Hello!
We are officially in the second half of the year. July afternoons are perfect for outdoor get-togethers. Pack some snacks, take your picnic blanket, call a few friends, and you are in for a celebratory Kingston day or evening. Any park in your neighbourhood would do if you don’t have a backyard. Of course, two key elements are food and community.
Today, I’m sharing a summer recipe and highlighting some healthy eating and community initiatives on campus.
Mücver is one of my favorite snacks for the summer. It also made some fans among the fellow Gradifying bloggers last time we met in person.
What is mücver?
Mücver is/are zucchini fritters. A cookbook writer describes it as a “ veggie dish. All you do is mix your vegetable(s) of your choice—we’ll use zucchini as the main ingredient this time—with an egg and prepare a flour-based batter. Fry the patties in a shallow pan. You should get thin pancakes that are about the size of your palm. The shape might surprise you depending on the ingredients you used and the consistency of your batter. Likewise, your mücver will be spongy or crispy depending on how much flour you added, whether you drained the juice of zucchinis, and how (fast) you fried the mix after grating the zucchini. Keep in mind, though, I don’t use food scales or intricate gadgets in my kitchen. I’ll often go, “A pinch of this and a bunch of that!”
Ingredients: (for 1-2 persons)
· 1 zucchini (Best when fresh!)
· 1 egg
· 1 or 2 cloves of garlic, one for the batter and 1 for the yoghurt dip
· 2 spoonfuls of flour of your choice (adjust the amount depending on how big the zucchini is)
· Fresh dill to taste
· Salt and pepper to taste
· Plain yoghurt
· Olive oil or plant-based oil to fry the mücver
Optional ingredients:
· Finely chopped onions (green or another kind)
· Finely chopped red and/or yellow bell pepper
· Crumbled feta cheese
· Butter (I sometimes add some butter—grated or finely chopped—to the batter to enhance taste and BAKE my mücver.)
Preparation:
· Wash the zucchini and the dill.
· Shred the zucchini and drain it of its juice. Squeeze!
· Chop the dill and the garlic finely.
· Mix some of the dill and garlic with zucchini; set aside some for the yogurt dip
· Add the egg, flour, and flavourings to prepare the batter.
· Fry in a shallow pan on medium heat.
This process takes about 10 minutes. If you wait too long after preparing the batter, the zucchini will get soggy! You can make the batter thicker by adding more flour. I hope you are ok with the increased amount of carbs if you do so! I am dropping a here.
How to enjoy? You can eat your mücver hot or cold--Warm if you made it with butter. I love it for brunch and as a side dish for dinner. Serve it with a bowl of fresh yogurt. Use the dill and garlic you set aside to garnish the yogurt.
You have several zucchinis, and you want to use them all?
There is nothing better than finding a few leftovers sitting in the fridge when you come home after a long day in the library or at work. I am not a midnight snack scavenger, but I love it when I find mücver sitting in the fridge when I need some comfort food. Food is more than just sustenance. Meals carry stories and bring comfort. I find that even the “ܳ” mücver can turn a dinner party into a celebration when shared with friends or left to surprise you the following day.
Talking about food reminds me of healthy eating and community initiatives on campus. One Food & Community event is happening next week. Drop-in to enjoy some freshly prepared food and connect with other students. This is a Student Wellness Centre initiative, and your host is the ʹ’s University International Centre (QUIC). No registration required
· Date & Time: Tuesday, July 8, 2025; 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm (Repeated on July 15 and July 22.)
· Location: Mitchell Hall, Room 208
· Cost: free
You love to cook and don’t have the ingredients? Surprise yourself with a . The pack contains all the fresh produce and key ingredients to prepare a quick, easy, and healthy recipe for approximately 4-6 servings. Registration opens 1 week before the session date.
· Date & time: July 24, 2025; 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
· Location: Health Promoion Hub @ the John Deutsch University Centre
· Cost: $5.00 per student
Don’t know how to cook? Why not learn it in the community! Join West Campus Healthy Cooking Session on July 16, 2025. Health Promotion and Nourish-Q teams offer a 40-60 minute in-person interactive cooking session. Learn how to prepare a quick, easy, inexpensive, and healthy recipe. All students are welcome, regardless of your skill level in the kitchen. Upon registration, participants will receive the location, time, and safety details.
· Date & Time: July 16, 2025; Session 1: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm; Session 2: 12:50 pm - 1:30 pm
· Location: To be emailed upon registration
· Cost: free
Enjoy the summer with friends and family, everyone!