Pasta Salad

Photo from recipe website

Besides quiche, I'm really into cold salads these days. 

I made this pasta salad, that I found on Pinterest, today for lunch and it is super tasty. 

Here's the recipe.....

Broccoli, Grape & Pasta Salad

Quiche Kick

I quiched for dinner tonight. 

After donuts for breakfast and Whopper's for lunch {I know....we are the poster children of a well balanced diet}, I opted for a little healthier option for dinner. 

Yes the recipe calls for butter & whole milk, but it is also packed with lots of veggies and a whole wheat crust. 

The quiche does not discriminate, in the veggie department, so you can use whatever you have on hand.

Tonight I used mushrooms, onion, spinach, and turkey bacon.

If you like heat, Jody & I love adding a healthy coating of Sriracha.......Enjoy!

*Recipe from 100 days of Real Food Blog

INGREDIENTS:

(for the crust)

• 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour 

• 1/2 cup melted butter

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 2 tablespoons whole milk

INGREDIENTS:

(for the Quiche filling)

• 1.5 cups whole milk

• 4 eggs, beaten

• Salt and Pepper to taste

• Optional: parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top 

• Quiche ingredients of your choice!  Our favorite add-ins are: bacon, goat cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic, sautéed spinach, sautéed mushrooms, roasted red peppers, grated zucchini or squash.

METHOD:

1.  Preheat oven to 375.

2.  In a pie dish, mix the flour and salt, then pour in the milk and butter and stir everything together with a fork.

3.  Once your ingredients are mixed, I find it easiest to make a ball of dough and just flatten it with your hands to fit the pie dish, working it gently up the sides of the dish and crimping the edges with your finger or a fork. 

4.  Whisk together the milk, eggs, salt, pepper and then pour into crust. {Sauté your veggies} Add your favorite additional ingredients to the dish and top with extra salt and pepper and parmesan cheese.

5.  Bake for 30 – 40 minutes, or until filling is set.

Nordy Bars

Word of Advice.......make 2 batches {1 to gift away and 1 to eat....by yourself}

1/2 cup butter

1 package 12 oz butterscotch chips

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 3/4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 12 oz package chocolate chips

2 cups fresh mini marshmallows

1 cup chopped pecans (If you omit the nuts, add 3 more tablespoons flour).

In large saucepan, melt butter. Add butterscotch chips and brown sugar. Stir until all melted (this usually doesn't happen--so be careful not to cook them too long--take them off when they are 'melty'). Do not boil. Remove pan from heat and let cool for about 1/2 hour until room temperature. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Stir in rest of ingredients just until all ingredients are incorporated. Spread mixture into a 9x13 greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out without batter attached.

Let cool all the way before serving.

On the menu

I typically don't blog about cooking because, let's be honest, I don't do much of it. With that said, I love when I find simple delicious meals that I can add to our dinner staples. Total prep time for both recipes is about 15 mins and you are done......this is my kind of cooking.

Crock Pot Pulled Chicken

1/2 cup of ketchup

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

6 ounce tomato paste

2 tbsp worcestershire sauce

2 tbsp yellow mustard

1 tsp salt

1 tsp onion power

1 bag frozen chicken breast

Mix all ingredients in the crock pot and add frozen chicken. Cook in the on low 8-9 hrs.

Coleslaw

1 bag cole slaw mix

1/2 cup low fat mayo

2 tbsp canola oil

3 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp cider vinegar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp celery seed

1 tsp onion powder

Mix all together and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hrs

With Love,

I do great things with BANANAS

Ingredients

• 4 very ripe bananas
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons applesauce
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 egg

Additions: I add chocolate chips because the hubby has a major sweet tooth but you can also add pecans or walnuts

• 
  
• Mash bananas in a bowl.
• Add all other ingredients and mix well.
• Pour into greased loaf pans
• Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

Sometimes I cook.....

and I'm actually happy with the results!

So here's the deal.....couple weeks back we were in Salem and Uncle Rob made Chilighetti. I loved it! That is until Uncle Rob started rattling off the ingredients and the fat, calories and cholesterol started adding up in my head. Since it was so yummy I thought I might try and remix the recipe a bit and make a low fat version.

Below is the recipe for Whitneyghetti!!

1lb. Laura's Lean Beef

1 chopped medium onion

3 cans diced tomatoes

3 cans turkey chili

3 cups 2% cheddar cheese

1 8oz low fat sour cream

16 oz wheat spaghetti

parmesan cheese

Step 1: In a large pot brown meat and onions

Step 2: Add in tomatoes and bring to boil

Step 3: Add turkey chili, cheese & sour cream

Step 4: Simmer for 30 min.

While simmering cook spaghetti and drain

Step 5: Add spaghetti to mixture and pour into LARGE casserole dish

Step 6: Add parmesan cheese to top and cook for 30 min @ 350 degrees

ps.....This meal goes really well with chocolate chip yogurt ice cream sprinkled with cinnamon {Thanks Suzie for the tip}

With Love,