Butternut Squash & Bacon Tart

I’ve decided this is maybe a tart and not quiche based on the filling ratio. There is lots of butternut squash and bacon and just a little egg and a tiny sprinkle of cheese. The squash and maple syrup make it sweet and the bacon provides the saltiness.

Butternut Squash & Bacon Tart
Ingredients:

pie crust
~2 cups chopped butternut squash (not quite half a squash, cut into bite size pieces)
~4 strips of bacon
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons maple syrup
3-4 eggs

Directions:
Roast or air fry the butternut squash until cooked through and crisp on the edges.
Par-bake the pie crust in a sprayed pie plate.
Pan fry the bacon until crisp, drain, and chop.
In the pie crust, assemble the tart with butternut squash, bacon, parmesan, and drizzled maple syrup.

Whisk the eggs together and pour over the tart.
Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.
Allow to cool, slice, and enjoy!

This was really good. I had it for about 4 lunches and a breakfast. The squash makes it really filling and the remainder is the equivalent of less than one egg per serving and less than 1 slice of bacon for each serving. I piled some lightly dressed arugula for a fresh and peppery punch. It freezes well too!

Grilled Peach & Ricotta Toasts

Eat this as toast, eat this as an open-faced grilled cheese, eat this as a pizza or flatbread – whatever you do, make yourself some grilled peach & ricotta {insert format here} and it will wow you.

The Three Bite Rule - Peach Ricotta Toast

Also, for the record, whenever I say peach I likely mean nectarine since I’m not into the fuzz.

Grilled Peach & Ricotta Toasts
Ingredients: (for 2 people, or 4 app servings)

1 peach
1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
1/2 cup ricotta
2 tablespoons honey
basil or mint

Directions:
Slice the peach and grill until the outside is a little caramelized but not too soft.

The Three Bite Rule - Peach Ricotta Toast

Toast the bread (in a toaster, on the grill, or in a skillet lightly brushed with olive oil or butter).
Spread on ricotta, a sprinkle of salt & pepper, and the peaches.

The Three Bite Rule - Peach Ricotta Toast

Chiffonade the basil and sprinkle on top. Then, drizzle with honey.

The Three Bite Rule - Peach Ricotta Toast

Enjoy!

This has so many possibilities. It was lunch this time but would be great on little baguette rounds for snacks! I’d also love it with another piece of bread that has some melted cheese like a panini! Swap the drizzle of honey with balsamic reduction for a little more contrast if you’d like! Not as into ricotta (it is ok, nobody is) use cream cheese or marscapone or goat cheese.

Cheeseburger Burrito

I love anything in a burrito format – sometimes I call them hot wraps if there isn’t any rice. This one was such a winner and a great way for beloved flavors in winter, on the go, or just to shake things up. I did Thanksgiving inspired ones and a Chicken & Broccoli with rice one, and Chicken, Bacon & Ranch ones too.

Cheeseburger Burrito - The Three Bite Rule

These are a great use for small quantities of leftovers: like rice and ground meat. They can always become rice bowls too.

Cheeseburger Burrito:
Ingredients: (for 2)

1/2 pound ground meat
2 strips of bacon, chopped
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce or liquid smoke
1/2 cup prepared rice
2 cups arugula, spinach, or baby kale
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tomato
pickles, ketchup, mustard

Directions:
Pan fry the ground meat and bacon and drain the grease. Add in worcestershire sauce/liquid smoke and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
Cover (with plastic wrap or lid) and warm the rice.

Cheeseburger Burrito - The Three Bite Rule

Chop the tomato, greens, and pickles.
Lay out the tortillas and top with rice, cheese, ground meat and bacon, greens, tomatoes, pickles, and drizzles of ketchup and mustard or toppings as you wish.

Cheeseburger Burrito - The Three Bite Rule

Warm a pan to medium heat and a drizzle of oil or non-stick spray.
Fold two opposite sides and roll the burrito onto itself and keep tucking the sides in.
Pan fry the burritos, seam side down first, until warmed through and toasted until golden on the outside. Use tongs to keep them rolled while toasting.

Cheeseburger Burrito - The Three Bite Rule

Enjoy!

I loved this. The smaller amount of meat is nicely balanced with rice and fresh elements in this way versus as a tiny slider. I love the warm parts and melty cheese with fresh greens, tomatoes, and pickles.

Cheeseburger Burrito - The Three Bite Rule

Duckfat Fries in Maine

On our lovely getaway to Portland, ME, I knew we had to go to Duckfat. Everything else was negotiable. I just couldn’t be in a town with french fries that are fried in duckfat and not try them. This trip was definitely a culinary adventure and why yes, we did enjoy donuts then duckfat fries on the same day, thanks for asking! I’m not saying it was a healthy trip, but we did walk a lot, and swim daily and I view vacation just like your birthday, you can do whatever you want when on vacation!

Back to the duckfat fries.
The Three Bite Rule - Duckfat Maine

We ambled up to Duckfat at about 2:30pm on a Sunday. There was only a short wait, but literally people are munching here all the time. I was so busy peering at everyone’s food that I almost didn’t notice they were trying to seat us inside. Ohh no. There were 2 open spots outside so we asked to be there. You wouldn’t have the glorious sunlit photos to enjoy if we were inside…though there is fun magnetic poetry as backspash against the high top tables.
The Three Bite Rule - Duckfat Maine

Mr. J and I were not exactly starving after feasting on donuts that morning but this was a mission we were happy to accept. The menu is a bit pricy but we stayed focused and made great choices. By pricey, I mean $9 sandwiches that don’t come with a side or $8 salad without a protein. I didn’t feel like we were there for the sandwiches anyway so onward we went.

We split everything and ordered:
Corn Chowder with Bacon – delicious. Not too heavy but definitely had a chowdery appropriate thickness.
The Three Bite Rule - Duckfat Maine

Blueberry Buttermilk Milkshake – bright and buttery. This was calling to Mr. J and he loved it. I liked it, but saved myself more so for the chowder and fries.
The Three Bite Rule - Duckfat Maine
The fries – decadent. They weren’t distinctly duck flavored but they were richer than any fries I’ve ever had. We chose a roasted tomato aioli as our dipping sauce which was great. They were perfectly soft inside and crispy on the outside.
The Three Bite Rule - Duckfat Maine I loved it.

Sandwich Meal Board

Need a good summer sandwich idea? Ms. A shared her sandwich with me…well, not the actual sandwich but what her sandwich was!

sourdough bread, toasted
sundried tomato pesto
tomato
avocado
swiss cheese

Sandwich IdeaYum!

What are your makings of a good sandwich?