Caprese Quiche

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September is an Italian-inspired month here with a quiche full of caprese salad flavors: tomato, basil, and mozzarella. It was light and ideal for breakfast or lunch. I kicked off the month starting with Pizza Burgers and have some other Italian-ish meals.

Caprese Quiche
Ingredients: (5-6 servings)
pie crust
6 eggs
3/4 cup cream or half & half
1 teaspoon dijon (or 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard)
2-3 tomatoes
~10 basil leaves
1 cup shredded white cheddar
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
salt & pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350-degrees.
Par-bake the crust in a pie plate with non-stick spray. Bake for ~10 minutes.
While the crust cooks through, whisk together the eggs, cream, mustard, salt & pepper. Slice the tomato and chiffonade the basil.
When the crust comes out of the oven, sprinkle in some of the cheeses first, then layer tomato slices, basil, cheese and repeat to use all the fillings.

Carefully pour in the egg/cream mixture.
Bake the quiche for about 30 minutes until the center sets from giggly to solid.
Remove from the oven and let cool before serving.
Enjoy!

Quiche is something I forget about and then am glad to have. I pop a few slices into the freezer and my future self is grateful for a dinner or lunch.

Pizza Burgers

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These were fantastic, if I do say so myself. There’s grated pepperoni in the burger and it gets topped with melty provolone cheese and some tomato sauce. This kicks off an Italian-inspired month so buckle up for some fun twists on classics!

Pizza Burgers
Ingredients: (serves 4)
1 pound ground meat (I used pork but use what you like)
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 cup of pepperoni
4 slices of provolone cheese
1/4 cup tomato sauce
4 brioche rolls

Directions:
Preheat the grill, then add ground meat and dried seasonings to a bowl. Grate the pepperoni into the meat mixture (or chop finely) and stir to combine.

Form into patties and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until cooked through, to your desired doneness.
Add cheese to melt.
Warm up tomato sauce and assemble the burgers on the buns with sauce.
Optional: add more Italian seasoning, or red chili flakes, or grated Parmesan, or any of your regular pizza toppings!
Enjoy!

We had these with some parmesan fries and caprese salad. They really tasted of pizza and the pepperoni flavored it all but wasn’t too strong. The kids were wary but each finished or almost finished so they likely were more into it than they said.

August 2024 Recap

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August includes all the summer things then the real feel for fall. We celebrated C’s birthday and had our week at the beach. There’s such a pull between letting the end of summer be free! to be spontaneous! and also trying to fit everything in!

In the kitchen, I loved this sandwich sauce on turkey…it was perfect.

I thought about low-cook/no-cook dinner ideas

I remade this apple slaw

September is back to school, soccer, fall baseball, and routine. I’m not sure what’s on the menu yet.

The Big Kid:
He absolutely loved basketball camp which was fun to see. He had a bunch of parties and the best time at the beach. He made a beach friend and they happily caught critters all day. We played with gimp and he made them into pretend fishing lures. He always wants to go fishing.

The Little One:
She’s 6! She had a family party at the pool with pesto pasta (her request), pizza, and chocolate cake. She was showered with lego sets, art supplies, her own American Girl doll, and much more. She tried gymnastics and had a great time. Moving on from the early childhood school to the elementary school has her a bit nervous.

Goals for this year:
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: I didn’t make it happen this month. I’ve had a few let downs of the wrong color and a decal that didn’t stick.
More meatless meals: ehh. I may have missed this.
sandwiches and salads: The sandwich sauce was great on turkey!
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time:
redo photos – the apple slaw was a redo.
what I’m reading: I read Margo’s Got Money Troubles and thought it was interesting and concepts I haven’t seen before. Next I read Mayor of Maxwell Street and found it only OK…the final 1/3rd was the best. Then I read Verity and it was mind-boggling. I finished the month with Sandwich feeling fitting at the beach.

Apple Slaw

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I preface this with: you do not have to love fruit in savory dishes to be into this slaw. It’s a touch mustardy, not creamy, and the apple makes it. I love it with broccoli slaw but cabbage works too!

You know slaws mean you have to make it in advance. It is not as eaten immediately. Give it at least an hour in the fridge – which, you’ll likely round down, so >30 minutes. Mine usually gets the whole workday to hang out.

Apple Slaw
Ingredients: (serves 4-6)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
pinch black pepper
pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
1 apple
1 package broccoli slaw

Directions:
Mix up or shake together the dressing of the oil, mustard, vinegar, honey, pepper, and red pepper if using.

Chop the apple into sticks similarly sized to the slaw.
Mix together the slaw, apple, and dressing.

Refrigerate for an hour, or at least 30 minutes.
Enjoy!

It is great as a side dish with anything. It is really great with barbecue flavors, or pulled pork, and it holds up for a few days if using broccoli slaw.

Summer low-cook/no-cook dinner ideas

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This point of August has me wondering what day it is, what camps are happening, who goes where, how many popsicles has everyone had, and what do we still want to do before school starts!  If you share in wanting some meal ideas for variety that aren’t complicated and won’t heat up the kitchen, here we go.

I did a round-up in 2022 of summer dinners which still work but it always seems to be time to refocus and consider what else sounds right.

Caesar Chickpea Wraps
Flavored chickpeas, lettuce, dressing, and croutons get wrapped up. This includes cooking with a skillet and is fast, easy, nutritious, and could be warm or cool.

The Three Bite Rule - Caesar Chickpea Wrap


Mexican chicken salad
Chicken taco night gets a refresh with NO cooking. It is cool, transports well, and is scooped with chips or a tortilla. Serve on top of salad or greens for a flavorful dinner. This uses leftover grilled chicken or a rotisserie chicken. Thanks Costco!


Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Loaded Fries
These tried and true flavors can go into a toaster oven, air fryer, or could go on a grill! These might need a fork.

The Three Bite Rule - Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Loaded Fries


Corn Quesadillas in herb butter
Use those farmer’s market finds into a veggie quesadilla. The herb butter makes it and the whole thing only uses a skillet or griddle. Swap the corn off the cobb with zucchini or tomatoes.

The Three Bite Rule - Corn Quesadilla with Cilantro Butter

We will head to the beach and have some home days for swimming and finishing our bucket list now that camps are winding down. Our meals could use some inspiration – and maybe a veggie other than the many tomatoes we grow (and love). If this is your time to forget about dinner, come back another time – I feel you.

Turkey Sandwich with Sandwich Sauce

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This sauce or dressing is so good – it is a take on donkey sauce (Guy says if you don’t put it on both sides you’re a jack____). It is strong on the mustard, some creaminess from the mayo, and alive from the herbs. It is perfect and goes with anything.

Sandwich Sauce
Ingredients: (serves ~4)
2 tablespoons mayo
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon deli dressing (or mix up red wine vinegar, olive oil, Italian seasoning)
salt & pepper
sandwich to dress – turkey, arugula, tomato on a soft bun

Directions:
Add mayo, mustard, worcestershire sauce, deli dressing, salt & pepper to a bowl.

Whisk together and chill until assembling sandwiches.
Serve with turkey, tomato, and arugula on s soft bun.
Enjoy!

This is so flavorful and would be great with crispy chicken or a pressed ham & cheese! Stir some on roasted chicken to be a chicken salad with a punch. It works as a dip too! The true donkey sauce would have roasted garlic so add or skip as you wish.

July 2024 Recap

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Summer is such a whirlwind. July 1 is the true start of summer according to work. We ate a bunch of good food and have fit in a lot of fun things – a party in Maine, going to the movies, a new-to-us-beach (with waves!), and a lot of swimming.

I was so happy with this breakfast guacamole with bagel chips – it is fun, filling, flavorful, and a good way to start the day.


Pasta salad is better when it is a twist with chicken caesar.


Blueberry smoothies are my fav so this one is flavored with a classic pairing of blueberry & lemonade.


Buffalo chicken burritos joined my favorite flavors with a better-than-typical format.

August will include some no/low cook dinners, a slaw redo, and a week at the beach. Our bucket list still has a few fun things we’ll try to fit in. C will turn 6!

The Big Kid:
Camps have mostly been good – he’s a bit over one that used to be his favorite. It is incredibly hard to explain that back in January, when we had to register, this past one had been fun but he’s outgrown it I guess. He filled in at a baseball tournament one day – it just happened to be the very hottest day ever but he had fun and we were happy to see it…once. His new favorite lunch is a BLT.

The Little One:
She’s a fish! She flipped a switch and went from not wanting her face wet, to jumping into the shallow end, to going underwater, to jumping in off the diving board! We cannot believe it. Adjusting to camps went well. She’s trying to eat more to bump up to the next carseat and eagerly awaits her bday.

Goals for this year:
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: I got a tee shirt from Etsy – vote like Ruth sent you
More meatless meals: ehh. I may have missed this.
sandwiches and salads: I got a new salad spinner and we had caesar more often.
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time:
redo photos – not this month
what I’m reading: I read Meet the Benedettos which is a modern Pride & Prejudice. Then I read a Boston historical fiction Small Mercies. I then read Meet me at the Lake as a palate cleanser and was the best of this author. I read Just for the Summer and thought it was perfectly balanced with some cute and enough storyline.

Blueberry Lemonade Smoothie

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Blueberry based smoothies are my fav – and perfect for greens. The blueberries, yogurt, and greens makes it a really delicious way to get fruit, veggies, fiber, and a little protein. Add a banana to make it more creamy, swap for Greek yogurt for more protein, or any other add ins.


Blueberry Lemonade Smoothie
Ingredients: (serves 2 small, or 1 meal)
1 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup spinach
3/4 cup yogurt
3/4 cup lemonade
zest from 1/2 lemon

Directions:
Add blueberries, spinach, yogurt, and lemonade to a blender. Blend well.


Serve with extra lemon zest.
Enjoy!

It is perfectly summery from the lemonade.