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.

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

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.

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.

Spinach Goat Cheese Sausage Orecchiette Pasta Recipe

Pasta. Goat Cheese. Italian Sausage. Spinach. DELICIOUS.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

You guys, this is the BEST chocolate chip cookie recipe ever. I'm not just saying that. You have to try these. They are seriously easy to make and taste sooo good. They are soft in the middle and crispy on the edges. A little bit of crunch, with that soft center and oozing chocolate...  what's not to love? And the best part of it all is these are totally customizable. 

You can add in walnuts, m&m's, coconut, chopped Andes mints, white chocolate chips, peanut butter chocolate chips, chopped Snickers bars, or anything else you would like. I've done all of these and they turned on great. The cookies pictured are just straight up chocolate chips. I was feeling like I just wanted a classic cookie today. But the possibilities with this recipe are endless!

Cinnamon Sugar Donuts Recipe

These donuts are perfect for dipping in coffee or hot chocolate. In fact, all donuts are perfect for dipping in coffee or hot chocolate. But these especially. Baked donuts have a cake like texture which makes them not get too soggy when you dip them. Also, baked donuts are a lot healthier than fried. This recipe is a little bit better than your average baked donut as well because I used half whole wheat flour.

Usually baked donuts have more of a thicker density and aren't as fluffy. So I experimented with these and added extra baking powder and salt (the rising agents) and what resulted was a fluffier donut. Perfection.