Zucchini Quiche with Potato Crust Recipe - A B&B Featured Recipe

We have recently shared a couple of our Favorite Zucchini Recipes and we hope you have tryed and enjoyed them.  We’ve been busy “dicing & slicing & shredding” all those zucchini for over the winter’s use, so a little slow to share this next one with you. 

This is one of our favorites that we have made regularly at our B&B for breakfast.  The potato crust ensures it is perfect for those avoiding gluten! It is great to make any time in the summer when we have such a bounty of zucchini!  But, just as great any time of the year.  Green zucchini, add a little red  pepper and/or tomato and you have an easy and inexpensive Holiday Morning Treat with perfect colors!

 I worked at UARCO’s home office in Barrington, Illinois, prior to inn keeping and was given this recipe by a trainer in our sales training department.   We have enjoyed making this for our many guests over the last 19 years and we hope you will love it too.

Zucchini Quiche with Potato Crust 

(Preheat Oven to 400 degrees)

Potato Crust: 

2 - 3 Cups Frozen Hash Browns, thawed

1 Whole Egg whisked

½ Cup Shredded Cheese (I like to use shredded Parmesan in this crust as I use cheddar/jack in the quiche)

1/8 Teas Salt & Pepper to taste

Mix together and pat into an 8-9” pie plate.  Bake at 400 until nicely golden (30-40 Minutes).

While crust is baking you have time to slice and fry the zucchini and mix your egg/quiche mixture.

1 Medium Zucchini thinly sliced

1-1/2 cups Cheddar/Jack Cheese (Grated Swiss or cheese of choice)

6 eggs

1 can Evaporated Milk

1/4 tsp. salt and pepper

Dash of oregano leaves and a dash of nutmeg.

While the potato crust is baking, slice the zucchini into thin slices and brown till crisp-tender in a little olive oil.  Arrange the cooked zucchini in the bottom and sides of the baked potato crust.  Sprinkle cheddar/jack over the zucchini.  Mix the eggs and can of undiluted evaporated milk, salt & pepper and nutmeg together with whisk.  I have now fallen in love with the precooked bacon!  Feel free to crumble and add to your egg mixture!  Pour the egg quiche mixture atop the zucchini and potato crust and bake at 350 (25-35 minutes) or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. 

Serve with fresh tomato slices and fruit for breakfast.  Enjoy for lunch or a dinner with salad and crusty bread!  A great dish to take and share!

It Must Be Summer...Where Did All This Zucchini Come From?

My recent Blog  & Squash Recipe got me recalling some of my already favorite zucchini recipes like a "blast from the past".  Okay, we know, zucchini recipes are a dime a dozen!  But this zucchini bread recipe from my sister, Janet, (who now lives in "way too hot for me" Arizona) gave me this one so many years ago and it really is the best!  It was always a family favorite and quickly became a favorite of our guests!

We have published this recipe in B&B cookbooks and have served it to our guest ever since opening our properties in 1992.  The guest love it and so will you!  Who wouldn't enjoy a thick moist slice of zucchini bread warm from the oven and brimming with nuts & raisins; slathered with butter and enjoyed with a hot cup of coffee or your favorite tea? 

If this has gotten your attention; shred your zuch's now, pre-measure and freeze to be available to bake at your "hearts" content any time all year long even when there is a blanket of snow! 

My Sister Janet's  Zucchini Bread

3 whole eggs
2 cups white sugar
1 cup oil
2 cups grated zucchini unpeeled (squeeze all the juice out as much as possible)
1 teas cinnamon
1 teas nutmeg
1 teas salt
1 teas baking soda
1/2 teas baking powder
3 teas pure vanilla
3 cups flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup raisins

Beat eggs and sugar adding the oil and vanilla as blended.  Add the spices and blend well.  Add the flour and the zucchini mixing well after each addition, stir in the nuts and raisins.  Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake 1 hour. 

We love to bake ours in mini loaf pans enjoy one now and have 3 to freeze.  Bring one or more out for any time you need a good "healthy" sweet treat (after all you are getting your veggies!) but, of course, just don't tell the kids!

Riding a Zucchini High - so watch for more of my favorite Zucchini Recipes some sweet and some savory.

My Sister, Janet, also has the best Arizona Lemons God has allowed to be grown, so maybe we will share our favorite Lemon Bars in the near future!

Loving Old Colorado City's Summer Farmers Market

Summertime is here and we are loving it!  Every Saturday morning we walk to our local Farmers Market set up on 24th Street.  We grab all the fresh fruit and vegetables we can easily carry home.  That's the hard part when it includes Rocky Ford melons!  The easy part is enjoying all our fresh & local Colorado produce.  Here is a great sounding recipe we picked up from Hanagan Farms for a Squash Casserole; who doesn't have Squash in the summertime? 

Squash Casserole
2 - 3 cups sliced summer squash
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 shredded carrots
1 chopped onion
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 stick butter/margarine (melted)
1 8 oz. stuffing mix

Boil squash, onions & carrots until tender, drain and add sour cream and soup.  Mix the stuffing mix with melted margarine; spread 1/2 of stuffing mix in casserole dish.  Layer the vegetable mix and top with remaining stuffing mix.  Bake 30 minutes at 350'. 

It is on our menu for this week with grilled chicken breasts!  Add a little fresh salad (Andy is having good luck this year with lettuce, herbs & tomatoes), add some luscious berries for dessert and the summertime living is easy!

Be green - walk or bike to Your local Farmers Market
Be green - buy local produce
Be green - eat fresh raw produce/fruit as much as possible
Be green - compost the leftovers!

Be happy and enjoy Summer in all its bounty and especially when you come to Colorado!  Our guests love walking so nearby to pick up fresh fruit - cherries, peaches, apples & more to enjoy during their stay in Our Hearts Inn's properties.  Manitou Springs provides a great  Farmers Market for our other guests staying at Andy & Pat's Cottage on the Knob!

Something for Music Lovers of All Ages and Taste

We have been enjoying the abundance of "free" music in our Old Colorado City (Colorado Springs & Pikes Peak Region) since we first opened our doors in 1992.  We continue to frequent the Jazz in the Park, Blues in the Park, Air Force Academy Band when they play as often as we can and when the weather permits!

Recently we have been enjoying our short walk from Our Hearts Inn at 2215 West Colorado to the Secret Garden located on 19th Street.  Entering this special garden setting is a treat in itself, additionally, meandered throughout the garden are intimate areas of tables and chairs, strings of lights, and the day's or evening's melody's floating thru the air.  To make it a just a little bit more of heaven, food and drinks are also available at reasonable prices. 

Sunday we enjoyed the Acme Bluegrass Band.  As we headed home (just a couple blocks remember) we "enjoyed" a thorough & complete drenching now "running" home in the sudden rain storm!  A day to remember.  We also love to wander over after dinner on Tuesday evenings to linger a little longer outside  enjoying our beautiful Colorado weather plus music.  We meet old friends and make new ones, the grand kids who are budding musicians, just loved it too!  We offer the Secret Garden's website so you may see full concert details www.ColoradoSecretGarden.com and current prices.

We invite you to come stay with us at Our Hearts Inn www.inn-colorado-springs.com and enjoy an equally exciting trip walking there and walking back!  Of course, we can't guarantee Mother Nature providing you the same excitement, Or you just may decide to drive as Andy often suggest we do!

We love to share local Pikes Peak Area events, artists,  and local attractions, so come & enjoy music Colorado style.  Walk to music at the Bancroft Park in Old Colorado City or  take a short drive to the America the Beautiful Park from our unique location.  Appreciate your lazy long summers even more!  As we are fond of saying, come see why "Our Hearts are in Colorado" and the local & unique historic westside of Old Colorado City. 

Family Adventures in the Pikes Peak Region

Families love to visit an area different from home.   Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region offers endless experience that is nothing like Home!  Our family just visited from Indiana and we'd love to share the fun and adventures we experienced together around the Pikes Peak Region. 

Cripple Creek lead us on a beautiful drive home complete with tunnels and breath taking views!  The lure of hitting the big jackpot and going home with "gold" in our pockets lured us at the beginning but the scenery was what "won" Our Hearts!

Seven Falls offered spectacular views for the brave family members who climbed the 284 stairs to the top.  Some  decided (Andy & Pat) the view was just as grand at the bottom.  We also opted for the elevator to the grand view from the platform!

Did I mention we also watched a diver dive 3 stories into a pool while eating dinner, saw the King's Joust and even a Monkey who loved to be fed quarters? The Range Riders rode down Colorado Avenue passing in front of our property after the Pancake Street Breakfast downtown kicking off the start of the Rodeo in the Pikes Peak Region. 

Just not in your regular day back at Aunt Mary's house.

Drew and Grandpa Andy loved their ride up Pikes Peak Mountain on the Cog Wheel Train.  A cool ride with warm donuts at the top!  Drew also loved the new Wind Walker at the Cave of the Winds; Grandpa Andy once again watching the dare devil antics from ground level! 

Garden of the Gods Trading Post was a favorite once again as it has been for the 19 years we have been here in Colorado Springs.  Lunch on the outside deck at the Trading Post plus shopping for cool take home souvenirs! 

Our Hearts Inn's great Old Colorado City location meant the family could easily stroll the tree lined streets in the shadow of Pikes Peak to enjoy a little more shopping and dining any evening.   A short walk to the Secret Garden for music by the Zen Cowboy ended one day leaving all in a very mellow mood!

Our family has returned to their home and their daily lives yet we know they enjoyed their Colorado Adventure and visiting Our Hearts Inn.  We welcome your family to come visit as well and experience Colorado!

16th Annual Bed and Breakfast Tour, Old Colorado City Historical Society

Sunday, December 5th, 2010, come join the 16th Annual B&B Tour in our local Old Colorado City, Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs areas. 

We invite and encourage everyone to join us Sunday, December 5th, in touring eight beautiful and historic homes all lovingly converted into local area bed and breakfast inns.  The Old Colorado City History Center presents the 16th Annual Holiday Bed & Breakfast tour this Sunday, December 5th, 1-5 p.m, visit http:www.history.oldcolo.com for tickets. Be sure to visit the History Center at 1 S. 24th St for gift drawings of local Old Colorado City Merchants.

We are not participating this year as a B&B on tour although we did for many years and loved all visiting our inn!  This year we will be among the many delighted guests starting our holiday season with a "peek" inside these treasures.  We will be joined by Pat's Mom, Andy's sister and brother-in-law.  They travel from Illinois for this annual start to their holidays!  We enjoy being among the many guests invited inside these Inns located in our own Old Colorado City, Colorado Springs, and Manitou Springs.  So come along, say "hi" if you see us! 

We also invite you to come stay at Our Hearts Inn and enjoy "2 Free Tickets" to this tour!  Stay on Saturday or Sunday evening (12/4 and or 12/5, 2010) and enjoy this special treat to start your holiday with the chance to win a free night stay on one of the eight participating bed and breakfast inns.  We are located in Old Colorado City near all the participating B&B's and walking distance to the OCCHS.  Visit our site http://www.inn-colorado-springs.com/ and pick your favorite cozy room to return to after your fun Sunday afternoon.

Old Colorado City Tree Lighting 2010

Old Colorado City opens the Holiday Season on November 20th, 2010 with the annual Tree Lighting. Festivities begin at 5pm in Old Town Plaza (just a few blocks from our Colorado Springs Bed and Breakfast) . Included in the fun is a Holiday Choir, a dance troupe, an "official" proclamation by the "Mayor" of Old Colorado City,  photo opportunities with "Green" Santa from Colorado Springs Utilities who will be arriving in a horse-drawn carraige, until 7pm, and of course, the TREE LIGHTING! Each family will be given a gift bag filled with coupons, free items and a “Santa Photo” certificate. An after-party continues across the street at Meadow Muffins. The event is also a chance to give an unwrapped toy for Christmas Unlimited.