Easy Peasy Cheesy Quiche

I made up this quiche about 2 weeks ago for the girls I "nanny." I use the quotes because honestly I don't nanny the way you would think. The girls are 15 & 16. Not so much in need of being watched & more in need of someone to listen/guide. Anyway, this is the 3rd time my quiche has been requested in the last 2 weeks. They think it good, so I thought maybe you would too.

Easy Peasy Cheesy Quiche
Serves 6-8

Ingredients
1tsp butter or cooking spray
2 cups chopped broccoli
7 eggs
1/2 cup milk of your choice
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1tsp salt
Pepper to taste

Directions
1. Coat pan with butter or spray (I used a Pyrex glass pie dish)
***this is a crust-less quiche. If you're watching carbs, or staying away from gluten this is a great option***
2. Boil broccoli until bright green. Remove immediately & drain.
3. Mix all ingredients. (again...gotta love a Kitchen Aid mixer for this. It mixes while you clean)
4. Pour into dish.
5. Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes.

Enjoy!

Cheesy Quinoa with Kale & Bacon

Sundays always have this invisible film of pressure. This precious day holds my last few hours of freedom before Monday hits. Do I nap, fold laundry, read a book, clean, go out with friends, catch up on paperwork (somehow there is ALWAYS some sort of work that consists of paper), discover something new in Seattle I've never done, paint my nails, hit the thrift stores...you get the idea. Sometimes (more than I'd like to admit) I sit frozen not knowing what to do. I waste away my precious hours in indecisiveness. Not today my friends! I created a masterpiece in the kitchen. 

May I present you with Cheesy Quinoa with Kale & Bacon???

Thank you Aaron Woodall for the Mac&Cheese conversation that inspired this dish.

Cheesy Quinoa with Kale & Bacon
Serves 2-3

Ingredients
2 cups chopped kale (I used the bagged kale from Trader Joe's)
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp rosemary
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
1/4 cup nonfat greek yogurt
1/4 cup milk (whatever you have on hand)
3/4-1 cup cheeses of your choice (I used feta, mozzarella, & gruyere) 
Bacon bits to your liking (fresh are always better)

Directions
1. Coat kale in oil. Sprinkle with rosemary, salt & pepper. Broil on LOW until warmed.
2. Cook quinoa according to directions.
3. Mix all ingredients & place in 8X8 glass dish.
4. Broil on HI until preferred crispiness is acquired.

Eat it up, because it is delicious!

If you are lucky like me, then you can mix everything with your Kitchen Aid mixer. 

I loaned him to a friend not too long ago, and he came home with a name. 

Meet Tangy. This is his internet debut. 

He is very happy to meet you & hopes to cook for you one day. 

My Grandmother's Pineapple Upside Down Cake

My favorite Uncle's birthday was this past week. I offered to make his birthday cake. I will be honest, this was a bit of a selfish act, because I just wanted an excuse to use my new cake stand. I planned on making a chocolate chocolate chocolate cake for him which he would have loved, but my Aunt called and told me that he had said his favorite cake was the pineapple upside down cake his mom made him. 

I have never made a pineapple upside down cake, but I immediately looked up some recipes. I was at a loss. They were all different with one thing in common: you turn them upside down at some point. I knew he didn't just want ANY pineapple upside down cake. He wanted his mom's. 

I took a chance and called my dad for anything he remembered about it. Holy moly! He remembered EXACTLY how she made it. The main ingredient was a cast-iron skillet. Thank you Value Village...I'm just saying that buying a brand new one was not an option. They are pricey and not "seasoned" when they're new. Anyway, I found one and grabbed the other ingredients (boxed yellow cake, brown sugar, butter, canned pineapple rings, and jarred cherries) from the store. 

  I told my dad, "We'll see if I have grandma's pineapple upside down cake in me." He was pretty confident I did. It's not like I hate cooking or anything and boxed cake mix is not rocket science. The selfish act of wanting to use my cake stand turned into wanting to make my uncle something from his childhood. Something his mom made with love. A lot of it.

 1. melt butter (3/4 stick) on stove top

2. stir in brown sugar (3/4 cup) for about 4 minutes. remove from heat.

 3. place pineapples & cherries.

4. pour in cake mix (make according to box, but replace water with pineapple juice)

5. bake at 350 degrees until cooked through (about 45 minutes)

6. let stand 5 minutes before turning upside down onto plate

The vintage look of it doesn't hurt my like of it.

 Happy 62nd Uncle Tim!

 Yum, Yum, Yum

I love you!

The whole process was the coolest. I just kept thinking about how I was doing something my grandma used to do. I was carrying on her legacy (if I succeeded and it was edible). I don't remember much of my grandma, but when I think of her it is with admiration and love. She HAD to have had the biggest heart ever! I lived with her for a few years of my young life. I remember eating raw onions when she made chili, dressing up her cat Samantha in doll clothes and her telling me I was the only one Sam liked, watching Murder She Wrote with her, dusting the cabinet that held her beloved Scarlett (from Gone with the Wind) porcelain doll, her hair in curlers, playing war countless times, and her buying me the heart covered bedspread I wanted so bad (sheets & canopy cover included. Yep, I was the lucky little girl with a canopy bed). She loved me and her hugs and smiles said it.

This recipe is something I can add to my few memories. It is something I can pass down.

It was so much better than making chocolate cake AND my uncle said it was perfect.

Who knew making a cake could be so profound and thought provoking. 

Thank you grandma for your pineapple upside down cake. 

quinoa breakfast bars

I wanted to make something with quinoa for whit's birthday breakfast. 

I looked at a ton of different recipes but I didn't find one I liked. 

This is why I made my own.

I will share it with you since they were a hit. 

1. bring 1 cup coconut milk, 1/2 cup honey, 1/4 cup molasses, 1 teaspoon ish of vanilla, and 1/2 cup pureed prunes to a boil

2. mix 1 cup whole wheat flour (or flour of your choice), 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, however much cinnamon you prefer, and 1 cup of shredded coconut

3. add nuts of your choice. I used whole raw almonds. I would suggest chopping them up. 

4. mix everything together along with 4 cups cooked quinoa

5. pour into a greased 13X9 pan

6. bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes

7. let cool and cut into the shapes you desire.

I chose hearts so Whit would know how much we love her.

Sweet Potato Gratin

My contribution to our Thanksgiving meal was Sweet Potato Gratin. 

Sweet Potato Gratin Recipe

Our family tends to leave the sweet potatoes alone on thanksgiving. Something I DO NOT understand. I love them all the time. With sugar & syrup & candied nuts & marshmallows. I also just like them plain. This year I decided to go with something subtle. To let the sweet potatoes speak for themselves. The turn out was awesome. An empty pan. What more could I ask for?

 Thanks for the help Aunt Kristie!!! Including real whipping cream. That stuff is expensive on Thanksgiving. I think they jack up the prices on purpose.

 The ingredients: sweet potatoes, whipping cream, salt, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, & pepper. That's it.

 Layer with cream (with all the spices except salt & pepper) then potatoes then sprinkle with salt & pepper. Repeat until everything is gone.

Our pan barely fit in the oven...it was a close one.

Birthday in Arlington & My Mom's Enchiladas

We surprised my Uncle Dennis for his birthday with a Mexican dinner. He is a big fan of food and now my mom's enchiladas. I wasn't able to get a hold of my mom before I needed to make them, so I had to rely on the countless times I watched her when I was growing up. Here they are step-by-step:

Step 1: 

Brine chicken breasts overnight in a cayenne, cumin, 

21 Season Salute (from Trader Joe's), salt, & sugar solution

Step 2:

Cook on low in the crock-pot for 8 hours in half the brine & then water to cover the chicken. Once cooked & cooled shred all of the chicken.

Step 3:

Add the enchilada sauce (I used 1/2 a can of red & hot), cheese (I used 2-3 cups mexican mix), and green chilis (I used 1 small mild can)

Step 4:

Warm the corn tortillas, dip them in the other half of enchilada sauce, spoon in chicken mixture, roll & place in pan.

Step 5:

Cover in leftover enchilada sauce, cover in 1.5 cups shredded cheese, 

& sprinkle with sliced black olives.

Step 6:

Heat through until cheese on top is melted to your liking.

We spent the rest of the day walking around their beautiful property & Mexican train (fitting for our meal). It was a great day with family. 

This is Madrina

 Happy Birthday!

Baking Fun

I find myself wanting to try new recipes or perfect an all-time favorite. Here are some of my attempts. 

The CHEWIEST Chocolate Chip Cookies

epicurious chocolate chip cookies

I always make cookies that are chewy & delicious right out of the oven but the next day hard as a rock. But, my life has changed. These stayed chewy & wonderful. Check out the recipe. It's a winner.

Jalapeno Cornbread

Emeril's Jalapeno Cornbread

 So the first time I tried this I left it in the oven too long...I wasn't aware you don't want the "bounce back" like you do with cupcakes/muffins. However, the second time I hit a home run. Good stuff! I took it to a friends house who was serving Autumn Chili in a pumpkin. Delicious! The whole corn kernels make it better than just plain cornbread. Also, the first time I went through the trouble of cooking & cutting corn, but the second time I just used frozen. It was worth saving the time. They also a perfect kick to pair with chili.

Classic Banana Bread

I decided to make banana bread since the bananas were going bad. Not wasting is a great excuse to bake. I added chocolate chips. Who doesn't love the banana-chocolate combo??? I have NO idea! 
Also, I like any chance to use a classic recipe. This was from a Betty Crocker Cookbook.
It tuned out really moist & messy. The chocolate was a bit much  but delicious.

 
Heather's Pumpkin Bread/Muffins
Gabby & Gelle are big fans of their mom's pumpkin bread, so Heather thought breakfast muffins would be a good idea. They were a hit. You can really taste the autumn spices. It is like fall in a muffin. I will definitely be making these at my place.

 This is a VERY loved recipe.