Mother's Day Part 2 - Ham//Cheddar//Mushroom Quiche

Ham, Cheddar, Mushroom Quiche

4 Eggs

1 1/2 Cup Milk

1 Cup Diced Ham

1 Cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar

1 Cup Sliced Mushrooms

1 Box Jiffy Pie Crust

Quiche is SO easy to make, and quite delicious too.  And inexpensive! Triple threat, for sure!

Make your boxed pie crust and try your best (I struggled) to make it look pretty in your pie dish. Pre-bake according to directions.

Spread your Ham, Cheddar, and Mushrooms on the bottom, evenly.

Mix your milk and eggs.  Then, pour into pie dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes (or until set).

Enjoy!

Mother's Day Part 1 - Cinnamon Raisin Scones

Cinnamon Raisin Scones (heavy on raisins, light on cinnamon)

2 Cups Flour
1/3 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
Cinnamon to taste
1 Stick cold butter, cubed
1/2 Cup Golden Raisins
1/2 Cup cold milk

Combine Dry ingredients.

Add butter with a pastry cutter (or in my case because I don't have one, a stiff whisk). You know you're done mixing in the butter when the dough is very crumb-y and the butter pieces are about the size of peas.

Add your raisins.

Add your milk and mix. Do not knead.

Place dough (in the shape of a disk) on a lightly floured cutting board.

Cut into quarters, and then cut each quarter in half again until you have 8 scones.

Bake at 450 Degrees and bake about 17 minutes.

Pulled Pork Tacos

Originally I was only going to have this as the recipe indicates - on a roll with cabbage slaw. After having it once this way (which was quite tasty) I noticed that the pork wasn't at all like a bbq flavor: just a nice pork.  Perfect for tacos!

The next night we had the leftover pork on corn tortillas with avocados, cilantro, lime, sour cream, and hot sauce.

Delicious.

Derek's rating: 10/10

Cheesy Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms

These are delicious and are totally worth the nasty mess that comes about whenever one makes bacon. YUM! 

Cheesy Bacon Stuffed Mushroms

2 Packages Whole Mushrooms (I think in total there were 30)

1 Package Cream Cheese

1/2 Lb Bacon, Cooked and Crumbled

3 or 4 Green onions, thinly sliced

Start cooking your bacon however you like it - I like mine nice and crispy! However, DON'T throw away your bacon grease just yet!

Pull out the stems from the mushrooms and place the mushrooms (cap on bottom) on a baking sheet.

Take those mushroom stems and chop them very finely. Saute them in the bacon grease! 

Mix together the cream cheese, green onions, bacon, and sauteed caps (drain the grease first).

Fill your mushrooms with this mixture.

Bake at 350 for 18 minutes.

Enjoy, and you're welcome.

Thai Iced Coffee

A brief history:
D and I had an amazing meal at this little Thai place on our honeymoon... and Thai Iced Tea and Thai Iced Coffee were on the menu.  Of course, I had to know what they both tasted like.  So we got both. Ummm... delicious! The Thai Iced Coffee is easier to make (and acquire the ingredients to).  So, that's the one I've been making.

Thai Iced Coffee

12 Cups [STRONG] Coffee
1 Really Small Can Sweetened Condensed Milk*
*(OR Heavy Cream and desired amount of sugar/sweetener)
1 or 2 Teaspoons Cardamon (I used 2)


Before brewing coffee, mix the Cardamon in with your coffee grounds.

Brew coffee.

Combine the hot coffee in a pitcher (that can handle the heat - I have an ancient tupperware one that works wonderfully) with the Sweetened Condensed Milk OR Cream/Sugar.

Let cool in the fridge.

If you're anything like me you'll want it before it gets ice cold.  Sooo... grab some ice and pour it over!

Enjoy.

Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream (and an amazing husband)

Unlike the other posts I've done, this will not include a recipe.  I'm just going to brag on my husband.  Over the last two days, he's made us homemade chocolate and homemade vanilla ice cream.  Both of which were made using the recipe(s) and equipment from Cuisinart. Yum!

Easy Brown Sugar Pork Chops

Easy Brown Sugar Pork Chops

I was at work today thinking, "Oh my goodness, I forgot to put something in the Crock Pot so we would have a nice meal tonight" I mostly felt guilty because I've felt a little under the weather and hadn't made a nice meal for Derek in a few days.  But then I knew exactly what I would try when I got home - Brown Sugar Pork Chops.  I combined a couple recipes, and added my own pinch of heat.  And it turned out fabulously! Derek approves, too.

2 Pork Chops
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Teaspoon Paprika
1/2 Teaspoon Salt (Kosher)
1/2 Teaspoon Course Ground Black Pepper
1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
Nice-sized pinch of Crushed Red Pepper
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

Coat your pork chops with as much of the rub as you can. 

Heat your olive oil (medium/high) in a large skillet or grill pan.  Once hot, add your rub-covered pork chops.

Cook for about 5-minutes per side.

Serve with potatoes, however you like them best, and your favorite vegetable.

I went with mashed potatoes and green beans. Yum!

Derek's Rating: 9/10