Spinach Asparagus Quiche Recipe - with Bacon!

 

 

I made this quiche Saturday morning out of ingredients I already had in the refrigerator. I kind of looked through and figured out what would be good and just tossed it all in. I topped it with some fresh chives from the garden. It was super flavorful!

Ingredients

1 9 inch pie crust, defrosted
1 cup cooked spinach - I used frozen that I just put in some hot water to defrost and then drained
4 slices of bacon
1 cup chopped white onion
3/4 bunch asparagus, crack off tops and then chop the stems into 2 inch pieces - reserve tops as well
2 tablespoons chives, diced
1 cup mild cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
1 tablespoon flour
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup heavy cream
3 eggs, slightly beaten

Directions

 

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put crust into a 9 inch pie plate and press down softly. Pierce the bottom of the crust about 4 times with a fork.

2. Cook bacon - place on a wire wrack on a cookie pan into the oven for about 15 minutes or until desired level of crispiness. Remove from oven once finished, allow to drain on paper towels then chop.

3. Put chopped asparagus including the tops into a microwave safe bowl. Fill the bowl with hot water and microwave the asparagus until cooked but still slightly crispy, about 4 minutes. When finished blanche with cold water to stop cooking.

4. In medium bowl combine asparagus stems (the tops will go on the top of the quiche), chopped onion, bacon and spinach. Mix together.

5. In separate bowl combine salt, pepper, milk, heavy cream and eggs. Mix until thoroughly combined.

6. In small bowl mix together cheddar cheese and flour to coat cheese.

7. Assemble quiche. On top of crust first layer bacon/asparagus/spinach mixture. Then layer cheese. Next pour on egg mixture. Using the back of a spoon lightly push down on the mixture to ensure all of the egg mixture gets through to the bottom of the crust and the egg is evenly distributed.

8. Now layer on the tops of the asparagus. I lined them up but you can distribute however you would like. Then sprinkle with the diced chives.

9. Bake in the oven for about 40 minutes or until cooked through. If it's not finished the milk will pool in the middle. Once it's almost dry it's finished. Remove from oven and allow to set for another 10 minutes before serving.

Baked Chocolate Donuts Recipe

This recipe makes 6 donuts.

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade Recipe

It feels like summer here in Southern California. It's simply gorgeous. Our new house came with a lemon tree overflowing with fresh lemons. I've already made fresh squeezed lemonade about 5 times. Occasionally I'll add a shot of rum to spice it up. So delicious! Here is my recipe!

Ingredients

6 large fresh lemons (these are best from a lemon tree, if you buy store bought you won't get as much juice - so buy more lemons!) - equals 1 cup lemon juice once squeezed
1/3 cup sugar
3 cups water
1 1/2 cups ice

Directions

1. Wash lemons. If using store bought, roll lemons on counter to soften and make juicier.

2. Cut lemons in half.

3. Put a mesh strainer over a pitcher, and then squeeze lemons using your hands to extract as much juice as possible. The mesh strainer will catch any seeds.

4. Stir in sugar.

5. Stir in water.

6. Add ice.

7. Sit in sun and enjoy!

Strawberry Mojito Recipe

So refreshing and tasty! This recipe is for one serving but you can make whole pitchers if you would like. They are perfect for a party or just for a quiet night at home. Enjoy!

Makes 1 mojito

Ingredients

12 mint leaves

4 strawberries, roughly chopped

1/2 lime in 2 pieces

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 tablespoon sugar (or more of less if you like less sweet or more sweet)

a shot of white rum

ice

club soda

Directions

 1. Muddle together mint leaves, chopped strawberries, 1/2 lime, lime juice and sugar until all of the juices mix together and mint leaves are broken up slightly.

2. Put mixture into cocktail shaker, add rum and ice. Shake shake shake. 

3. Poor into glass, top with club soda.

Breakfast Sandwich with Candied Bacon, Spinach, Tomato and Provolone

Strawberry Banana Crumb Cake Recipe

This morning I woke up with the desire to bake. My first creation in our new kitchen! I whipped up this Strawberry Banana Crumb Cake. I baked it a few hours ago and the house still smells so delicious.

Homemade Cheese Ravioli Recipe

 

Ravioli is a tradition in my family. It has always been a Christmas time staple made by my Grandmother. Since my Grandmothers passing, it continues to be a tradition made by my Aunt and cousins, and whomever is around to help that year. This year I had the honor of helping make it. Although I don't have my Grandma's recipe, I came up with my own for the purpose of this post. It turned out pretty great! I'm not sure how close this is to my Grandma's recipe, but it tastes similar to me. Although I don't get to have the real stuff as often as I'd like!

This may seem like a complicated recipe but it's actually quite easy.

Valentine's Day Brownies Recipe

This is a recipe for a really fudgy delicious brownie! It's very chocolatey. After you make this recipe you will never buy boxed brownies again. They're so simple and tasty!

 

Ingredients

1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

For icing:
2 cups confectioner's powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
food coloring
Optional: other decorations - I used sprinkles and confectioner's sugar

Special Equipment (for decoration):
A heart cookie cutter (or use a knife)
A piping set and small tip

Instructions

 

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour a 9x13 glass pan.

2. In medium sized pot, melt butter. Once butter is melted, stir in chocolate chips. Stir until completely melted. Remove pot from heat. 

3. Stir in white sugar, eggs and vanilla extract. Mix until combined.

4. Add cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and salt one at a time and mix until combined. 

5. Spread batter into 9x13 pan. 

6. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. 

7. Remove brownies from oven and allow to cool completely. 

8. Either using cookie cutter or knife, carefully cut brownies into heart shapes. 

9. Mix together icing ingredients. Add more milk teaspoon by teaspoon until it reaches desired consistency. It's ideal when it resembles pancake batter.  Then add how ever much food coloring necessary to make your desired color. 

10. Put icing into piping bag and decorate!

Tip: If adding sprinkles, first ice brownie using brush and then coat with sprinkles. Also, if you would like to dust with confectioner's sugar, cut heart of desired size out of paper or wax paper and then lightly dust with confectioner's sugar. 

 

Baked Ziti Recipe

We have had very little sleep lately so I've been looking for simplicity when it comes to cooking. Here is a recipe that I came up with the other day that is quite easy to make, and also a little bit lighter than your usual baked ziti. It was so good that we ate it for 3 days. I normally have a rule about leftovers... that unless it is something really delicious, I will only eat it for 2 days. This one was an exception to the rule for sure.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cookies

Here is a yummy recipe that I came up with the other day as I was wanting something chocolate. I originally made them without the salt and caramel but felt they needed a little something extra. They turned out great! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.