Cheesy Eggs with Salsa

I was visiting with my friend Lynda about eggs.  While we were discussing recipes, I realized that I haven't posted about this dish.

Here's what you need for 2-3 servings.

Melt some butter in a frying pan. Crack open, and add eggs.  Mix them up and cook on medium heat until they aren't runny.  Add about a tablespoon of cream cheese.  Stir and add a bunch of shredded cheese.  I like sharp cheddar the best, but use whatever I can find in the fridge.  Spoon onto plate and mush a hole/indent  in the  middle (think gravy on mashed potatoes). Sprinkle a generous amount of Mexican/spicy seasoning on top.  I like Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy. Put about 1/2 cup of salsa in the hole.   Top with chopped avocado (I use 1/3 to 1/2 depending on size).  Serve immediately.

I hope you enjoy today's lunch.

Spinach and Bacon Quiche

Guess what I'm doing today?  Cooking...making quiche.  If you like quiche, and have never made it, you are missing out.  Premade is expensive and can be hard to find.  Frozen just isn't as tasty.  It's very easy to make.  Quiche recipes are basically "guidelines".  (I sort of look at most recipes that way though) 

I used a frozen pie shell (I'm lazy and it isn't about the crust anyway). I did put it into a glass pie dish and pressed out the edges to fill the dish, as the crust thawed.  I layered chopped spinach (fresh baby spinach), cheese and chopped bacon (precooked).  Then I poured the quiche mixture over the top and let it settle into the pie shell.

Quiche mixture:  all the recipes I looked up called for heavy cream or 1/2 & 1/2.  I didn't have either so I used up stuff in the fridge.  I used a 1 1/4 liquid measuring cup and filled it with some cream cheese and cool whip.  Then I topped it off (until it ran over) with milk (we still use 2%).  I mixed that with eight (8) eggs (the carton said large but I thought they were kind of small).  In a FOOD PROCESSOR.  So quick!  I really don't know how I managed before...maybe that's why I don't cook much -- too much chopping.  

Food Processor:  I know I said in an earlier post that I didn't need one and wasn't getting one...well...Ralph is the one that got a Ninja, so he could make smoothies.  I'm loving it!  So much quicker!  And easy cleanup!

Last, I sliced up a tomatoe and laid the slices on the top and put it in the oven.  375 degrees.  

45 minutes later I turned the oven off and let it sit for about another 15 minutes.  The quiche was brown on top but not quite set up.

Done and out of the oven!  Time for breakfast!  

The recipe I "used" was 12tomatoes.com/2013/08/page/2/

Chicken Piccata

Ever heard of panko bread crumbs?  I hadn't.  I think they will become a staple in the cupboard though.  I've seen several recipes that call for them but I've been ignoring those recipes because I didn't know what panko was.  Silly me... 



This week's cooking experiment was Chicken Piccata. 



Served with nuked steamed broccoli and instant mashed potatoes.
Ralph liked it and said he would eat it again.  I liked it.  After having some leftovers for lunch, I'd give it four (4) thumbs up.  It's a keeper.
The chicken actually had a LOT more flavor the next day.  I'm sure that's from marinating in the sauce.  

Here is a link to the recipe I used.  Make sure you drain the capers. Really!

Location:Lake Ozark, Missouri USA

I Tried a Yoga Class

There is a new yoga studio close to our house so I checked out their web page and gave them a call.  It is Reflect Yoga Studio.  I went to my trial class last night.  I loved it.  I will be going back.  

If you have been reading this blog you know one of my goals this year is exercising and learning some yoga to incorporate into my weekly program.  Yay! I found a class.  I'm sure they opened just for me. :-)  So much better than learn it on my own.  

Good news - I can do the baby/infant pose.  That means the knee is significantly better. 

Now I'm off to work on some breathing.

Orange Chicken - Review & Leftovers

This was dinner. Served with wild rice and edamame (ed-ah-MAH-may).






Ralph said he would eat it again. I think it was too sweet. If I made it again I would pick a spicier BBQ sauce and try to find a less sweet marmalade. I'm sure brand makes a difference.

Over all - 1.5 thumbs up.

Leftovers. I saved the broth when I drained the chicken. I am going to use it to boil up some rice noodles and serve the chicken over that.

I steamed (nuked) the edamame in olive oil, garlic salt and Extra Spicy Seasoning Blend from Mrs Dash. Yummy (although Ralph didn't care for these)!

If you try any of these ideas, let me know how it turns out.

Orange Chicken

Today is a cooking day. Yep! I am going to make (attempt anyway) orange chicken in the crockpot.

To celebrate my bravery, I have a new apron. I am not really messy but I hate having dirty hands so I wipe them off a lot. Check this out.







Cute new apron. The best part? The solid blue part is removable. It has buttons so I can take it off and wash it. Plus it hangs there like a towel. Very convenient. Love it.





Did I mention how cute it is? Look as these fun flowers!!!

Ok, back to cooking.

I am not a vegetarian. I eat meat, I am just REALLY picky about it. One of the things I hate is raw meat. Gross! Nasty! Disgusting! I avoid the meat section in the grocery store. Nasty, and I don't see the point. Ok, so last night I went with Ralph to get the chicken. He did pick it out and give me some pointers. But I was there in the meat isle.





Here's the stuff. I got the chicken out and into the crock pot, with my BARE HANDS. I thought about tongs but was too lazy to hunt them up and I really intend to do this again, so why not. Eewww! All I could think about was breast implants. (Well it is chicken breast)

Then I washed & dried my hands. Hahaha!

Here's the recipe: Take 4-5 chicken breast and cook in the crock pot (covered) for 3 hours. After discussing this with Ralph - we think 4-5 hours is better. Just make sure that chicken is cooked all the way through. Then drain the juice from the crock pot. Mix 3/4 cup BBQ sauce, 3/4 cup Orange Marmalade, and 2 tbsp Soy Sauce in a bowl. Then pour mix over chicken. Cover and cook on high for an additional 30 minutes. I'll probably turn it down to low after an hour or so, then try it.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

Location:Lake Ozark, Missouri USA

Yoga

I am not an athlete.  I am not striving for the perfect body. I do believe being in shape and active is healthy.  Since I don't necessarily enjoy exercising, I am trying to change it up so it isn't such a boring routine.

Today I tried some yoga poses.  It's a lot harder than it looks. 30 seconds is a long time when you are trying to hold a position your body isn't accustomed to.  I'll have to work up to the 30 seconds.  I do like the stretching though.  It feels great! I will be learning more poses after I get used to these.  It takes me awhile to be able to do the moves without my nose in the book.  And learning to BREATH.  I have a tendency to hold my breath.  Not good!  Yoga is alot about breathing.

I think this will compliment my strength exercises.

I am using a book titled Yoga For Beginners: Essential Poses For Yoga Beginners by Amy Gilchrist. I downloaded it in my Kindle app.  There are several free yoga books available that I will be checking out too.  If I find and settle on one terrific book, I will let you know.  Until then, I will let you know how it's going.

Tomorrow will be another strength day.