Bacon Spinach Quiche

Just in the mood for a delicious breakfast to start off the beautiful fall day.  If it involves baking I can make it!  I had all the ingredients and have been craving this dish, so...I made it!  It is easy and delicious, the two best criteria for cooking in the morning! 

Saute 1/2 small cooking onion and chopped bacon.  Add roughly chopped fresh baby spinach until just heated though.  Layer in pie crust.

Combine 6 eggs, 1 1/2 cups of milk/heavy cream (I used 1/2 of heavy cream, 1 cup milk since we drink skim milk), salt and pepper.  Pour over spinach and bacon saute.

Add Cheese.  I used a mix of cheddar, mozzarella, provolone.  Enough for a think layer on top and lightly mix into egg mixture.

Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes.  

Let cool for about 10 minutes.  Enjoy a delicious breakfast!

Slow Cooked Chicken Cacciatore

I might be the craziest person in the world, or just about the only person who has never used the crock pot! So I got one (a crock pot) last winter and used it... once.  Does it makes sense that I am more nervous to use the crock pot than to make it all separately?  Well, I am determined this winter to get my self acquainted with the crock pot.  I remember in college at my first student teaching placement every teacher said, "you better learn how to use a crock pot".  I am hoping this will help me in the future have warm, tasty meals after a long days work.  I am also determined that next school year I will have my own classroom :)


The Wegmans magazine sparked my interest in trying out this recipe tonight.  In the Fall 2010 issue, there is a slow cooked chicken cacciatore recipe.  I followed it exactly, except I did not add mushrooms and used my own sauce.   The meal was good...not great.  The chicken breasts were moist and fell right off the bone, but did not really soak up the flavors and was kind of bland.  :( Help!

Before

After 3 1/2 hours in crock pot.

2 Chicken Breasts

green pepper

onion

tomato sauce (I used my homemade sauce)

garlic

1 cup dry red wine

flour

salt and pepper

Flour, salt and pepper chicken breasts.  Brown both sides.  Put in crock pot.  In same pan add peppers, onions and garlic, saute until soft.  Add wine and sauce.  Heat through.  Add mixture to crock pot.  Cook for 3 1/2 hours on high.  Enjoy over pasta.


Have you tried this recipe?  Did you like it?  If you have any good crock pot recipes let me know!  I am hoping to get to know my crock pot this winter!

Roasted Garlic and Stuffed Banana Peppers

One word. HOT. As it turned out, the banana peppers from my garden are SUPER SPICY.  Lip burning, nose running, need a LARGE glass of water spicy.  I should have got the hint when I was cleaning out all of the pepper seeds and my fingers were burning for over an hour!  I did have a small inkling, so I paired these tasty spicy peppers and cheese with roasted garlic!  Roasted garlic is one of my favorite appetizer, not only is it super easy to prepare, but because  its tasty with any of your favorite cheeses and fresh Italian bread.  

Banana Peppers
Provolone Cheese
Parmesan Cheese
Cream Cheese


Clean out peppers, fry in pan to get some color, let cool, stuff with cheese mixture, Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.

Garlic
Cut off the tops, drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.  Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.
Spread garlic on fresh baked bread.  Pair with cheese of choice.  I usually like Parmesan or provolone.

BON APPETIT!

Provolone Cheese, Roasted Garlic and Stuffed Banana Peppers!

Garlic Thyme Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Cider Sauce

I am always looking for a good pork tenderloin dish and this one came out pretty good.  As I was searching the internet for a pork dish that incorporated apples...this looked like a good one to try.  It's always easy to come up with marinade, I mean, what type of meat is not good stuffed or smothered in garlic, anyway?!  Just the name of this recipe called out to me!  Garlic, Thyme and Apple Cider! PERFECT.  I paired this meal with my homemade applesauce and acorn squash.  As you know, applesauce and pork are like two peas in a pod...  As for the squash, it just made the meal just a perfect fall dish!  So Apples, Squash and Pork...a great meal any night of the week or a dinner party!

2 pork tenderloins.. brush, olive oil, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper over the pork.  Cover and marinate for1-2 hours.  In a pan, sear all sides of the pork before baking.  Bake at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

While pork is baking in a small saucepan, add 2 small diced shallots and 1 tablespoon of butter.  Heat until browned.  Add 1 cup of chicken broth and 1 cup of apple cider and about 1/2 tablespoon of thyme.  Cook on medium heat for about 6 minutes, until sauce reduces.  Add 1/2 cup of heavy cream.  Simmer for another 6 minutes until the sauce thickens.  Serve sauce over pork.  Enjoy :) Servings: About 6

Quartered Acorn Squash

ACORN SQUASH!!  This colorful side dish, adds flavor, color and the crispness of fall to any meal!  As I said, my mom and pop had a beautiful garden every year and each fall my mom always makes this side dish.  It's easy, it's colorful, it's... acorn squash!

2 Acorn Squash...

Quarter them...

Add, onion slices, brown sugar, salt and pepper...

Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour...

Bon Appetit!

Homemade Applesauce

One of the best parts about living in upstate New York is... apple season!  We have some of the best, crisp, sweet apples across the country!  What is better than a warm batch of applesauce?  I know, I know apple crisp and cider, too!  Love it all!

The Applesauce Process...




For my applesauce I used a mix of Cortland, Macintosh, and honey crisp apples.  I used about a cup of water, 1/2-cup sugar, and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon.  Cut up your apples, add water, sugar and cinnamon and simmer until soft.  Mash or blend.  ENJOY :)