Bacon, Mushroom and Spinach Quiche with a Cheddar Cheese Crust

I hope that all of you who celebrate Thanksgiving are having a wonderful holiday weekend! We've had a great one so far... feeding the homeless in Philadelphia, a great Thanksgiving dinner with my husband's aunt and uncle and family, watching Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, getting out early in the morning on Black Friday to get a start on Christmas shopping, decorating the Christmas tree and getting the house ready for the holidays, and eating all those wonderful Thanksgiving leftovers, of course!

Are you craving something a little lighter after all that holiday food?! If so, a slice of this quiche with a side of some salad is a good option!

BACON, MUSHROOM AND SPINACH QUICHE

WITH CHEDDAR CHEESE CRUST

YOU WILL NEED:

QUICHE CRUST

4 1/2 oz all purpose flour

4 oz (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

2 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 - 2 tbs ice water

QUICHE FILLING

1 1/2 cups milk

3 eggs

1/4 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1 tbs grated parmesan cheese

6 slices bacon, cut into chunks

1 heaping cup fresh baby spinach

5 oz mushrooms

DIRECTIONS:

1. Start by preparing your crust. Combine flour, cheddar cheese and butter until well mixed. While mixing, add 1 - 2 tbs ice water to bring your dough together. Once you have your dough, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, prepare your filling. Cut the bacon into chunks, and cook it in a pan (you don't need to spray the pan as the bacon has enough fat of its own!) until it gets nice color, then place it onto some kitchen paper towels so you get rid of some of the grease. Slice your mushrooms, and saute them in the same pan. Once they are done, place them on a paper towel to get rid of the fat too. Saute the spinach in the pan for a couple seconds (just until it wilts slightly) and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together 3 eggs, 1 1/2 cups milk, and salt, thyme and parmesan cheese. Set aside.

4. Take out your dough, and roll it out between two sheets of plastic wrap so that it's large enough to fit into a 9-inch pie dish. Spray the dish with cooking spray, then transfer the dough into it, folding in any overlapping pieces. Prick with a fork, then chill for a couple more minutes. Preheat your oven to 350 deg F.

5. Spoon the bacon, mushrooms and spinach onto the crust, then pour the egg/milk mixture over it. Bake for 45 - 50 minutes. Serve with salad, or add to your brunch table!

HAPPY COOKING, EVERYONE!

How many of you put your Christmas tree up already? We decorated ours yesterday, and now I'm trying to finish decorating the rest of the apartment! I can't believe this coming Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent! Hope you are all enjoying this holiday season!

Decorating the Christmas tree...

This is our third Christmas as a married couple! Can't believe how fast time flies!

Have a great rest of your weekend, Everyone!

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Ten Days of Apples: Day 6 - The Cute Factor: Apple Pie Pops!

It's been said that pies are the new cupcake. In fact, this article in the New York Times talks about how that seems to be the trend today, pointing out many bakeries that are centered around The Pie. As the article says, "The goal is to take the pie and elevate it without changing it" and then goes on to say "Pie seems to bring out the sentimental side of bakers", and really not just bakers, but customers, I think. And that's just the thing - there is nothing as comforting as pie. Nothing that evokes the feeling of home like Pie. And since we always go crazy for the cute factor - I'm pretty sure cupcakes wouldn't taste quite as good if they weren't quite as cute - the cute factor needed to be added to the pie. The answer? PIE POPS!

APPLE PIE POPS

(Makes 9)

YOU WILL NEED:

PIE DOUGH:

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp sugar

1/4 tsp salt

4 oz (1 stick) unsalted butter, chilled and diced

1/8 cup to 1/4 cup (depending on how much you need) ice water

*You will also need 1 egg white and some water or heavy cream/milk to brush the tops of these before baking.

FILLING:

2 apples, peeled, cored and very finely chopped

1 1/2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

*OR* If you are short on time, you could always use canned apple pie filling!

OTHER:

Lollipop sticks - you can find these at any grocery store

Cookie cutters to cut out your pie shapes (if you don't have any, you can use the rim of a glass to cut out circles)

Ribbon *optional* - to decorate your pops!

DIRECTIONS:

1. First, prepare your dough. In your mixing bowl or food processor, mix together the flour, sugar and salt. Then add cubed butter and mix until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Then, while mixing, begin adding the ice water. Add enough of it for a dough to form. Then, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, you can prepare your apple mixture, by mixing the apples, sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice in a small bowl. Clean your work surface, prepare your rolling pin, get out some extra flour for dusting, and get your cookie cutters ready!

3. Now take your dough out, and roll it out on a floured surface, to about the same thickness you would roll a sugar cookie dough out to. Using your cookie cutters, cut your shapes out (you want to stick to circles or hearts, they are easiest to fill with the filling).

4. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper, and place half of your cut out shapes on it. Gently press a lollipop stick onto each of the shapes, then spoon the filling into the middle of each shape (make sure you will be able to cover it with the second shape on top without the filling coming out. Preheat your oven to 375 deg F.

5. Once that's done, place your top shapes onto each bottom shape, pressing the sides with a fork so the filling doesn't come out. Cut little slits in the middle, so that steam can escape as they bake. Brush with an egg wash mixture or some milk (you can also sprinkle more sugar on top if you like) and bake for 15 minutes, or until pops are golden!

Let the pie pops cool completely, and tie little bows around the lollipop sticks to make them look even cuter! These would make great little party favors, or cute desserts!

By the way, can you believe that Thanksgiving is almost here? This fall has been flying by so quickly, and all of a sudden the trees that had beautiful yellow, red and orange leaves are beginning to look more and more bare as wind sweeps through the streets... it feels like winter is around the corner!

This past week, my husband and I were in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which is where many of the Amish live. It's like stepping back into time, when life was a lot simpler and filled with cooking, baking, sewing and making quilts. It's a beautiful area, especially this time of year!

Kitchen Kettle - A little shopping village filled with cute shops!

The beautiful surroundings of the hotel.

I hope you all have a great weekend and have fun getting ready for the holidays!

Happy Baking, Everyone!

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Green Bow Pillow!

I've been making lots of Bow Pillows lately, and this is definitely my favorite color for them:

The color is called Avocado Green, and it's just perfect for the holidays! There will be another "Christmas" Version of this pillow coming soon! Each pillow cover is made as an envelope pillow cover, out of 100% cotton duck canvas and is made to fit an 18x18 inch pillow. And the good news is... it's available in many different colors in my etsy shop now! So if you are looking for a nice Christmas present for someone, or an addition to your own home, come on over to my shop!

As I had written earlier, I sold some of my handmade products at a craft show last weekend! It was a great day and it was fun to sell lots of my products! Here are some pictures from the day...

The craft show was at a local high school, and was the biggest one I had ever done! It was a lot of fun and was super busy all day! As always, my sweet husband came along with me, he's the best!

My table! Filled with pins, hair clips, accessories and watercolor prints!

My bow pillows!

And here is my updated craft room! There's finally an armchair there so my husband can sit there are read (or play computer games lol!) I love this room!

Have a great rest of your week, Everyone!

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Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore literally means Hunter's Chicken, and it's a very quick, easy and comforting dish! It's fast enough to make for dinner when you get home from work and still has wonderful flavor and is a very hearty meal!

CHICKEN CACCIATORE

YOU WILL NEED:

4 large skinless chicken thighs

1 cup all purpose flour

1 tbs olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tbs capers

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 cup chicken stock

1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes

1/2 tsp oregano

1 1/2 cups button mushrooms, quartered

Salt and pepper for seasoning

*Traditionally this dish also uses bell peppers, so you could definitely add that.

DIRECTIONS:

1. First, prepare your chicken. Season each chicken thigh with salt and pepper on both sides, then place the flour in a ziplock bag and coat the chicken in the flour. In a large pan, heat the olive oil, and brown the chicken thighs. (You could of course use a different part of the chicken, but I like to use thighs in this because they have a lot more flavor).

2. Once the chicken is browned, remove it and saute the onion and minced garlic in the same pan. Once the onion is translucent, place the chicken back in the pan.

3. Add the can of tomatoes, chicken stock and oregano, and season well. Cover and let simmer for about half an hour.

4. In the meantime, prepare your mushrooms. Clean and quarter them. (You can also start cooking your pasta at this point if you are serving it with this dish).

5. Add quartered mushrooms and the capers to the chicken, and cook for another 10 - 15 minutes. Serve hot with pasta or some fresh Italian bread and salad on the side! Buon Apetito!

HAPPY COOKING, EVERYONE!

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Thanksgiving Table Runner

I can hardly believe that November is here and that Thanksgiving is just over two weeks away! I've been working on this "Give Thanks" table runner for a while, and it's finally done! I used two yards of natural canvas fabric, white cotton fabric for the ruffles on each end of the runner, and black Tulip fabric paint for the writing. I wanted a natural looking runner for the coffee table in the living room, and was inspired by the beautiful pillows from Dear Lillie, and decided to incorporate that inspiration into this table runner! Here's what I ended up making:

All I did was measure out two long strips of the canvas fabric and sewed them together to make the runner. Then using a blue fabric pencil, I wrote out the "Give Thanks", and painted over it with black Tulip brand fabric paint. I did this on both ends of the runner, let it dry completely, and then put a cotton kitchen towel over the writing and ironed that, it makes the paint set in completely. Then, I made the ruffles and sewed them onto the runner, and that's it!

What do you think? What are you making for Thanksgiving this year?

Have a great week, Everyone!

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Ten Days of Apples: Day 5 - Apple Cinnamon Muffins with Almond and Brown Sugar Topping

Hi Everybody! Welcome to Day 5 of my Ten Days of Apples Series! Today I have a great breakfast muffin recipe for you that will turn any sleepy morning into a great one! Now that it's getting colder outside and mornings are pretty chilly, I always crave something warm and comforting in the morning, and these Apple Cinnamon Muffins with Almond and Brown Sugar Topping are the perfect choice! They are sweet, juicy, fluffy and crunchy all in one bite! I love using yogurt in baking because it always maker for a really fluffy, moist dough, and the juicy apples just add to that! These muffins are quick to make, and even though you can store them for up to three days, I guarantee you they will be gone before that! Happy Baking, Everyone!

APPLE CINNAMON MUFFINS WITH

ALMOND AND BROWN SUGAR TOPPING

(Adapted from Nigella Lawson)

YOU WILL NEED:

3 small apples (or 2 large ones, I only had small ones at home)

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp ground cinnamon

2/3 cup plus 4 tsp packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup honey

1/4 plain yogurt (I used low-fat)

1/2 cup flavorless vegetable oil

2 eggs (at room temperature)

1/4 sliced almonds

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and 1 tsp ground cinnamon. Mix until all ingredients are combined.

2. Next, prepare your apples. Peel, core and dice them into small chunks (about 1/4 inch chunks). Set them aside and preheat your oven to 400 deg F.

3. In a smaller bowl, combine brown sugar, vegetable oil, honey, yogurt and the two eggs. Whisk until you have a brown-ish mixture, then fold it into the flour mixture and add the apples.

4. Now prepare your muffin topping in a small bowl. Mix 1/4 cup sliced almonds, 4 tsp brown sugar and 1 tsp ground cinnamon.

5. Line your muffin pan with paper cups, and pour batter into each cup equally. Then sprinkle with the topping. Bake for 20 minutes, until the tops of the muffins are golden brown!

Happy Baking, Everyone!

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Busy, Busy, Busy!

With October begins the busiest season of the year for us, and now that November is here, it feels like there is something going on almost every day! But even with all the business, there's always time to have some fun... so here's a little bit of what's I've been up to lately!

I'm getting ready for a craft show where I will have a table tomorrow, so it's been a lot of sewing, cutting, and crafting! I love making these bow pillows! Here is one of them, that I will be selling tomorrow, in a Christmassy green color!

I've also been making lots of felt accessories for tomorrow, this is one of the felt flower headbands. I love using felt, there is just so much you can do with it!

I got a some macaroons from Maison Laduree the other day, that are the best in the world, of course! Their coconut and caramel and salted butter are to die for!

And look how beautiful Central Park is during the fall! There really should be such a thing as a "Fall Wonderland", and this would definitely be it! So beautiful! It was sad to see so many broken trees from the snowstorm last weekend!

This is a picture of the snowstorm last weekend - I have never seen snow in October, it was the craziest thing! You can't really see it very well in this picture, but the snowflakes were huge!

And these are my two new favorite products! The first one is the S'mores candle from Bath&Body Works. It smells SO good! I love sweet smells, and this one is definitely one of my favorites!

And the second product is this Red Raspberry syrup that's so good with pancakes or waffles! Raspberries are one of my favorite fruits, and this syrup is so delicious!

I hope you all have a good weekend! Stay warm!

Maria xoxo