Summer days with Summer Squash

from Emma Lane

Yellow Summer Squash has much potential for food creativity. I’m not a gourmet cook, but I love the fat yellow squash that will zoom past ripe if you so much as turn your back on them for a moment. Searching in the huge leaves to find the small tender ones is the ticket. If too big, discard the seeds and use the still tender outside.

This is my modified recipe and I heartily encourage you to create your own. For me the addition of Ritz Crackers is the secret to a tasty, easy meal. I presume any sort of crackers will do, but do try for the Ritz-only the best, ya know. Humming while I execute a fancy step or two around the kitchen. This recipe makes a perfect side dish for four.


Summer Yellow Squash Casserole
5 medium yellow summer squash (washed and parboiled)
½ onion, chopped fine
1 carton unflavored and unsweetened yogurt
½ cup cream cheese
1 egg slightly beaten
¼ cup milk
1 stick butter melted
1 package Ritz Crackers
Black pepper and salt to taste

Arrange squash and onion in casserole dish. Set aside.

Combine yogurt, cream cheese, and egg in a small bowl. Crumble crackers in a separate bowl, pour melted butter over and stir.

Pour liquid ingredients over squash and onion. Spread cracker mixture over the casserole evenly.

Cover and cook in microwave oven for approximately 15 minutes on high. Remove cover after 10 minutes and finish.

If desired, add small amount grated carrot, Parmesan cheese combined with Ritz Crackers, crumbled cheddar cheese over squash added before crackers.

FOR A COMPLETE MEAL
Oven baked pork chops covered with mushroom soup
Summer Squash Casserole
Corn bread (or biscuits)
Sliced tomatoes drizzled with Italian Zesty dressing on bed of lettuce
Peaches a la mode sprinkled with fresh blueberries

While you're waiting for everyone to come home for dinner, here's a teaser from one of my Regency books.

What happens when a strong heroine meets an arrogant, but handsome hero? Sparks fly. It's a Regency Romance Romp!


Miss Amabel Hawkins acknowledges her unusual upbringing, but she thinks James Langley, the Duke of Westerton, might be a tad unbalanced when he protests her efforts to right his badly managed properties. The duke, who has been away on the king's business, demonstrates no respect for the beautiful but managing Miss Hawkins. Amabel has taken refuge at Westerton, fleeing from a forced marriage to a man who claims to be her relative in order to gain control of her young brother's estate.

The Duke arrives home to find his estate under the firm control of a beautiful but managing female. His suspicions are fueled by his recent task of spy-hunting and he wonders if Amabel Hawkins is just who she seems. While a dastardly spy lurks, a wicked man poses as her cousin threatening to take over the guardianship of her young brother. Amabel might be falling in love, but she knows for certain the duke would never approve of a meddlesome woman, and she decides to flee his estate. Will the duke finally realize the true value of the woman he loves or will his prejudice ruin his chances forever?

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Emma Lane enjoys leaving her garden for a few hours to dip into the romance genre Regency era of history. Join her for a glimpse of a half selkie fairy as she teases a powerful duke and fights the curse of a lowly, evil warlock. Other Regency romances are available on Amazon and Wild Rose Press. As Janis Lane she writes a series of Cozy Mysteries for Soul Mate Publishing.

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