Leek, Bacon, and Goat Cheese Quiche (with a Honey Oat Crumb crust)

Hey all you fellas and gals!

I have great news: my honey Ron just went in for a physical today, and he came out with a clean bill of health! He had experienced some health issues before we started dating, and after that he decided to try to change his lifestyle (because who wants to take medication and feel crummy?). It also didn’t help that I may or may not have had (unintentional) mini-freakouts about him feeling okay. Anyway, in 6 months, Ron has lowered his blood pressure!  I am so proud of him! Love you, Ron!

Pin Up by Kimberly Crick

In other news, I made my first quiche! As you all know, Ron and I are budgeting our money. Because of our upcoming expenses (moving), we’ve decided to go extra “budget gourmet” in terms of cooking. This means shopping food sales! Eating less extravagant meals! This also means eating up ALL the things in our freezer–less waste and less to move! For dinner, I wanted to use up some my leftovers, which happened to be four eggs, goat cheese, portabella mushrooms, frozen leeks, and my Honey Oat Bread. What better way to use up eggs than for a quiche?

Quiche!

Quiche is a delicious, easy to cook (and easy to eat) meal. You simply whip up eggs with some fun ingredients, milk, cream, and cheese, and you have dinner! However, I didn’t want to spend a ton of time on a crust. How about a simple bread crumb and butter base for a crustless quiche? I don’t need anything fancy—this is just a quiche for myself and Ron! And I know my Honey Oat Bread will taste great with the sweet goat cheese.

Bacon-Wrapped Dates (stuffed with Goat Cheese)

Hey all,

Unfortunately, I’m going to be posting a little less because it’s the end of the semester here (final meetings with students, searching for the perfect rental, finishing my own work). Soon, it will be summer!

(from BezingA)

(Okay, maybe my summer won’t quite look like this, but mentally, this is how I will feel!)

Since I hold my discussion with my students this Wednesday, I decided to do a mini class party with them. We are all bringing a treat for the fiesta! I decided to bring Bacon-Wrapped Dates.

Dates are my new favorite food. When Ron and I brought Bacon-Wrapped Dates (stuffed with goat cheese) to our friend’s Easter dinner, we received rave reviews (and we were given back an empty plate). Of course, anything wrapped with bacon tastes delicious, but this appetizer was really easy to make and particularly good. And who doesn’t love the mix of smoky, sweet, and salty of a Bacon-Wrapped Date?

Bacon-Wrapped Dates stuffed with goat cheese, mmmmm!

(Healthy) Sun-dried Tomato Sausage and Basil Corn Muffins

Hey all!

This has to be a quick post (and the recipe I included happens to be a draft of something I wrote last week!) because I am busy busy busy! First off, Easter dinner last night was Eggcellent. (You know I had to say that.)

No, but really, it was so fun! The dinner was actually the prelude to a big day: my friend is getting hitched this afternoon! That’s right! Today is a wedding day! Technically, my friend is having a fancy-schmancy wedding on a boat next year, but her and her hubby just can’t wait to take the plunge. They decided to get married at City Hall today, and are having a small, intimate reception at one of the nicest restaurants in town. (And NO, this is not a shot-gun wedding for reasons you all are assuming!) These are just two crazy kids in love. Anyway, because this is all kind of last-minute, my honey and I are running to the mall to buy them a little something.  I am invited to be a witness to the wedding, which means I might need to buy myself something…I don’t have fancy Spring wear for a wedding!

I will tell you more later, but I hope you all have a great day! I am listing below yet another twist on the Jiffy corn muffin mix. Oh, and ps, guess who had her writing due date pushed to Friday? Yes!

(Healthy) Sun-dried Tomato Sausage and Basil Corn Muffins

I noticed on my blog that the only recipes I produced were for sweets! No, BB, you need to eat your vegetables and proteins, too. To add to my savory collection, today I experimented with the Jiffy Corn Muffin mix and came up with a terrific savory morning muffin: Sun-dried Tomato Sausage and Basil Corn Muffins. 

Sundried Tomato Sausage and Basil Corn Muffins

Apple and Walnut Spring Salad (with Cayenne-Candied Bacon)

April showers may bring May flowers…..but they also bring my birthday! Yes, my birthday is just around the corner (a week!), and I’m excited to start this spring off with a healthy BANG! I was born a healthy baby girl (one month early) on April 1st, which is April Fools’ Day in the US. (I like to tell my parents that I was eager to start playing with everyone and was sick of the solitary confinement.) (Picture of adorable Umbrella cookies for fun April Showers activities from Socially Circled blog. These are so cute it kills me!)

Anywho, I’ve begun eating more cool entrees because of the gorgeous weather here (almost 80 degrees yesterday!), and I ended up buying a large container of fresh spring mix (lettuce, greens, herbs). Admittedly, I am a bit of a salad snob: I will only eat and make salad at my home if I use dark greens and make my own dressings and toppings. I’ve tried buying dressings and eating plain butter lettuce, but both ingredients always end up collecting dust in my fridge. I never felt excited to make salads with those ingredients. Finally, I gave in one cool summer day and bought the more expensive lettuce, and never looked back. I love my dark, crisp greens on hot nights, and enjoy making a cool zesty vinaigrette to cool off.

Today I wanted to post one of my favorite salads: Apple Walnut Spring Salad (with Cayenne-Candied Turkey Bacon). The base of this salad is from the Babble blog, but as you know, I always change my base recipes! (I am a very improvisational cook…it’s hard for me to even stick to recipes!). (Photo from Babble, photographer Kelsey Banfield.)