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Super Easy Quiche Recipe

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Super Easy Quiche Recipe

As part of my regular meal planning, I take advantage of turning leftovers into a second (or third) whole new meal during the week.  Lately my kids have been LOVING this Quiche and even ask for it as part of the regular rotation.

I LOVE it because it meets all my go to criteria! This uses leftovers, the kids can help make it, it uses everyday pantry/fridge staples, and it is CRAZY easy!

You can use any leftover protein and veggie combo for this meal.  We have done broccoli and ham, spinach and chicken, mushrooms, peppers, onion, and sausage, and even taco meat with salsa! This is easily a breakfast, brunch, or dinner dish!

Leave out the meat and make it all veggie based or flip it and do meat and no veggie to meet your tastes!  This is great with a nice green salad and vinaigrette on the side!

What you need:

  • 4 eggs
  • 1 can Cream of Mushroom condensed soup
  • 1/2 c. sour cream or plain greek yogurt
  • 1 c. shredded cheese – whatever your family likes!
  • 2 c. cooked chicken, sausage, pork, or beef
  • 1 c. cooked and drained veggies
  • 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust (I use the refrigerator crusts that come in a 2 pack, but a frozen shell is fine, also; or make your own if you have that skill – I DO NOT!!)

Okay – get ready for this super tough instruction 😉

  1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
  2. Lightly beat the 4 eggs in bowl.  Stir in all remaining ingredients and pour into the pie shell
  3. Bake for 50-60 minutes until set and slightly browned. Remove and let rest for 10 minutes prior to cutting.

French Onion Meatballs

Instant Pot Fall Off the Bone Country Style Ribs

Applesauce Muffins Recipe

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We were discussing our menu plans last week for the Super Bowl and Sheri said she was making Applesauce Muffins.  After she shared a picture of her finished masterpieces, I HAD to make them!

Thankfully, Sheri handed over her recipe and I got right on whipping these up!  They did not disappoint.  Tender, moist, incredibly flavorful, and warm from all the cinnamon goodness, everything you want from a homemade bakery style muffin.

These will be perfect for your next brunch or served along side your favorite soup!

Applesauce Muffins

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter , melted
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

  • 1/3 cup butter – melted
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  1. Preheat the oven to 375º F.
  2. Line a muffin pan with muffin papers.  I also recommend spraying the papers lightly as well as the top of the muffin tin as these are tall and full muffins.
  3. Sift together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  4. In a large bowl whisk together the melted butter and sugars.
  5. Then blend in the eggs, vanilla extract and applesauce.
  6. Stir in about 1/2 of the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, then gently fold in the rest using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon.
  7. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pan.  Fill to the top.  You want nice large round tops so fill them up!
  8. Bake for 17-22 minutes, or until the tops are slightly firm to the touch and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
  9. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan.
  10. In a small bowl whisk together the sugar and cinnamon.
  11. Melt remaining 1/3 c. butter
  12. Dip the top of a warm muffin in the melted butter, shaking off any excess. Then dip the top in the bowl of cinnamon sugar. Repeat the process with the rest of the muffins.  Allow to cool on a baking sheet or cooling rack.
  13. Serve immediately or cover and store for up to 5 days.

Cherry Cheesecake Dip

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🍒 Cherry Cheesecake Dip 🍒

Look no further for your next get together dessert!  Combine a few ingredients into a creamy, luscious dip that takes ZERO effort.  You can WHIP this up in no time for an impressive treat ready for friends & family!

📍 Pin HERE for later!

What you need:

  • 1 – 8 oz cream cheese – soften to room temp for several hours
  • 1/4 c. powdered sugar
  • 1 T. fresh lemon juice
  • 1 t. vanilla extract
  • 1 tub cool whip – thawed
  • 1 can cherry pie filling (or any flavor you like!)
  • Dipping sides: Graham Crackers, Vanilla Wafers, Mini Sugar Cookies, Pretzels, etc.

Make it:

  1. Using a mixer, combine cream cheese, vanilla, lemon juice, and sugar until smooth and completely combined.
  2. Fold in cool whip
  3. Spread into an 8 x 8 baking dish or casserole (clear to show the layers makes a pretty presentation)
  4. Top with pie filling
  5. Refrigerate 2 hours to set.
  6. Serve with cookies on the side for dipping

Deviled Strawberries

Chocolate Lasagna

Crack Pretzels – You Can’t Eat Just One!

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Crack Pretzels – You Can’t Eat Just One!

Maybe you remember a few months back I went a little crazy at the Fisher Nut Store and bought a 25 pound box of mini pretzels.  Well, now that Christmas has passed and I have dipped way more than my fair share of pretzels in chocolate; I STILL had a ton of pretzels left!

After trying a bag of a VERY expensive flavored pretzels (as in $5.99 for a 16 oz package) there was a major LIGHT BULB MOMENT! Season those salty twists with a savory mix of spices and make a delicious snack for a FRACTION of the cost of the very expensive store bought ones.  These are perfectly salty, a tad spicy, and impossible to stop eating.

📍 Pin HERE

What you need:

16 oz. pretzels (whatever style you want!)
3/4 c. butter flavored popcorn oil *
3 Tbsp. ranch dressing mix – I have bulk bottle so I measured, but its about 1 1/2 packets if you have the single servings
1 t. lemon pepper
1/8 t. cayenne pepper (go for more if you like spicy)

Make it:

  • Preheat oven to 250°
  • Combine dry seasonings in a small bowl
  • Add pretzels in a large mixing bowl and pour butter oil over.  Toss to coat
  • Sprinkle dry spices over oil coated pretzels and carefully stir
  • Put in a large baking sheet or roasting pan in a single layer.  Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15-20 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool.  Store in a sealed container for 1 week.

*Note: If you don’t have the popcorn oil, use melted butter OR use butter flavored pretzel braids and vegetable oil.  The butter notes are key to the flavor profile so don’t skip out!

Pull Apart Olive Cheese Bread

KETO Fat Head Sausage Biscuits

‘Wild About You’ Valentines

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This post contains affiliate links and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on our links. You can view MCC’s Full Disclosure Policy HERE.  

Turn an inexpensive package of Animal Crackers into a cute Valentine’s Day Card perfect for any classroom!  Nolan picked this idea out and was totally excited because it wasn’t ‘girly’.

Pin HERE for later!

What you need:

  • Animal Cracker Pouches (if your school or facility does not require sealed packages, use a bulk container and fill favor bags with the same note, to cut the cost, if desired)
  • Printed off cards with ‘Valentine, I am WILD About You’ typed
  • Stickers and construction paper if desired.

Make them:

  • Lets be honest, there isn’t a lot to these!  Create Word document with Valentine, I am WILD About You.  Add some clipart with animals.  Print the document.
  • Cut the cards to size.  Paste onto construction paper if desired.
  • Add a few stickers and sign the cards
  • Now, after messing around, I decide to use double sided tape to attach the card onto the back of the crackers. I show in the photo, the crackers inserted into a favor bag.  I wasn’t thrilled with how they looked in the small bags I had, but with a larger bag, it would work perfect!
  • This was super easy and Nolan cut the cards out, glued them on the construction paper and stuck them onto the back of the crackers.  He totally owned this project and was incredibly proud of his work.

“You Blow Me Away” Valentines

“You Blow Me Away” Valentines

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This post contains affiliate links and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on our links. You can view MCC’s Full Disclosure Policy HERE.  

I like to do a little personal something for my kid’s Classroom Valentine Cards each year at school.  They don’t have to be expensive or extravagant, but something sweet and maybe punny!  Check out these adorable ‘Blow me Away’ Valentines made from everyday dollar store.

Pin HERE for later!

What you Need:

  • Small Bottles of Bubbles OR Blow Pops (I bought 3 packs of bubbles at Dollar Tree)
  • Favor Bags
  • Print off with ‘Valentine, You Blow Me Away
  • Stickers & Construction Paper if desired
  1. Make a Word Document that says VALENTINE, YOU BLOW ME AWAY.  Add a border or some free clipart and print that puppy off.
  2. Using a paper cutter or scissors trim the cards to size.
  3. Sign your cards however you wish.
  4. I added a pink construction paper background to make my printer paper more sturdy, but it isn’t necessary.  Using some Dollar Tree stickers, we added a few to each to make them pretty and lets be honest, stickers and kid helpers go together like besties.
  5. Now, you can attach these however you want.  I put the bubbles into a small favor bag and tied it with a twist tie (they came with the favor bags) and used the same tie to string the cards on.  Double sided tape would work great also tape the card right to the bottle.  Whatever bubbles you use will determine the best way to put the cards on.

IDEA:

Bubbles also can found here or here from Amazon.  You could just tie a string with the card to the loop at the top and EASY PEASY DONE!  Even small party favor sized bubbles would work for this idea!  Oriental Trading and Party Supply stores are a great place to grab bulk items for CHEAP!

price & availability accurate as of
Jan 25, 2020 @ 7:59 pm CST 

Alternative concept using the same cards

Punch a hole in 2 spots on the cards and thread a BLOW POP sucker through . Use a piece of tape to secure the sucker in place.

 

“Valentine You Make My Heart Pop”

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This post contains affiliate links and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on our links. You can view MCC’s Full Disclosure Policy HERE.  

 

These Valentine’s Day cards made me so happy! They take SECONDS to make, find the supplies at the dollar store, and require they ZERO crafting skill!

📌 Pin HERE for later!

What you need:

  • Pop Rocks Candy Pouches ** (I found these at Dollar Tree)
  • Print out with “Valentine, you make my Heart POP!”
  • Stickers and construction paper if desired
  • Double Sided Tape or Tape Dots

Make These:

  • Prepare and print a document with Valentine, you make my Heart POP.  Add a cute border and some free clipart to decorate it however you like
  • Cut the cards apart
  • Sign and decorate notes with stickers as desired
  • Using double sided tape or tape dots, adhere the cards to the back of the pop rocks

 

** As alternative POP ideas:

Instead of the Pop Rocks, use a microwave popcorn pouch (Pop Secret Popcorn, Movie Theater Butter, 3 oz Microwave Bags, 30 Count) or single serve bags of popcorn (Smartfood White Cheddar Flavored Popcorn 40 count) , PopTarts (Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts Frosted Strawberry Toaster Pastries – Fun Breakfast for Kids, Family Pack – 32 Count), Ring Pops, or Blow Pops.

price & availability accurate as of
Jan 22, 2020 @ 8:50 pm CST 

Cherry Chip Cookies

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Does anyone else have a particular recipe they remember from their childhood?  Something you can picture clear as day and practically taste if you close your eyes?  These cookies are THAT item.  My grandma made them all the time!  I can even see them sitting on the cookie plate in her kitchen ready to enjoy with a cup of coffee!  We always had ‘coffee breaks’ whenever we visited.  Of course ours was mostly milk with a drop of coffee, but we thought it was so grown up!

I recently stumbled on a bag of the Cherry Chips and all those great childhood memories came right back!  The sweet bright red chips, crispy bits of corn flakes, mild almond flavoring, and tender butter shortbread – I HAD to make these cookies!

After searching through my Grandma’s recipe cards and cookbooks, the Cherry Chip Cookie recipe was no where to be found! Luckily, a quick text message to my mom turned up the details on this childhood favorite!

Check out my mom’s recipe ‘card’ below! You know it is as good one when the paper is THAT stained and there are not even directions!!  I forgot how cute they turn out! Little drops of sweet butter cookies, dotted with red chips – these would be PERFECT for Valentine’s Day!

Pin HERE for Later!

What you need:

1 c. butter (no substitutions) – room temperature
1 egg yolk
1 t. almond extract
1/2 c. white sugar
3/4 c. corn flakes (crushed)
2 1/4 c. flour
pinch of salt
1 c. cherry chips (I found at Woodmans, but have seen them in the baking section of large grocery stores)

Make them:

  1. Cream butter & sugar until fluffy
  2. Stir in egg yolk and almond extract
  3. Add flour, corn flakes, and salt and mix just until combined.
  4. Fold in Cherry Chips
  5. This is a dry dough, but easily forms into balls for baking
  6. Roll into tablespoon size balls and flatten slightly with a fork.
  7. Bake at 350° for 10 – 12 minutes until just slightly browned on the edges
  8. Rest on baking sheet for 2 minutes and move to a cooling rack

More Valentine’s Ideas:

Lunch Box Valentine’s Ideas – Using Pantry Staples!

Valentine’s Oreo Pops Recipe

Valentine’s Day Candy Bouquet

Meal Prep Crock Pot Chicken

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Meal Prep Crock Pot Chicken

Let’s talk meal prep.  Are you a planner, scheduler, thought it all out person or a fly by the seat of your pants and hope to pull something together each night person?  In case you haven’t heard it before, I am a TAD BIT of a control freak/over planner.  So you guessed it, I am the meal planner guru type.

My goal is to have a homemade (or MOSTLY) meal 5 of the 7 nights a week.  This is a pretty hefty goal to take on as the sole parent in our home.  However, family meals are something we bond over and I have made it a priority.  The kids weigh in on meal ideas, help prepare meals whenever possible, just hang out with me in the kitchen, and it is a time we really connect.

In order to keep my goal of not eating out or calling for pizza, I like to prep a protein in advance for the week.  Making a large batch of meat keeps the stress of a meal each night at bay.  No worrying about thawing or cooking it each night.  Usually I do this large prep ahead with chicken, however pork loin or shoulder using this same seasoning is a nice change of pace.

At least once I week, typically on Sunday, I prep a large Crock Pot of chicken Breasts.

This tasty, mildly seasoned chicken turns into soup, chicken tacos, chicken salad sandwiches, Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta, BBQ Chicken Sliders, and so much more!

📍 Pin HERE for later!

What you need:

3-5 Pounds Chicken Breasts (bone in or boneless)
1 Tbsp. Salt (Kosher or Sea Salt is Best)
1 tsp. Smoked Paprika (NOT hot)
1 tsp. Black Pepper
1 tsp. Granulated Garlic
1 tsp. Onion Powder or 1 Tbsp. Dried Minced Onion Flakes (which is what I prefer)
a few pinches of Cayenne Pepper (if you like a little spice)

Make It:

  1. Mix the spices together in a small bowl
  2. Sprinkle generously over one side of the Chicken.
  3. Layer, seasoned side down, in a crock pot.  Sprinkle remaining seasoning on each layer of chicken.  You can double up your layers to fit it all in.  It will cook fine.
  4. After about 4 hours, using tongs, rotate the chicken around so the top ones get to sit in the broth for a bit while they finish cooking.
  5. Cook on low for 6-8 hours until fork tender and shred-able.
  6. Serve immediately or shred/cube for use during the week.
  7. Don’t toss the broth at the bottom.  Strain the tasty liquid with a mesh strainer and save for soups or casseroles.  I pour it over my leftover chicken and it keeps it nice and flavorful all week.
  8. If your Crock Pot lid does not fit securely, add a splash of water or broth at the start to prevent over drying.  A few pats of butter on the top also helps! You don’t want it to poach in a ton of liquid but not be completely dry either.

You can also use a whole chicken and cook it the same way if you prefer.  Just cover the inside and outside of the bird well with the seasoning.  Don’t forget to make bone broth with the left overs!

 

 

Pull Apart Olive Cheese Bread

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My family takes olives VERY SERIOUSLY.  We often kid it isn’t a family gathering if there are not olives out!  For Christmas this year we were doing hot appetizers rather than a full meal.  Combining olives with a crusty loaf of bread sounded like an AMAZING idea to me!  It did not disappoint and we managed to destroy the entire loaf! You could serve it with warm marinara for dipping as well.

What you need:

1 – 6 oz. Jar Green Olives (with or without pimentos)
1 – 6 oz. Jar Black Pitted Olives
1 stick softened butter
2 T. Mayonnaise
1 – 8 oz. bag finely shredded cheese (I used a fiesta blend)
1 round loaf of hearty bread (I used a sourdough loaf)

Make it:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°
  2. Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper, then place a large piece of foil over it
  3. Using a bread knife or electric knife, cut the round loaf in strips in one direction, being careful not to cut all the way through the loaf. Rotate the bread 90 degrees and cut in the other direction. Take your time as to not cut all the way through or pull the loaf apart.  This was pretty easy since the bread I choose was very sturdy and crusty.
  4. Finely chop the olives (I used a hand chopper/processor)
  5. Mix olives with butter and mayonnaise
  6. Fold in cheese
  7. Using a spatula stuff the olive mixture into the loaf between each cube.  Be sure to press all the way to the bottom.  The loaf will start to open as you work through each rows.  Finely chopping the olives as opposed to just slicing will make this much easier to squish into the loaf.
  8. Wrap the loaf in the foil and place on parchment covered sheet.  Bake for 15 minutes.
  9. Remove from oven and open foil covering.  Return to oven for an additional 15 minutes or until brown and bubbly.
  10. Serve immediately

Note: You could leave the mayo out if it isn’t your thing!  No one even noticed it at our get together.  I think it just helps make the mixture more spreadable as you put it into the bread.

 

More snacks & appetizers to try:

Super Simple Soft Pretzels

Deviled Strawberries

Sweet & Savory Chicken Wings (The Secret Ingredient – Lemon Gelatin!)

 

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