together.

8 - This is delicious as a vegetable side dish or served on top of rice.

13 Tips for Avoiding Scams and Cons when Hiring Help

Sometimes we need help keeping up with general yard tasks. Grass cutting can become overwhelming during the summer especially when everyone is working fulltime or extraordinary circumstances such as hospitalization occur. It can be a relief to hire out this work.

Other situations where you might hire help is for gutter cleaning, tree cutting, or debris hauling. Again, good help can relieve the stress and burden of extra property maintenance.

Unfortunately, hiring help can expose you and your family to scams and cons. I recently had a neighbor taken advantage of by a con man who cut her grass while her husband was hospitalized. Long story short, he borrowed her John Deere lawnmower for 2 months, and the authorities had to get involved to recover it. The scary part was that a Craig’s List warning had been posted about this guy. He had borrowed another mower this same growing season and sold it. She was fortunate indeed to have recovered her property.

I have had family members pay for tree cutting and removal after a hurricane. The business was recommended by a neighbor. They took a check and were never seen again.

Below I’ll offer advice on hiring services. More involved projects such as remodeling require licenses and expertise beyond the scope of this article. That said, just because a business has a license, you should still be cautious. Also, it only costs $10 to get hundreds of business cards printed so this is not a job qualification.

1 - Talk to several people to get recommendations. Not just one. Talk to neighbors, coworkers, and friends. Then interview 2 or 3 choices. This is someone you need to trust on your property. As in the example above, not all neighbor recommendations are good. Our neighbor tried to push a tree cutting service on us that absolutely ruined his yard and broke the driveway.

I have used the same gutter cleaning service for 20 years. They are very reputable. Why would a close neighbor hire a gutter cleaner off of Craig's list? (Get recommendations - don't be shy!)

2 - Do not use services that show up on your doorstep.

3 - Do not be pressured by a time-limited, “good deal.”

4 - Google the business and person's name. Ideally Google on different computers and browsers (i.e. Firefox , Internet Explorer, and Chrome) because results will vary. Look for bad reviews.

5 - If you have a bad feeling, don't agree to anything.

6 - Do not pay in advance for any service (even if it's a better deal).

7 - Get itemized receipts for payments. If paying by check, write on the check what services are covered. Keep all contracts, correspondence, cancelled checks, texts etc.

8 - If they claim your check has bounced, call your bank first. (This is a cash shake down.)

9 - They might do good work for awhile to get you off your guard.

10 - Do not loan any equipment or money to someone doing work for you no matter how many hardships they are facing (examples: sick child, broke mower).

11 - A business that brings a young child to the job is not professional, and these children are a safety and liability concern. Ask that they be taken home.

12 - Call the police/sheriff if you need help getting your property returned.

13 - If you are a senior citizen or have a family member sick or in the hospital, be extra aware. You are a target. (Sorry)

Book Review: A Photo Handbook of Weeds Identification and Green Grass Lawn Care for Picture Perfect Turf by NC Weed Killer

Dog Fennel is common along roadsides

NC Weed Killer” has written a book about improving your southern lawn. A Photo Handbook of Weeds Identification and Green Grass Lawn Care for Picture Perfect Turf is written from the perspective of someone that has moved from the cooler climate of St. Louis, Missouri, to Raleigh, North Carolina. He details a plan to reduce weeds and encourage healthy lawn growth. I believe it’s helpful and sound advice. 

Pokeweed growing along creek

As the happy owner of a shabby lawn, I am more interested in the weed identification section of the book. Weed Killer has identified 32 common weeds. 

They are so common that most of these photographs could have been taken in my yard. I am just happy to put a name to them, and it is hard to do so using the internet or plant books written for larger geographic areas.

Spotted Spurge growing in sidewalk crack

A Photo Handbook of Weeds Identification and Green Grass Lawn Care for Picture Perfect Turf is a twofer: a guide for lawn improvement and a weed identification text. Good Book!

The Destructive Squash Vine Borer: Rampage in the Squash

This year found me up close and personal to destruction wrought by the Squash Vine Borer. We had experienced squash plant collapse a couple of years ago, and knew about the Borer. This year was different because I got a much improved eye-level view of the damage.

Spaghetti Squash Vine on Tomato Cage

Climbing up and over tomato cages, spaghetti squash vines ran hog wild over the garden. Instead of seeing plants wilting on the ground, I first spotted the wilting and drying up of vines at eye-level on tomato cages. It's hard to ignore.

Squash Plant Base no Borer Signs

Signs of Borer on Squash Plant Base

Once the destruction became rampant, and there was nothing to be salvaged from the crop, I started a sanitary removal of all squash plants and further witnessed the destructive nature of this pest. This is what I saw:

Gourds drilled with tiny holes.
Frass deposits on the gourds. (Frass is excrement and material excavated from vines.)
Hollowed out and devoured vines  resembling large straw tubes instead of lush, living vines.

I rolled the vines up and placed them in a black plastic bag. Squash bugs and borers ran for cover. I destroyed several in the bag and on the ground. Before sealing the bag, I sprinkled a healthy amount of Sevin powder in the bag to prevent transporting the bugs to the local dump.

Below is an interesting 3 minute video showing the larvae and damage of the Squash Vine Borer. There are several longer YouTube videos on this subject that may be worth watching.

Garden sanitation is so important in controlling these pests. Gardeners love to compost, myself included, but this is not the time. All diseased and pest-carrying plants should be removed from the area. Think about next year's crop. Since both Squash bugs and Squash Vine Borers overwinter in the ground, squash should not be planted in the same area the next year.

Excellent photographs of the Squash Vine Borer can be found at this University of Kentucky site. Further information on squash pests from North Carolina Cooperative Extension can be found here.