One Final Gasp...Last of the Zucchini

My garden is coming to an end as the leaves are beggining to change.  This time of the year, I begin to clean  up the garden for next season.  The raspberries are still going strong, but everything else is pretty much done...or at least I thought so.  The zucchini, this year, has been prolific.  Tons the size of small children!  I thought it was done...thought...but it looks like the zucchini plant had one last final gasp and produced a couple more zucchini...much to my delight!  I am kind of sad when the garden comes to an end, so to see a few more zucchini, well, it just put a smile on my face.  This is how I used those veggies...

Zucchini Quiche!

Quiche is a great way to incorporate leftover, vegetables from the garden or anytime you want an easy weeknight meal.  Check this out...

Ingredients:

1 9" deep dish pie crust

4 oz shredded cheddar cheese

4 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese

2 cups shredded zucchini

2 eggs

1 cup milk

2.8 oz bacon bits

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Sprinkle some of the 1/4 cup of the shredded cheese combo to cover the bottom of the crust.  Next put a layer of shredded zucchini.

Whisk the eggs with some salt and pepper to taste.  Add in the milk, remaining cheese and bacon bits.

Pour over the zucchini.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 10-15 minutes before slicing.

Zucchini Quiche printable recipe

Each slice is filled with cheesiness and pieces of zucchini.

Isn't that a great way to use up the last of your zucchini?

I guess I better head back out and finish cleaning up the garden.  

Who knows what other surprises I may find?

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,

Christine
Linking up at my favorite places. 

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Apple Faves

Celebrating the end of September with some awesome apple inspired recipes!

Some are sweet and some are savory, but ALL are "apple"licious!!!

Explore and see what recipe will become the apple of your eye.

Apple Cider Caramel Cookies

Apple Cider Duffins

Apple Cider Floats

Apple Pie Stuffed French Toast

Apple Cinnamon Chip Cookie Sandwiches

Apple Cheddar Bacon Paninis

Apple Bread Pudding

Caramel Apple Puppy Chow

Apple Slaw

Apple Chocolate and Peanut Butter Quesadilla

Apple S'more Cookie Wedge

I'm thinking you might find a few recipes that peak your interest!
Celebrate all the season has to offer 'cuz pumpkin is just around the corner!!!

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,
Christine

Apple Bread Pudding

Pumpkin recipes are around the corner, but there is still time to share one more apple recipe.

Bread pudding is such an easy dessert to throw together, yet makes a big impact.  It's perfect for those chilly evenings and this bread pudding is no exception!  I had some extra apples and threw them into this bread pudding to make one heck of a dessert!

Ingredients:

4 cups soft bread cubes

2 cups chopped Granny Smith apples

1 cup brown sugar

1 3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup butter

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs, beaten

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a bread pan.

In a large bowl, mix the bread cubes and the chopped apple pieces.

In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, milk and butter.  Cook over medium heat until the butter has melted.  Pour over the bread mixture.  Let it sit for 10 minutes.

Stir in cinnamon, vanilla and beaten eggs.  Pour entire mixture into the greased bread pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes, until bread pudding is set.  Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.  Serve with ice cream and an additional dash of cinnamon.

Store in the refrigerator.

Apple Bread Pudding printable recipe

The aroma while baking is delightful!  I think Fall has arrived in your kitchen!  Served warm with some ice cream and a dash of cinnamon...one heck of a dessert!  Bread pudding has been around for ages and now you know why.  It is simple, yet delicious.  

Using apples totally makes this bread pudding a seasonal must have!

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,

Christine

Linking up with my favorite bloggers.

French Onion Sliders

OK football fans or sammy fans, check out these mini sliders.

French Onion Sliders

are on the menu today!

All the flavors from French Onion soup go into this slider sandwich.  I love having sliders because they are small and just the right size for a quick bite.  These French Onion Sliders may be small,
but they are mighty in flavor!  Check out how easy they are to make...

adapted from Annie's Eats

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp butter

2 yellow onions cut into thin slices

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

1 tsp beef bouillon

1/4 cup water

pinch of sugar

4 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

1 loaf French bread cut into 1/2" slices

butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a saucepan, melt butter.  Add onions, Balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.  Cook for about 15 minutes or until onions are soft.  Add the beef bouillon and water along with a pinch of sugar to the onions.  Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Take slices of French bread and place on a cookie sheet.  Toast in the oven for 2-3 minutes.  Remove from oven.

On 1 slice of French bread, spoon on some of the onion mixture, top with mozzerella cheese and top with another slice of bread to create the sandwich.  Butter the tops of the slider sandwich and return to oven.  Bake for about 14-15 minutes or until cheese melts.  Serve warm.

French Onion Sliders printable recipe

The mozzarella cheese covered onions are sweet and pair so well with the crusty, toasted French Bread.  I'm telling you, soup in sandwich form never tasted better!

I don't think you need any excuse to have French Onion Sliders!  Football game, Bunco party, lunch, dinner...you name it, you need 'em.

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,

Christine

Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday @ Detours in Life

Linking up at my favorite places.

Couscous Salad Cups

DEEE-LISH-US!

YUMMY, YUMMY, YUMMY!

Couscous Salad Cups are light and filled with tremendous flavors as well as textures.

Wait to you see what's in it.  You can even make it vegetarian style too.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups wheat couscous

2 1/4 cups fat free chicken broth or veggie broth

2 cups chopped, fresh spinach

1 cup frozen pea, thawed

1/2 cup jicama slices

1/4 cup pine nuts

2 green onions, chopped

4 oz mozzarella cheese block, cut up into pieces

1/3 cup olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 Tbsp yellow mustard

1 Tbsp minced garlic

2 tsp dried dill

Romaine lettuce leaves

Directions:

Toast couscous in a large skillet over medium high heat, unti lightly browned.  Add the chicken or veggie broth.  Bring to a boil.  Cover and remove from heat until all the liquid is absorbed. (5-8 minutes)

In a large bowl, mix together couscous, chopped spinach, peas, jicama, pine nuts, onions and cheese.  Toss until combined.

In a smaller bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, minced garlic and dill.  Mix into the couscous mixture.

Spoon the couscous mixture into a Romaine lettuce leaf like a cup.  Serve.

Couscous Salad Cups printable recipe

This is an easy recipe to make with such awesome results.  Perfect for a ladies luncheon or just to have in your lunch all week long.  The jicama provides a nice crunch mixed in with all those healthy green veggies:  peas and spinach!  Then there is the nutty pine nut flavor and pieces of cheese.  You are going to want more than 1 Romaine cupful!  The vinaigrette dill dressing brings it altogether.

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,

Christine

Linking up with my favorite blogs.

Apple Snack Mix

September is coming to a close.  Can you believe it?

We have had some great weather around here, the past few days, and I am loving every minute of it. 

Holding on to every BEAUTIFUL non winter day!

Here's a fun apple snack mix to munch on this week.

Doesn't that look yummy?  Apple Jacks and crunchy dried apples are the stars!

Ingredients:

4 cups Apple Jacks cereal

1/4 cup cocktail peanuts

4 cups Rice Chex cereal

1/4 cup green apple flavor jelly beans

1/2 cup crunchy, dried apples

1/4 cup light Karo syrup

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/2 tsp baking soda

Directions:

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

In a large roasting pan, mix together both cereals, peanuts and crunchy, dried apples.

In a large saucepan, melt butter.  Add the Karo syrup and brown sugar.  Bring to a rapid boil and boil for 2 minutes.  Stir constantly.  Add the baking soda.  Mixture will expand.  Remove from the heat.

Pour over the cereal mixture.  Stir to coat evenly.

Bake for 45 minutes in a 250 degree oven, stirring every 10-15 minutes.

Spread on wax paper to cool.  Add the apple flavor jelly beans once mixture is cooled.

Apple Snack Mix printable recipe

Sweet and salty all in one!  There is a lot of crunchy apple flavor going on.

Store the apple snack mix in an airtight container and you can have this treat all week long...

if it lasts that long. :)

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,

Christine

Linking up with my favorite blogs.

Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo Pasta

My college age daughter has her first apartment with her very own kitchen.

In between studying, she has been experimenting as well as following some recipes.

I love knowing that some of my passion for cooking has passed on to her.  

Makes a mamma bear very proud!

Anyhow, she cooked a recipe that she said I NEEDED to try!  I am so happpy that I did!

Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo Pasta

adapted from Lauren's Latest

Ingredients:

1 12 oz pkg of linguine

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 cloves minced garlic

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup heavy cream

4 oz crumbled goat cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 12 oz jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped

1 cup chopped, fresh spinach

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Boil water in a large pot and cook linguine according to package directions.  Drain and keep warm.

Use a mini chopper to chop the roasted red peppers.  Set aside.  Heat olive oil in a large saucepan, over medium high heat.  Add the garlic and onions.  Cook for about 2-3 minutes.  Stir in the milk, cream, goat cheese and Parmesan cheese.  Stir for about 1-2 minutes or until cheese has melted.  Add the red peppers and stir until combined.  Finally, toss in the chopped spinach and season with salt and pepper.  Gently add the pasta and stir until combined.  Serve.

Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo Pasta

Yum!

The pasta has this wonderful creamy sauce from the milk, cream, goat cheese and Parmesan.  Once the red pepper is incorporated, the sauce is even yummier.  It IS a homemade alfredo pasta!  I even love all the spinach pieces mixed in there too.  

I am so glad that my first born shared with me! 

 I wonder what else she'll whip up in her college apartment kitchen?

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet,

Christine

Linking up with my favorite blogs.

Apple Cider Duffins

Although this week seems to be a warm week, the weather in the Midwest has been unseasonably cool and wet.  I love that we can break out the Fall fashion, but I have been having trouble switching to closed toed shoes.  My painted piggies still want to be in flip flops.  But recently, because it was such a cold, early September day, I had to compromise.  I did the unthinkable!!!  I wore flip flops with socks!!!  GASP!  THE HORROR!  I wore that look to the mailbox and even to pick up my daughter which was followed by a horrifying eye roll.  Not by me...by her.  Hmmm, probably could've been arrested by the fashion police.  But, I went with it and embraced the combo.

Follow me...have you heard of the duffin?

It's part donut and part muffin.  In other words, THE BEST COMBO EVER!!!
Sort of like flip flops and socks, no?

Embrace the Apple Cider Duffin!

These duffins are baked in a mini muffin tin and then rolled in powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar.

They are to die for!!!!

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 egg

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup apple butter

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup honey

1/3 cup apple cider

1/3 cup apple pie flavored Greek yogurt

1 Tbsp veg oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all the dry ingredients.  Mix together all the wet ingredients.  Mix the wet into the dry and mix until just combined.

Pour batter into a greased mini muffin pan.  Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes.  Cool for 5-6 minutes, then remove from pan to a wire rack.

Ingredients for toppings:

1/2 cup melted, unsalted butter

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 Tbsp cinnamon

Directions:

Mix together granulated sugar and cinnamon.

Take each warm duffin and dip in melted butter.  Then roll in powdered sugar of cinnamon sugar mixture.

Apple Cider Duffin printable recipe

These are delicious and taste like what you would get at the apple orchard.  They are baked and not fried, which is an additional bonus!  The sugar outsides make these duffins incredibly good.  I think you are going to need lots for breakfast!  The recipe makes 36 duffins.  Do you think that is enough?  I am thinking you will fall in love with the duffin...APPLE CIDER DUFFINS to be exact!

Celebrate the little things, like awesome combos, that make life sweet,

Christine

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