Cheesy Summer Squash Pancakes

Here is a kid and boyfriend-friendly recipe to help you use up your summer squash surplus. Just like potato pancakes...crispy and fried and oh-so-yummy!

3 good sized summer squash, grated
coarse sea salt
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 small onion, grated
1 egg
3/4 C cottage cheese
1/2 C cream cheese
1/2 C flour (I used whole wheat)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 C corn meal (I used a mixture of coarse and fine ground)
1 TBSP fresh dill, or 1 tsp dried
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
plenty fresh black pepper
vegetable oil for frying

Mix grated squash and sea salt and place in a colander for an hour or so - leave the colander either in the sink or over another bowl because the salt will pull water out of the squash. Squeeze the squash to get any extra water out.

Mix squash with remaining ingredients, using your fingers to squish everything together and disperse the cream cheese evenly through the batter. If your batter feels too wet feel free to add a little more flour or cornmeal to get a drier consistency.

Heat a frying pan with about 1/2 an inch of vegetable oil. When the oil is hot, form squash batter into patties and carefully drop into hot oil. Fry for about three minutes on each side, or until pancakes are golden brown!

We served ours hot, topped with sauteed garlic scapes. Yummy! I bet they would also be delicious topped with sour cream or yogurt...

PS - We used cream cheese and cottage cheese because that's what we had in the house, but I imagine ANY cheese could be used for a variety of delicious flavors! Go get creative!