Getting the most out of your vegetables

It's mid-August, and although the crops were off to a shaky start everything is growing how it should be.  The only problem is that there is just so much of everything!  It's great to have abundances of things to give to friends and relatives, but if you want to keep a few of those gifts for …

Can you name it?

Hint: What you see in the picture would have been harvested a few weeks ago.  The "shoot" belongs to a statement household culinary item.....