Easy Rustic Flavorful Summer Squash Crustless Quiche (Low Carb)

The fateful summer of '15... when a 5-gallon bucket of zucchini appeared in my kitchen each morning still haunts me. My only weapon of defense has been the power of a good recipe! Having an arsenal of ideas of how to use this prolific vegetable has been my life's mission (we all have our calling! 😉). Here is how to transform your abundance of summer squash into an easy and healthy meal (and with no weird ingredients!).

All you will need is...

6 tbsp. butter
8 c. thinly sliced summer squash (zucchini, yellow squash, etc.)
1 large onion, thinly sliced
5 large eggs
4 tsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. pepper
4 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

(This recipe can easily be halved for an 8 by 8 pan -- with less baking time.)

To begin, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sliced zucchini and onion. Cook and stir the vegetables until tender. Drain and cool slightly.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and seasonings until blended.

Lastly, mix together the cheese, zucchini mixture and eggs with the seasonings (I told you this was easy!).

Finally, pour the mixture into a greased 13 by 9-inch casserole dish. Bake on a lower oven-rack until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean (about 30-40 minutes). The quiche should be golden on top. Let set for 5 minutes before serving.

This can be served simply with a summer salad or some rice and steamed vegetables for a full meal.

For our printable recipe, visit here (I accidentally deleted the main recipe after uploading it on Google and forgot to include to grease your 13 by 9 inch pan first -- so please do so prior to baking)! For other ideas of how to use up your summer squash, visit here!

This recipe has been adapted from Taste of Home. 

Happy harvesting! 

P.S. I still am having trouble commenting... I am not sure what is going on but I would love for you to share your favorite zucchini recipes with us if you have a moment! I am always looking for ideas! 

Happy Hostess Giveaway! ~ Beautiful Blues

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling."

~ 1 Peter 4:9

A merry Wednesday to you all! Today we are sharing the second of seven little giveaways I had promised for this little blog! I call it the "happy hostess giveaway" because of the sweet apron but any woman who serves in her home is a hostess every day to those she loves. This means that we don't need a special reason to wear an apron! We are His servers to all who enter our doors so let us always be a gracious one.

I also hope that this little vignette of homemaking goodies will inspire you to open your home and "share with the Lord’s people who are in need" and to "practice hospitality" as the Good Book says (Romans 12:13). You can don your apron with a smile, measure out flour with the pale blue cups for a cake, empty the batter into your pan with the pretty spatula and then wash your hands, dishes and countertops with all the fresh smelling kitchen essentials! Don't underestimate how a simple dinner (or even a cup of coffee, tea and a basic dessert) can be a beautiful way to share some light and gentle laughter with those who are lonely or going through hard times. Use your homemaking tools for the forces of good! 💙

Now let the fun begin!..

This giveaway includes:

A set of 3/Williams Sonoma "Fleur de Sea" Kitchen Essentials Kit,

"Fleur de Sel captures the invigorating freshness of a seaside meadow with its light floral scent. Top notes of verbena and juniper with hints of lily and rose are enriched by warm cedar and sandalwood. Made in the USA exclusively for Williams Sonoma with premium-quality essential oils sourced from around the world, our soaps and countertop spray are formulated for natural cleaning and rejuvenating. They work without harsh ingredients – and are extra-gentle on your skin. The blends contain no parabens, ammonia, chlorine or lauramide DEA; all products are biodegradable and none are tested on animals."

• Set of three includes 8 oz. each of our Hand Soap, Dish Soap and Countertop Spray.
• Biodegradable, environmentally friendly blends are highly effective yet gentle.
• Hand soap contains soothing olive oil, aloe vera and glycerin.
• When accompanied by good hand washing techniques, effective against germs and viruses.
• Dish soap contains soapbark extract, a natural degreaser.
• Countertop spray contains natural cleansers and aromatic oils.
• Phthalate-free.

a 100% cotton ruffled apron in beautiful blues from Country Cotton,

a floral silicone spatula with wooden handle,

(at this point you may assume I have a spatula fetish but in reality it is just a floral fetish 💙)

and a KitchenAid pretty powder blue measuring cup and spoon set.

(all noble tools for the serious homemaker 💙)

This little giveaway will be open for the next 7 days (it ends on Thursday) and is open WORLDWIDE. You have the option to enter it in 7 different ways (pick and choose as many options that work for you!) in order to have 7 different chances to win! Just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below!

Note: Where it says "leave a blog comment" on the giveaway, please click it as there is a special question for you to answer in the comments :) Happy homemaking ladies!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

May 2020 Newsletter

Hello dear reader! I thought it would be fun to share a monthly newsletter of sorts in which I talk about books I have read, things I have watched, projects I have been working on and any other ponderings which really don't fit into its own post! At the same time, I would love to hear what you have been reading, watching and doing! Recommendations are much appreciated! It will be based on the reflection of the month before. It is essentially some homemaking chit-chat...



💕But before I begin, I want to thank everyone for the warm welcome! Your prayers and encouragement mean so much! Your sweet comments are greatly treasured in my heart! 💕And I send a huge embrace your way! 💕 For some reason I am having trouble commenting. There must have been some kind of glitch or update I didn’t get during my time off but I hope to rectify it soon. Thanks for understanding!

Reading...

Without going into all the nitty-gritty details of last month (as you all have lived through it yourself), I found that my instinct is to burrow into my little Hobbit hole, pour myself a hot cup of coffee and nest! I enjoyed this little book -- Cozy White Cottage, 100 Ways to Love the Feeling of Being Home by Liz Marie Galvan -- the title itself being very appropriate in so many ways to the theme of this blog! The author shares lovely photographs to inspire you and writes to encourage you to love your home, ways to decorate it and invest time and energy into it. I like how each concept is given a number and a few pages. This way, I was able to sit down and peruse a few inspirations a day without the feeling of needing to "finish a chapter". It was light reading and just what I needed at that time! You may be able to find this sweet little book at your local library or on Amazon.

Watching...

Finding books to read has been a lot more easier than finding things to watch! Now to give you some background, we haven't owned a television for many years so I haven't been kept up to date on the latest shows and so forth. What we do is judiciously choose movies and old television series to watch on the computer. I can’t tell you how many television series we have started that appeared to be “clean” only to find out there were disturbing scenes and themes in the later seasons. What is frustrating is that you get into the plot and it takes some willpower to walk away from the show (and never finding out what happens!!!). But alas...

What we ended up enjoying (and in my opinion was completely appropriate -- and I know that differs with each household) was Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye. We were able to enjoy all 3 seasons! It was such a heartwarming and exciting series with extremely likable characters! It is especially nice that it is a show that both husband and wife can enjoy together (and not just a sappy romance you need to beg hubby to watch). The first few episodes are a bit slow as it sets up the stage for the main character to begin work for the FBI. The neat part is that this is based on a real-life deaf woman's career. I would call it an inspirational FBI drama with a splash of comedy and clean (squeaky clean) romance. Sue even shares about her faith to encourage the characters in the show. Have you ever watched this series? I feel like it is a diamond in the rough as I had never heard of it before (but remember, give it a chance into the first three episodes and then it gets exciting).

Some excerpts from Amazon -- "Inspired by a true story, Sue Thomas is a deaf woman hired by the F.B.I. to use her ability to read lips as part of an elite investigative unit. She meets her professional and personal challenges with her trademark common sense, humor and faith."

Doing...

I have been dabbling with the sewing machine again. You can see from the seams that I am a beginner! But grandmother always taught me to iron in every step and I do hope that redeems the crazy stitching I ended up with! I like to make up burp cloths in my spare time so I always have something to give to a new mother when visiting her new bundle (I also add some all-natural baby products to round out the gift). The leftover fabric I used to make dusting cloths (from the idea found here). I purchased the soft flannel at a thrift shop and it appeared to be brand new but I always wash and soak them really well when using fabrics from second-hand stores! Placing your purchases in a hot dryer for 20 minutes will sanitize everything (I received this tip from an exterminator). The sun is also a wonderful sanitizer! 

Pantry maintenance has been a daily upkeep! Six months ago I actually freed up two extra sections for food storage (where I used to store my linens) and opened up lots more space. I was very happy I did that due to our current circumstances! I bought a used cabinet on Craigslist and made that into a stand alone linen closet so we were able to increase storage tremendously. Ever since then I have been trying to fine tune everything, decant what I can and assess the "zone" areas (what foods to keep together and so forth). Honestly, it is still a hobby I enjoy. I tell my husband I must be a weirdo but he says a woman who is placing time and value on areas to store nourishing items for her family is not a weirdo (love is a wonderful thing!). 

In the Garden...

It's zucchini season! As I have mentioned in the posts of zucchini pasts, I feel it is my homemaking duty to share at least one zucchini recipe each season! This month I will be sharing this very simple crustless quiche. You can actually use any summer squash in this flavorful casserole.

As the old adage says, "April showers bring May flowers"... and with that came lovely hydrangea blooms that we continue to enjoy in June! These are the planters of flowers that produce for my kitchen table. I love being able to have my own free flower market on my front porch!



Health...

I noticed I was starting to feel a little loopy (not my same positive self). It turns out I am low on vitamin D! It wasn’t too surprising considering the current situation and the fact that I lost my clothesline which was my daily fellowship with the sun. The truth is that vitamin D deficiency does affect your mood. Please consider this if you have been feeling “emotionally off” lately. Other symptoms can include getting sick more often, fatigue and tiredness, bone and back pain, depression (uh-huh), impaired wound healing, and bone loss (source). I began taking brisk, 20-minute outdoor walks (in addition to my normal health routine) every day I am able (I used to do this daily on the farm but our current situation in the city hadn't made it so appealing). I also have started taking a supplement. I am already beginning to feel some positive results from this and I share this information in the event that it may help someone else going through a rough patch as well.



And finally, if you haven't entered our "Happy Homemaking Giveaway", you still have a few days to do so! I am really enjoying reading what everyone’s favorite part about homemaking is! It looks like cooking is high on the list by many which kind of surprised me! My favorite parts would be organizing, pantry building/maintenance, fluffing the house and setting the dinner table. Though my meals are usually simple, I love to make the setting look abundant through colorful salads, any toppings or sides that would compliment the dish and using pretty serving bowls and platters to bring about loveliness and fulness to the table.

Now, what about you dear homemaker, what have you been up to?

Verse of the Month:

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear,

but of power and of love

and of a sound mind.”

~ 2 Timothy 1:7

Happy Homemaking Giveaway! ~ Fun Florals and Sweet Stripes

“But housekeeping is fun. It is one job where you enjoy the results right along as you work. You may work all day washing and ironing, but at night you have the delicious feeling of sunny clean sheets and airy pillows to lie on. If you clean, you sit down at nightfall with the house shining and faintly smelling of wax, all yours to enjoy right then and there. And if you cook—that creation you lift from the oven goes right to the table.” 

~ Gladys Taber

A happy Monday to you all! Today we are sharing the first of seven little giveaways I have planned for this little blog. Sometimes we all need a splash of sunshine in our routine and I think these items that we use daily will do just that! I am one of those people that like to take the time to make everything count in my home and my purchases. If I need to buy a measuring spoon set (for example), I make a big deal finding one that makes me smile and biding my time until I do so. The fun is in the hunt and then finally, the daily use of a lovely object! 

This giveaway includes:

A set of 4 striped dishtowels from Anthropologie,

a sweet floral spatula from Anthropologie, 

and this 8 piece set of pleasantly printed measuring cups and spoons. 

This little giveaway will be open for 5 days (it ends on Saturday) and is open WORLDWIDE. You have the option to enter it in 3 different ways in order to have 3 different chances to win! Just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below!

Note: Where it says leave a blog comment on the giveaway, please click it as there is a question for you to answer in the comments :) Happy homemaking ladies!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And a Time to Build Up...

Greetings to my old friends!

It has been awhile and the fresh spring air has brought me out of my reverie. It has been an interesting few years, full of many changes. We have moved back to our homeland. I have been watching a young girl turn into a young woman. I am seeing my strong young groom gently aging into a stronger but gentler man. We no longer have prairie fields in our midst but are currently surrounded by concrete and brick.

I am sorry I have not been able to answer any correspondence during my absence. When I stepped away from the computer, I had to completely give my all to what was ahead. Therefore, I kept clear of my blog email account as well. I do hope you understand ❤️ As a person who hates to offend, I found that part to be very difficult (so PLEASE forgive me)...

I am now in a new season. I have finished home educating. I don't have the same homesteading responsibilities. I am feeling a sense of calm (after quite a bit of a storm) and am hoping to once again step inside this little realm with the random parts of a home-making life. I am going to be sharing a bit differently in some areas and quite the same in others. While I won’t be posting as often as I used to, I hope to be able to enjoy it this time around with a better balance.

Also, as I relaunch the blog, I am going to include some giveaways to give it a fresh fun start! I think we could all use that right now! There will also be some lovely homemaking projects, recipes, pantry love, and all kinds of our favorite home-making subjects! The idea is to bring joy into our daily routines.

What is my new focus with all these changes? The same it has always been -- creating a safe and welcoming sanctuary within our home and to make it an enjoyable experience for the homemaker in the delightful little details. It means guarding the home, protecting its walls from uncomely influences, unhealthy lifestyles and negative attitudes. It means forging through the muck and mire we may find ourselves in and moving our way (and possibly -- figuratively speaking -- fighting our way) to higher ground. We are not going to wallow in the mud of despair. We will not give in to depression and sorrow. We will choose to be a beacon of hope in our home. ( I write this to encourage myself as well!)

How do we achieve this?

"Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name:

bring an offering, and come into his courts.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness..."

~ Psalm 96:8-9

Our offering -- dear homemakers -- is ourselves. It is our reassuring smile (which says "God is in control") to our loved ones when they walk through the door.  It is the enticing scene of a nutritious, fresh meal waiting on a carefully set table filled with ceramic plates, bowls, sparkling silverware and lovely linens. It may be the scent of essential oils diffusing in the background or a flickering sweet candle glowing in our midst. It is laughter and love. It is giving a real, true and noble life experience to those God has entrusted in our care. We are worshipping the Lord in the beauty of holiness every moment we have on this earth. While surrounded with darkness, we are called to be a light. Burn brightly dear ladies for this is our time to shine, our influence is needed now more than ever -- it is our "time to build up"!

(Ecclesiastes 3:3)

Happy homemaking!

Love, JES

P.S. -- Pictured is my kitchen table. I like to decorate it with things we use and eat during the week such as pretty salt and pepper shakers, ruby red cherry tomatoes standing by for a salad, zucchini from the garden and any other fruit and vegetables waiting to be made into meals. The other items I keep displayed are a stack of napkins in a wire basket (this way they are convenient to access). Some households have a paper towel holder on the countertop so this is my version of ease. Oftentimes there is a pretty candle or a vase of flowers from the garden. I also keep a tablecloth on our painted table. It is of laminated cotton which wipes easily with a soap and water solution while maintaining the "real tablecloth" look that I love for its coziness.

P.S.S. I have also done a bit of housekeeping around the blog. I hope you enjoy some of the new updates. I changed my focus verse from one of my favorites (Jeremiah 6:16) to a new favorite in Isaiah. I also added somewhat of a bio picture (while still maintaining some privacy). I will also continue to slowly update and change in areas where needed. Please feel free to share the topics you are interested in hearing about most in the comments below... I am always curious!