Weekends here have gotten hectic now that lacrosse season has started. I once pictured my boys playing tennis—it’s a sport I always thought would suit them. They’ve taken a few lessons and enjoy it, and I admit I’ve daydreamed about them as high school tennis stars. Tennis feels practical because it fits school athletics and is a game you can play well into adulthood. Still, lacrosse is now part of our lives, and my husband G is thrilled.

G grew up in Baltimore, where lacrosse is a major sport (unlike my Texas hometown, where football rules). He began playing lacrosse as a young child, played at the University of Massachusetts, and even spent a year coaching at a boys’ school in Manchester, England. Given that background, it’s pretty likely our sons will play lacrosse too — it almost feels inevitable.

I just wish Benjamin would remember to tie his shoes!

Both brothers seem to be warming up to the game. Tennis, anyone?

The weather has been gorgeous lately, which is perfect given all our outdoor activities. After Saturday’s lacrosse tournament I paused to take in some springtime beauty in our yard: the ginkgo opening its new leaves, tulips and rhododendron in bloom — and even a dandelion that looks pretty up close.

Sunday was busy too: church in the morning, then an afternoon fishing with the Cub Scouts.

Nathaniel caught a fish and earned his fishing belt loop. He was very proud.

While we were fishing, we spotted a pair of Canadian geese shepherding their goslings along the shore.

Square foot gardening

After fishing we spent some time in the garden before dinner. We’ve cleaned up our three 4′ x 10′ raised beds and amended the soil. This year we’re trying square foot gardening (SFG), a method that focuses on intensive planting in small spaces to maximize yield. SFG follows spacing guidelines based on each plant’s needs — for example, you might plant 16 radishes in a square foot, while tomatoes get one plant per square. The system helps with weed control and companion planting. We divided the beds into one-foot squares and got them ready; we’ll share more photos as the season progresses.

After gardening we wanted an easy, hearty, healthy dinner. I was inspired by a Pinterest photo of a quiche with a spaghetti squash crust and adapted it into a Tex-Mex–style, grain-free, gluten-free dish using grass-fed beef, chili seasoning, eggs, vegetables and a spaghetti squash “crust.” The boys called it “Taco Pie,” which sounded more fun than “paleo quiche with spaghetti squash crust,” and it was a hit — everyone went back for seconds.

Paleo Quiche with Spaghetti Squash Crust

Ingredients

• 1 medium spaghetti squash
• 1 pound grass-fed ground beef
• 1/2 medium red onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons chili or taco seasoning (choose an all-natural blend)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced thin
• 8 large eggs, whisked
• 1–2 teaspoons additional fat for the pan
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup grated cheese (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Prepare the spaghetti squash: halve it lengthwise and place cut-side down in a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup water to the dish and bake until just tender, about 35–40 minutes. Scoop out the seeds and use a fork to rake the flesh into strands. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
3. While the squash cooks, brown the ground beef in a skillet.
4. Add diced onion, garlic, seasoning and salt; cook until the onions are soft. Transfer the meat mixture to a bowl and keep warm.
5. Add the cooked, seasoned spaghetti squash to the skillet, spreading it evenly and pressing some up the sides to form a crust.
6. Cook the squash in the skillet for a few minutes to evaporate extra moisture.
7. Fill the squash crust with the seasoned beef mixture.
8. Sprinkle chopped cilantro over the beef.
9. Whisk the eggs with salt and pepper and pour them over the filling and crust.
10. Arrange red bell pepper slices on top and add grated cheese if desired.
11. Bake at 350°F for about 35 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the quiche feels firm.
12. Serve warm.

The spaghetti squash crust held together nicely, though it wasn’t crunchy the way a traditional crust would be. Still, the boys asked for seconds, so it must have been good.

I hope your weekends are wonderful.

Thanks for stopping by!