Crustless Quiche

This was so fast and easy to make! It's great to throw in extras that you might have on hand such as mushrooms, smoked turkey or ham, or even substitute broccoli for the spinach. Not only is this a great breakfast, but it's a great meal anytime! :)

1 T. vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped,
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen, chopped spinach, thawed and drained (I used fresh)
5-6 eggs, beaten
3 c. shredded Muenster cheese (I used something else that I had on hand)
1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 inch pie pan.

Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions (maybe some garlic, too!) and coo, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft. Stir in spinach and continue cooking until excess moisture has evaporated (or it has wilted).

In a large bowl, combine eggs, cheese, salt and pepper (I usually add a bit of dill weed, too). Add spinach mixture and stir to blend. Pour into prepared pie pan.

Bake in oven until eggs have set, about 30 min. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Smoked Turkey Salad

Before summer gets away, enjoy this yummy salad!

1lb turkey or chicken cut into 1/4" strips (4 c.)
1 c provolone or Swiss, cut into cubes
2 c celery, sliced
1 c honey-roasted cashews
4 c strawberries, cut in half
1 c sour cream
1/4 c honey
2 T fresh parsley, chopped
2 t ground mustard
3 t lemon juice

Mix first 5 ingredients in md bowl.
In separate bowl, mix remaining ingredients. Stir to combine. Pour
over turkey salad and stir. Cover and refrigerate until ready to
serve. Makes 4 servings

686 calories. 49 g protein. 37 g fat

Simple Food

Anyone that knows me, knows that I'm a book and magazine-aholic! This book was a freebie that I picked up at a library conference a few years ago and am just now getting around to actually using. It makes me long for the days when we had gardens--the early tilling in later winter, the first plantings of green onions, the earthy smell of potato eyes going in the ground, the feel of freshly turned dirt on my bare feet as I walked through the garden rows, the tangy smell of tomatoes as we pinched off the lower leaves, the weeding that came later, the joy of picking and eating fresh vegetables, the soft metallic plinking sounds when we shelled black eyed peas, the heat in the kitchen when it was canning time, and the thunking sound of lids as they cooled sitting on newspapers on the floor.

Recently, a young friend of mine expressed interest in canning some tomato sauce and because her grandmother has Alzheimer's, she called me wanting to know if my mother had a recipe and could tell her how to do it. In the meantime at an estate sale, my sister happened across this 1964 cookbook that has a wealth of information about canning. I can't imagine another cookbook being any better than this one! Half of the book contains recipes and the other half contains directions for canning foods. Because Lisa bought this book for Brandy, now I'm on the prowl for a copy of my own!

Central Market Tomato Salad

IMHO there is never a need to let a tomato go to waste....so whether you have an abundance growing in your garden or you just feel the need to buy a bunch at the local farmer's market, this recipe is an absolutely delicious dish to eat on its own or serve as a side dish to a summer lunch or supper.

Central Market Tomato Salad

2 ripe homegrown tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and cut into a small dice

2 scallions, white parts, about 1" of the green, thinly sliced

2 T chopped fresh parsley (I'm gonna experiment and use cilantro)

1 t sherry vinegar

1 T extra virgin olive oil

Juliet Harbutt Redesdale (cheese, is kinda firm but crumbly)--(I'm using feta or a dill goat cheese)

Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine the ingredients in a small bowl and allow the flavors to blend.

A couple variations Kari plans on trying: Balsamic, Basil, and Mozzarella. Red Wine, Thyme, and Goat. Using the flavored Olive Oil. Maybe different herbs, Rosemary, Mint...

It's been a difficult summer...so I'm trying a new recipe

1. big battle with depression
2. having to go to doctor 3 times for suspicious mammogram, which the surgeon has decided is nothing to get excited about
3. totally unmotivated to exercise because I really hate to sweat

so....trying to get back in a good mental space with school starting, finding a good food routine, and finding things to be thankful to God for

Tomato, White Bean, and Bacon Soup

1/4 lb. bacon, diced
1 lg. onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 c. peeled, chopped tomatoes (or, if your tomatoes didn't do a darn thing this summer use canned tomatoes w/juice)
2 c. chicken broth
1 T. dark brown sugar
1 can white beans, drained
optional: some type of small cooked pasta such as bow ties (a/k/a farfalle, shells, ditalini, or orzo.
salt & papper to taste

Note: to peel fresh tomatoes, cut a shallow X shape one one end, blanch in boiling water for about 30 sec., remove from water and skin should easily peel off.

Cook bacon in medium heat in large saucepan unti lightly browned. Remove from pan and placed on paper towels to drain.

Add onion to pan, cook on medium heat until soft. Add garlic and cook about 1 more minute.

Add tomatoes & broth. Cook about 20 minutes.

Stir in brown sugar. Add beans, bacon, and pasta (if you are using it). Add salt & pepper to taste.

Serve with crusty bread or cornbread.

Crazy 8 tagged by Rachel!

8 things I'm looking forward to:
1. spending 2 wks. with Kari and Natalie
2. more summer late-sleeping days
3. more good books to read
4. being a grandmother (hmm...what will be my grandmother "name"??)
5. AASL in Nov. with Kari & Esther
6. doing more photography shoots
7. growing more tomatoes
8. having 100 people follow me on Twitter! lol

8 things I did yesterday:
1. be lazy
2. start mermaid house
3. read and enjoy hearing the thunder and rain at night
4. send Warren a birthday card
5. start cleaning off my desk
6. go grocery shopping
7. talk to Kari
8. e-mail, genealogy research, twitter, etc. on computer

8 things I wish I could do:
1. play the piano
2. sing well
3. travel for a month every year
4. swim every day
5. lose weight faster
6. not procrastinate about finishing projects at home
7. enjoy house cleaning
8. live close to Kari & Warren

8 shows I watch:
1. Top Chef
2. Project Runway
3. Grey's Anantomy
4. America's Next Top Model
5 - 8 anything that might catch my interest like 20/20, Ace of Cakes, Next 48 Hrs., Oprah

Blisterin' hottt!!!

Things I love about summer:
1. bacon & tomato sandwiches (for breakfast, lunch, or supper)
2. the sound of cicadas
3. sleeping late
4. running around with Kari

Things I should get done this summer:
1. Clean out my drawers (didn't I just do this last year?)
2. Weed my bookshelves (more than half are in boxes in the garage and it's blisterin' hot, so....)
3. Organize unfinished projects (well, actually, I think I did that summer before last) and get a timeline of finishing them...before I die (now I understand why people inherit quilt tops)

Things I'm not going to get done:
1. Plant the backyard corner flower bed....because a bunch of some kind of ground cover came up...didn't feel as if I should deprive it of growing
2. Save on the electricity bill....cause when it's triple digits for days on end...I intend to stay cool (hopefully, I'll sweat off some weight)
3. Lose 40 lbs....cause I'm just not feeling motivated enough to do it

Things I am getting done:
1. Create some items for a "magical worlds" theme in the school library: I'm finished with one, have 2 others almost finished, another one about halfway, and a 5th one that I haven't started, but can throw together with a glue gun and a couple of bags of glue sticks
2. Getting ppts and other items prepared for school next year (I know this doesn't fall under vacation!!) Ok...so too much of my vacation is falling under "school work"!!
3. Reading and catching up on movie watching

Things I've discovered this summer:
1. Gelato (lemon and mango)...yummy...and a 1/4 c. is plenty to eat to satisfy
2. Popcorn tortilla chips (don't remember the brand...it was a green bag from Central Market)
3. great cotton hipster panties (you needed to know that didn't you?)

and I'll leave you with a simple, cool drink recipe

Melon Agua Frescas

4 c. watermelon, cateloupe, or honeydew
1/4 c. sugar
2 c. cold water

Process melon and sugar in blender until smooth. Scrape down sides as needed.
Pour through a strainer into pitcher. Stir in water. Cover and chill till ready to serve. Serve over ice. Makes about 5 cups.