🌱 Zucchini Mania: Our Family’s Favorite Recipes 🌱

This time of year, our garden is overflowing with fresh produce, and we’re loving every bit of it! Right now, zucchini and tomatoes are coming in by the basketful, and we’re finding new ways to enjoy them while remembering some of our old family favorites. From smoothies to spaghetti sauces, roasted soups to stir-fries, there’s a lot of garden-fresh goodness in every meal.

We hope these recipes inspire you to enjoy your own garden produce and spark some new ideas for using all that fresh, organic food.

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🥣 Roasted Vegetable Soup

This simple, nutritious soup is one of our family’s go-to snacks.

Ingredients

• Zucchini and tomatoes, coarsely chopped (slightly more zucchini than tomatoes)
  

• Small onion (green tops and all) per casserole dish

• Small amount of green pepper (just enough for flavor)
  
  

• Garlic to taste (fresh or dried)

• Olive oil or bacon drippings
  
  

• Salt & pepper
  

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
   
   

2. Place mostly zucchini and plenty of tomatoes in a casserole dish. Add onion, green pepper, and garlic, then toss everything with olive oil or bacon drippings, salt, and pepper.




3. Roast uncovered for 35–40 minutes, stirring a few times while roasting, until vegetables are tender and slightly caramelized.

   
   

4. Transfer roasted vegetables to a blender and pulverize until smooth.
   
   

5. Serve straight from the blender.
   

Family Note: One of our daughters has been eating the leftovers for breakfast and is requesting more—she’s loving this healthy snack!

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🍝 Roasted Zucchini-Tomato Spaghetti Sauce

One of our daughters experimented with this recipe last week—it was such a hit we’re making it again today! The house smells amazing while the vegetables roast, and the flavors blend beautifully.

Ingredients

• Equal portions of zucchini and tomatoes
  

• Small onion (green tops and all) per casserole dish
  
  

• Small amount of green pepper (just enough for flavor)
  
  

• Garlic to taste (fresh or dried)
  
  

• Olive oil or bacon drippings
  
  

• Fresh or dried herbs: basil, oregano, marjoram, rosemary, thyme
  
  

• Salt & pepper
  
  

• Meat of choice (we usually use sausage or beef)
  

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
   
   

2. Place zucchini, tomatoes, onion, green pepper, and garlic in a casserole dish. Toss with olive oil or bacon drippings, herbs, salt, and pepper.
   
   

3. Roast uncovered for 35–40 minutes, stirring a few times while roasting, until vegetables are tender and slightly caramelized
   
   

4. Transfer roasted vegetables to a blender and pulverize until smooth.
   
   

5. Brown meat separately, then stir it into the sauce.
   
   

6. Serve over zucchini noodles or pasta.
   
   

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🥢 Green Bean, Zucchini & Tomato Stir-Fry

This is an old family favorite that we hadn’t made in a long time—and it’s so good to have it back on the table. Cinnamon plus bacon gives this dish its unique and wonderful flavor.

Ingredients

• Equal portions of fresh green beans, zucchini (diced small), and tomatoes (diced medium)
  
  

• Bacon, as much or as little as you like

  

• Reserved bacon drippings
  
  

• Cinnamon, generous
  
  

• Salt, to taste
  
  

• Cooked zucchini rice (add small diced zucchini to rice while cooking; optionally season with cinnamon, salt, and chicken bouillon)
  

Instructions

1. Cook the bacon until crisp. Crumble and set aside, saving the excess bacon drippings.
   
   

2. In the same skillet with a little of the bacon drippings, stir-fry green beans until tender but still fresh. Add most of the cinnamon and salt now, tasting and adjusting as you add the zucchini and tomatoes.
   
   

3. Add diced zucchini and cook until warmed through (still fresh and crisp).
   
   

4. Turn off the heat and add diced tomatoes.
   
   

5. Mix in the crumbled bacon.
   
   

6. Serve over zucchini rice.

Family Note: This last week, one of our married sons stopped by with a question and when he found out what we were having for lunch, he asked if he could join us—it is so delicious!

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🥤 Morning Shakes

We love, love, love our morning shakes! They’re packed with nutrition and keep us full and satisfied for a good part of the day. Everyone in the family has their own favorite combinations.

Ingredients (customizable for each person)

• Frozen zucchini chunks (used like ice)
  
  

• Fresh or frozen greens (kale, spinach, finely chopped carrot tops, beet greens, etc.)
  
  

• Frozen fruit of choice (apples, rhubarb, peaches, bananas, berries, mango, etc.)
  
  

• Liquid base (water, milk, almond milk, or juice)
  
  

• Shake powder or protein powder of choice (optional)
  
  

• Optional daily supplements: collagen, minerals, etc.
  

Instructions

1. Place liquid in the blender first.

   

2. Add frozen zucchini, greens, and fruit.
   
   

3. Add shake powder or protein powder and any daily supplements if desired.
   
   

4. Blend until smooth.
   
   

5. Adjust thickness with more liquid or zucchini chunks as needed.
   

Family Note: The kids say Mom’s chocolate shake looks green because it has so many greens! We store a lot of fresh fruits, vegetables, and greens to last us through the year. Last year we ate up every bit of what we had, and these shakes are still a favorite!

✨ Zucchini chunks act as ice, keeping the shake cold and creamy without watering it down, and the mix of greens gives a lasting full and satisfied feeling.

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🌻 Closing Thoughts

It’s such a joy to sit down at the table this time of year and know that so much of what we’re eating came straight from the garden. These recipes have been a fun way for us to experiment, revisit old family favorites, savor the flavors, and add a few seasonal harvest dishes to our table.

If your garden is overflowing with zucchini and tomatoes like ours, I hope these ideas give you some inspiration and help you enjoy every bite of your harvest. And if you try any of these recipes—or put your own twist on them—I’d love to hear what you create. After all, the best part of cooking from the garden is sharing the goodness with the people you love. 🌱💛

Never Once Was He Alone

The music video below contains visual depictions of John's injury,

and so it is only available to watch on YouTube for those over 18 years.

Never Once Was He Alone is based on the true story of a mountain accident on July 3, 2014. While operating heavy machinery alone grading a ski slope, John experienced an accident that could easily have taken his life.

The physical trauma was severe: his head was lacerated and later closed with 21 staples; his back was bruised and rubbed raw from bracing against the seat as the machine overturned; and his side was pierced—likely by a branch. He sustained seven broken ribs and three breaks in his back. He rolled over 600 feet down the mountain slope through small-diameter trees and was finally stopped by larger trees at the base near the parking area. John landed upside down, freed himself from the machine, and crawled to the edge of the parking lot, where other workers—including our oldest son—rushed to his aid. And yet, through the pain and disorientation, there was an unmistakable sense of protection, guidance, and grace.

As he endured his own wounds, John came to glimpse the wounds of Christ. This was not just suffering—it became a personal invitation to understand the love of a Savior who willingly suffered for us. It is a testimony that even in our most broken moments, we are never abandoned. This is a story of faith refined through fire, of a prayer answered in unexpected ways, and of a God who walks with us through the hardest terrain.

About the photos in the video:
The first photo shows the slope John rolled down, with the Takeuchi track skidsteer visible at the base. The crashed machine appears in the background during the lyric, “He’s crawled through the thickets…”. The picture of John in his S300 Bobcat was taken at a different job site. The slope photos are original from 2014, when John was grading the ski runs. Some photos were taken immediately after the accident and later in the hospital; others, from August 2014, show John working in the garden and riding the 4-wheeler, determined to stay active despite the pain. The cliff-side shots are from a September 2014 road trip in Southern Utah with a close friend.

Many original accident-site photos were lost over the years. The trees seen in the video as John rolls down the slope were filmed in 2025 at the original location.

None of My Business

 

None of My Business is what freedom sounds like—a lively, fiddle-laced Americana tune bursting with honest, playful lyrics and a grin earned through experience. With a wink, a stomp, and a whole lot of heart, it invites listeners to tap their feet and embrace the joy of standing in their own truth.

Four years ago, I found myself deeply triggered by a challenging situation. For most of my life, I responded by looking inward—asking what the mirror was showing me, how I might be contributing, and what I could learn. But this time, that framework wasn’t helping. I cried out to God, “What is my problem?” The answer came swiftly and clearly: “You are a co-dependent people pleaser. Do not project your garbage onto others. And when they project theirs onto you, receive it as meaning nothing.” That moment marked a turning point. Since then, I’ve been unlearning old patterns, growing comfortable in my own skin, setting boundaries without bitterness, and letting go of the need to manage how others see me.

This joyful foot-tapper is more than just catchy music; it’s a celebration of releasing the need to be understood, refusing to carry what isn’t yours, and choosing to love from a place of clarity and inner freedom. With bright fiddle breaks, a sure-footed rhythm with a friendly sway, and a few good-natured metaphors—good boots instead of barbed wire, a free-spirited grin with laughter filling each day, anchoring the shaken, and loving from a place of freedom—this song celebrates the joy that comes when you trade approval-chasing for inner peace.

In the Cracks of Broken Memory

Happy Birthday John! I love you!!!

There have been three times in our marriage when John came close to dying: December 17, 1997; July 3, 2014; and March 5, 2025.

The first was in 1997. John was building a home, and a crane was lifting a bundle of roof trusses wrapped in a chain. Mid-lift, the chain gave way. The trusses fell, striking John and slamming his head into the frozen ground.

He was in a coma for weeks, with swelling in his brain the size of a tennis ball. I didn’t know how the brain injury would affect him. I believed he would wake up, but I didn’t know who he would be on the other side of it. Even so, I felt peace through that time, even without knowing the outcome. But it was also lonely—being in that space beside him while he slept, missing the sound of his voice, his presence, his spirit.

So when he finally opened his eyes—when he smiled, when he laughed—it was like feeling the light come back into the room. I could feel him again.

His recovery from such a serious injury was nothing short of miraculous. Still, he lost 50% of his auditory processing. Conversations became difficult—he couldn’t always hold onto words or follow what was being said. We had to learn how to communicate again. And more than that, how to be patient, how to listen with our hearts when words fell short.

We went on to have eight more children after the accident—for a total of eleven. John is a remarkable father. Truly, the perfect companion for me.

In the Cracks of Broken Memory is a song about that season. Not about tragedy, but about the slow, steady work of loving each other through uncertainty. About finding grace when the path isn’t clear. About dancing—sometimes clumsily, sometimes beautifully—on ground we never expected to stand on.

The Eye of the Storm

I've always loves music. Emily's songs have inspired me, so I am starting to put some of my experiences to music. Here's my first song. Enjoy!

Inspiration behind “The Eye of the Storm”

During the fall of 2017 I experienced a situation that challenged my core. As I was crying to the Lord with heartache and anguish, I heard these words that were strangely comforting, “You just went over the wake of a speedboat. You are leaving the harbor and going into an ocean storm. Stay in the eye of the storm where it is peaceful.” 

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In an ocean storm, low pressure in the eye means the storm is likely strengthening. The eye of the storm is the center, and lower pressure there indicates a more intense storm with stronger winds. This is because the air pressure difference between the eye and the surrounding eyewall (the area of strongest winds) drives the storm's circulation. As the storm intensifies, the air in the center begins to descend, creating a relatively clear and calm area – the eye.

The harbor of popular opinion seems safe, but riding on the wake of others’ opinions causes doubt. As storms of life rage, the most calm and peaceful place to be is in the eye of the storm. This is where God is found.

"Glorious Field" Country Worship Album

For the past few weeks our daughter Emily has been creating music with the help of AI. She writes the lyrics and chooses the tone and style of the arrangement. The technology helps her create music our family really enjoys.

She just finished a country worship album we've been listening to all week, "Glorious Field". We listen to her music over and over again. The lyrics carry a message to guide our life. Its amazing how we can put our thoughts into music like this! We're excited to share her music with you. Enjoy!

You're The God of This Land

Growing in Your Light

In the Quiet of the Morning

Harvesting Joy

You Make Everything Shine

The Field of My Heart

The Only Good Fruit is Repentance

During family scripture study, we were reading about pruning the Lord’s vineyard and preserving good fruit. 

Then the servants went ahead and worked hard, and the lord of the vineyard also worked with them. And they obeyed the lord of the vineyard’s direction in all things. And original fruit again grew in the vineyard, and the original branches began to grow and produce abundantly, and the wild branches began to be cut off and thrown away. And they kept the root and the top equal based on their strength. This is how they worked with all diligence according to the lord of the vineyard’s commandments, until the bad had been thrown out of the vineyard and the lord had saved the good for himself, so the trees had again produced the original fruit. And they became like one body and the fruit was equally good; and the lord of the vineyard had saved the original fruit for himself, which was most valuable to him from the beginning. Jacob 3:27 [emphasis added] https://scriptures.info/scriptures/cc/jacob/3.27#27

The only way to guarantee you are not among those who will be “hewn down and cast in to the fire” is to bring forth sweet fruit. All of that is entirely individual. There is no group salvation, and never has been. Each person has the same opportunity and responsibility to bring forth good fruit. Chapter 6: I KNOW OF NO REVELATION, paragraph 57 (approx. page 128) 2007-10-31 Eighteen Verses  [emphasis added] 

John asked the family what it means to be good fruit or bring forth good fruit because it is easy to assume we are good fruit without knowing what that means. He found this explanation to help us understand what it means to be good fruit.

A true prophet’s message will produce repentance. The only good fruit which can be offered in this world is repentance. When mankind lays down their sins because of a message, that message comes from Him. All others are distractions and invite you to err. The fruit which gives eternal life is repentance and a return to Christ. When the message comes from a false prophet, you can know the messengers, along with those who listen to it, and the message itself will be “hewn down, and cast into the fire.” It will be purged.https://denversnuffer.com/2010/10/3-nephi-14-15-20/ [emphasis added] 

Those who desire to bring forth good fruit or be fruit worth preserving are continually repenting.

And Alma, having authority from God, ordained priests, one priest for every 50. He ordained them to preach and teach concerning God’s kingdom. And he commanded them to only teach the things he and the holy prophets had taught. To be clear, he commanded them to preach nothing but repentance and faith in the Lord, who had redeemed His people. And he commanded them not to have any heated arguments with each other, but to look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts bound together in unity and love toward each other. This is how he commanded them to preach. And so they became God’s children. [emphasis added] Mosiah 9:9  https://scriptures.info/scriptures/cc/mosiah/9.9#9

Repentance is a process not a destination. I used to be critical of myself when I made errors. I spent too much time regretting my mistakes. One day as I lamented my weakness, I heard a voice asking,  “Did you learn something?” I eagerly responded explaining the lessons I had gained from the experience. I then heard Him encouraging me to get up and move on and give the guilt and shame to Him. I realized God does not want to punish me. He wants me to learn and grow. My focus changed away from my mistakes and toward what the experience was teaching me. I saw value in the tailor-made experiences life was providing me and began to rejoice in the learning process in spite of my clumsiness. 

Our Heavenly Parents know their children are going to stumble and fall many times as they develop. The Doctrine of Christ teaches us to repent and become as a little child. When little children learn to walk, they fall over and over, but they also keep getting up until they learn to walk. Little children are eager to learn and grow. Our Parents are always reaching out to inspire us to keep going and growing until we learn how to navigate every situation . . .  until we become even as They are. 

The Lord's purposes for us are fulfilled as we learn, grow, and develop. It is not helpful for us to wallow in guilt, shame, and regret, yet sometimes we do. Our pain is beneficial when it causes us to cry out to the Lord. Yet, we should not expect the Lord to wave a wand and immediately relieve our distress. We should expect to be corrected and instructed. Every experience in life is specifically designed for our growth and learning. The pain can turn to joy as we learn from our experiences. Jesus knows how to lead us through the ever changing maze we are required to navigate. He is a good guide. . . the best teacher. 

As a young LDS missionary, I had a dream that changed the way I thought about repentance. At the end of the dream I was told, “The purpose of life is to get better as soon as possible and be happy.” Repentance brings understanding, freedom, and light. It is meant to change us and give us peace, joy, and hope.