I absolutely love this time of year when the things in my garden are ready to harvest. We have been getting lots of squash, zucchini, potatoes and plenty of greens.

With squash in abundance most of the summer I try to find different ways to prepare it. I tried a new recipe last night  from one of my boards on pinterest and my husband loved it. 

First thing you'll need to do of course is wash your squash thoroughly, then cut of the ends and slice. Place the slices into a large pot and cover with water.

Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until just tender. Drain well and remove squash from pan. Place between layers of paper towels and pat dry then set aside.

In large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter.  Saute a medium chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves until tender (about 5 to 6 minutes).  Remove skillet from heat. In a large mixing bowl, combine the squash, onions and garlic. Add 1 cup of bread crumbs, 3/4 cup parmesan cheese, 2 cups grated cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup freshly chopped green onions, 1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley, 1 cup sour cream, 1 tsp each of salt and pepper and 2 large eggs lightly beaten. Gently stir to combine then pour into lightly greased 13x9 inch baking dish.

In a separate bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs,  3/4 cup Parmesan cheese and 1/4 teaspoon of garlic salt. Mix well then sprinkle evenly over top of casserole.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until set.

For a little extra cheesy goodness, top the casserole with more shredded cheddar cheese....which is what I did!!!

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 pounds yellow squash, sliced
• 4 Tbsp. butter, divided
• 1 large sweet onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 1/2 cups soft breadcrumbs, divided
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
• 2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh chives
• 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 tsp. garlic salt

In large pot, cook squash until tender. Drain well and place the squash between paper towels to take out remaining moisture; set aside. In a skillet, melt 2 Tbsp. butter over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, saute 5 to 6 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat. In a large mixing bowl, combine the squash, onions and garlic mixture, 1 cup breadcrumbs, 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and the other remaining ingredients, except for the garlic salt. Spoon into a lightly greased 13×9-inch baking dish.
Melt remaining 2 Tbsp. butter and stir with remaining 1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs, 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and garlic salt. Sprinkle mixture evenly over the top of the casserole. (If you want,  sprinkle another 1/2 cup of Cheddar cheese on the top to make it extra cheesy.) Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes, or until set. Makes about 8-10 servings.

Welcome

When I was a little girl my dream was to grow up, live on a farm and be the best mother and wife I could be. I also wanted to be a professional figure skater or a gymnast but neither of those worked out so here I am living on our small farm, married to my wonderful husband of 25 years. We have three beautiful daughters,  one granddaughter and another one on the way in just a few days. The Lord has truly blessed me.

I wanted to start this blog to encourage women to have a heart for their homes.  A homemaker is someone who creates a safe and loving environment for her family to dwell.  Being a homemaker doesn't just mean you are someone who stays at home instead of going to work outside the home. There are many women who work outside the home these days that can still be homemakers and there are many women who stay home that are not really homemakers. It's not where you are, it's what you are doing. There was a time that I had to work outside my home when it was called for, but I was still a homemaker. I woke up extra early and made beds, tidied up the house, put on a load of laundry and made decisions about dinner before I headed to work.  It was a much heavier load then than it is now but even though I worked, my heart was to create a loving and welcoming environment in my home. I haven't worked outside the home in many years now and I feel truly blessed that I can be a stay at home homemaker. I hope this blog will encourage you to have a heart for your home no matter what season of life you're in. I will be sharing stories, recipes, organizational tips and hints, sewing projects, gardening ideas and much more. I am looking forward to our journey together as homemakers.