Delightful Dill & Cream Cheese Quiche

A whole new world opened up to me when I finally realized after about fifteen years in the kitchen that it wasn't a sin to BUY A PIE CRUST. Now I am a quiche making queen. Well, not really. More like a Nestle Toll House Pie making queen. But this quiche is definitely queen-worthy if I do say so myself.

Dill and Cream Cheese Quiche

INGREDIENTS:

pie crust

1/2 brick cream cheese (softened to room temp)

5 eggs (or 6 makes it a little firmer...)

1/2 cup milk

1-2 tablespoons Dill (I used freeze dried from the seasoning isle)

1 teaspoon mustard

salt, pepper, and onion powder to taste

1-2 cups shredded colby jack (or cheese of your choice. I used closer to 2 cups...)

1/2 cup chopped up ham optional (can use ground cooked sausage or bacon)

Line greased glass pie plate with crust.  If you desire meat, I sprinkle that on the bottom next. In mixing bowl, use a hand held mixer to mix cream cheese, eggs, milk, dill, mustard, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Stir in shredded cheese. I set some aside to sprinkle on top before popping it in the oven. Pour over crust and meat. Pop it in the oven at 350 for about 30 minutes or the middle is no longer soupy. Let sit and cool off for 5 minutes before cutting. Bon Appetit! 

Disclaimer! I made this up last week for my Airbnb guests.  I did not measure anything exactly and I made two so our family could also try it! Both my guests and those in my household loved it so I tried to scribble out how I made it on paper quick so I could share it with you all!  One thing about an egg dish is that they are very forgiving. You can change up the cheeses, spices, and meats and make it your own!  The dill and cream cheese is what makes this one have exceptional flavor!  Hope you enjoy!!

Add-in ideas: chopped spinach, diced peppers

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Smothered ALPACA chops: It's what's for dinner

Dinner? I have officially lived in Michigan longer than rural Iowa. I just used the term "dinner" instead of "supper".  We usually don't eat too exotically around here because like I just mentioned, I grew up in rural Iowa and meat and potatoes is my grub of choice.  Well, it still is. It's just that last night's meat happened to be slightly exotic - alpaca! I've always had great sources for meat so I don't have to buy it at the store.  My friend just down the road has alpacas and they had this curly haired dude.... and well he's now slowly going in to our tummies. Trust me.  I'm sad about it too.  I would have much rather had him in my yard greeting the Airbnb guests... but instead he's in my freezer.  We'll just leave it at that.

So what on earth does alpaca taste like?!  Here's my take on it:

I would compare it to pork, minus the fat.  Think venison compared to beef - super lean! This makes for a much dryer meat so you don't want to overcook it like I did the first time we tried it.  That being said, you can also substitute this recipe for pork chops if you don't have a source of alpaca readily available. ;)

RECIPE: Smothered Alpaca Chops

ingredients:

4 alpaca chops (steaks)

salt and pepper

1/4 cup ranch dressing (I used the olive oil ranch)

1 can cream of celery

4-8 ounces pepper jack cheese (or cheese of your choice)

rosemary and parsley

Coat thawed meat in salt, pepper, and ranch dressing and lay in a greased 9x13 dish. Cover chops in cream of celery soup, lifting each chop with a fork so that some seeps under the meat for flavor. Slice the cheese and lay it across the top of each chop, or if you're using shredded cheese, just dump it on top.  Garnish with rosemary and parsley.  Bake COVERED with foil for 1.5-2 hours at 350.  I uncovered mine the last 10 minutes.  The extra sauce in the pan makes awesome gravy for mashed potatoes!  Enjoy!

The recipe is for four chops, but I only used two.  Here's what it looks like before getting popped into the oven.

So.... have you ever tried alpaca??  What did you think??  My three kiddos range from ten to fourteen years old and they all gobbled it down.  Not sure if that's because I starve them before supper or because they loved it that much...

Just because they're hilarious looking, here's a couple pics of the alpacas at my friend's farm.  My son and I rode our bikes there one morning and had a great time with them.

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Scrumptious Salmon Loaf {Even For Salmon Haters!}

MUSIC TO MY EARS:

5 minutes before supper:

What's for supper, Mom?

Salmon loaf.

Ugh.. salmon loaf??

5 minutes into supper:

Please pass me more salmon loaf!!!!!!

Even my husband, who hates ALL. THINGS. FISH....  asks for seconds when I make this!

Scrumptious Salmon Loaf

1 (14 3/4 oz) can of Salmon
2 eggs
1 cup dry oatmeal
2 Tbls mustard
3/4 cup Miracle Whip (whipped salad dressing)
1/4 cup ranch dressing
cracker crumbs for topping
dash of: salt, pepper, thyme, sweet basil (all optional)

Stir it all up until thoroughly mixed, then spread in a greased loaf pan, top with cracker crumbs, and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.  Simple as that!   Bon Appetite!   

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Cinnamon Chip Apple Scones

These are best served hot and fresh out of the oven!  Make the dough ahead and pop in the oven for last minute guests. :)

Cinnamon Chip Apple Scones

by Kammy Wielenga

2 eggs

1 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup milk

2 tablespoons oil

2 cups quick oats

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon

1 stick of REAL butter

1/2 tsp salt
1 thinly chopped up apple

1 cup cinnamon chips (by Hershey - they might be seasonal in most places)

cinnamon and sugar mixed for sprinkling on top

Directions:
Whisk together first four ingredients.  Then mix dry ingredients together in bowl and stir into mixture until completely moist. Slice butter into small pieces and cut in the butter and cinnamon chips until mixed in evenly.  Butter should be cold when you do this or it won't cut well.  It should also stay in small pieces in your batter, and should not mix in thoroughly.  

Using an ice-cream scoop, drop dough onto a non-greased cookie sheet (about 1/3 cup), sprinkle generously with sugar and cinnamon, and bake for 15 minutes at 350.  Serve warm!  To reheat, pop in a toaster oven. :)  This recipe is large and yields about 28 scones.

P.S. They look more "sconish" if you shape them into a triangle.  This busy mom ain't got time for dat! Ha. :)

These are a tweak from a favorite I posted awhile ago - Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Scones

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Best Cream Cheese Fruit Dip EVER

Cream Cheese Apple Dip:

1 Cream Cheese Brick

1/2 cup brown sugar (or less)

1 tsp Vanilla

Let your cream cheese soften at room temperature, add one teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1/2 a cup of brown sugar (can use less) and mix it together real well with a fork or mixer, chill it in the fridge and baby, you have got yourself the best dip everrrrrrr.  

I caught my devious five year old eating the whole bowl with a spoon - no apples or fruit - and then big brother came in and burst in to tears because he DIDN'T GET ANY - it is just that yummy.  I calmed him down with the promise I'd make some more pronto!

I can't actually claim this as my own recipe - my tough muddin' friend Trinet told me about this years ago and thanks alot Netters, now I can only eat apples if I have 500 calories with them! ;)  Kind of defeats the point of an apple a day keeps the doctor away?

I'm also a cream cheese addict - it goes in EVERYTHING.  Soup, chicken, desserts, french toast, hairballs, etc.  Just seeing if you're reading... ha. There was an amazing sale on it a couple weeks ago and I currently have 30 boxes in my fridge.  No lie.

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Mouth Watering Creamy Italian Pasta Salad

I've never been a huge fan of pasta salad.  Usually the pasta seems to slurp all the flavor into it's soft body and hides it away from my taste buds.  It goes something like this.  I whip together a pasta salad, do a taste test and think it's delicious then by the time I get to the party and put my offering on my plate, all flavor has vanished and I'm washing down my bites with Mountain Dew.

So I was delighted when I concocted one day for a party, it held it's delicious flavor and I was even asked for the recipe.  It was even great as leftovers the next day - I sprinkled shredded cheese on top and baked it and we had it as a hot dish!

Mouth-Watering Creamy Italian Pasta Salad

By Kammy's Korner

Ingredients:

1 16 oz box bow tie pasta

1 cup Miracle Whip Salad Dressing

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 14.5 oz can Italian Diced Tomatoes

seasonings: basil, Italian Seasoning, onion powder

grated Parmesan cheese

*optional: diced ham, pepperoni, bacon bits

Cook pasta al dente with dash of salt, rinse under cold water.  In a large bowl, stir all ingredients together except for Parmesan cheese, then add pasta and stir until it is all coated.  Top with Parmesan.  Serve chilled*.

*You can also cover with shredded cheese and bake for a hot dish.

Sharing here:

Tatertots and Jello

Sand Castle Birthday Cake

My little girly LOVES the beach!!  She decided this year she wanted a beach birthday when she turned five.

We went on Pinterest and I found some inspiration over on Living Well, Spending Less.

It was actually pretty fun to make!  I used a chocolate cake mix and poured it in to different size round oven-safe bowls, including a pie plate for the bottom one, a medium size bowl and three cupcakes.  The "towers" are sugar ice cream cones.  The whole surface of the cake is covered in frosting and then the sand is sprinkled on top.

The hardest part was getting the "sand" to stick on the sides.  I had to push it up with a fork and pat it into the frosting.

So what is the "sand"?

I used crushed honey graham crackers and threw in one chocolate graham cracker so it looked more natural colored.  For the cones, I frosted them, and rolled them in the crumbs.

The starfish.  Oh what a fun little craft to do with the birthday girl.  Have you heard of salt dough?  Yeah, probably.  My mom said she did salt dough as a kid.  Well sheesh.  Where have I been?  Painting furniture, and walls, and signs, and little girl's toenails I guess.  Not making salt dough ornaments, for sure.

Anyways, there is a plethora of ideas for salt dough out there on the world wide spiderweb.

Here's the recipe I used:

Salt Dough

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

3/4 to 1 cup water

Check out the link for directions on the starfish HERE at Desperate Craft Wives.

As innocent and sweet as that little birthday girl looks, she sure thinks it would be the best idea ever to put some frosting on one of those salt dough starfish and tell Grandma it's a cookie...

OH.  I almost forgot to warn you.  YES, WARN YOU.

This cake was nice eye candy... but in the taste department, well.... the "sand" urgh, made it feel rather dry in the mouth.  Now I only like cake if it's good and moist, or it just ain't worth the calories.  My best advice would be to put the frosting on THICK, and then some more, so that you don't have a mouth full of dry graham cracker crumbs.  I'm sorry to all the party guests for a mouth full of sand.  

Yeah.  Lots more frosting, and then I think you should be good to go eat.  :)

Cinnamon Chip Cookies With Yellow Cake Mix

Cinnamon Chip Cookies With Yellow Cake Mix

by Kammy's Korner

Ingredients:

yellow cake mix

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup softened butter

1 cup Hershey's cinnamon chips

In a large mixing bowl, stir cinnamon into dry cake mix.  Add remaining ingredients except for cinnamon chips, and mix together.  Stir in chips.  Drop small rolled balls of dough onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for nine minutes.  Don't over bake! :)  Makes about three dozen.

Pork And Barley Soup {With Gluten Free Option}

Looking for something super healthy and low calorie that's still hearty and filling? 

 This is the perfect soup for a cold, wintery night!  The hubby and the very-leery-at-first kids all gobbled it down and had seconds.  :)

Pork and Barley Soup

1 sweet onion

3 Tbls olive oil

1 quart chicken broth (I saved the juice from a chicken I had made earlier)

1 quart water

5 celery stalks (sliced)

3/4 cup dry pearled barley

1 cup cooked pulled/shredded pork

optional spices to taste: salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, sage, basil, parsley, celery seed

In soup pot, saute finely chopped onion in olive oil.  Add remaining ingredients and simmer for two hours.  Bon Apetit! 

Note: This is a Kammy original which means all measurements are approximate and you can add or take away depending on your taste!  

GLUTEN FREE OPTION:

Substitute barley for small dried navy beans or rice.

Making Caramel By Boiling Sweetened Condensed Milk

I had heard the Russians did this.  I had also heard horror stories of it exploding and being dangerous.  I stay away from risky business.  Then I learned my friend Angelina makes caramel with this method.  She'd never heard about such explosive ridiculousness.  I listen to her.  She's a good one to listen to.  I got brave.  This is my second time doing this and it's worked beautifully both times!  And oh-so-easy!

 It's VERY IMPORTANT that you make sure the water doesn't boil dry.  I set the timer for every half hour to check on it and add water if I needed to.  And you will need to!

I add a little salt to mine.  Salted caramel?  Yes please!!

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Easiest Dark Chocolate Truffles Ever {3 ingredients}

All you need is.... are you ready for this..... cream cheese,semi-sweet baking squares, and something to roll them in for coating (I like powdered sugar)!

Super Easy Dark Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients:

1 8 oz brick of cream cheese

8 semi sweet* chocolate squares (or you can use chocolate chips - the recipe isn't picky on the amount, as long as there is at least 8 ounces or more).

1/2 cup powdered sugar, sprinkles, or cocoa

Directions:

Microwave chocolate until just barely melted.  Stir until completely smooth.  (Never overheat chocolate!) Add softened cream cheese (room temperature or soften in the microwave for 15 seconds).  Beat until smooth  with mixer.  Refrigerate for an hour.  Form into balls by rolling about a tablespoon or two in the palm of your hands and then roll the ball in your choice of powdered sugar, cocoa, or sprinkles. Make sure the sprinkles are pressed in good.  Pop back into the fridge for a wee bit.  Help!  I can't stop eating them!!

*To make the dark chocolate more intense, I substituted a square of unsweetened chocolate for one of the semi-sweet ones.

 You can also melt almond bark, chocolate chips, or chocolate baking squares to dip them in with a fork.  If you choose to dip them, set them on wax paper until they have hardened. 

Gift idea: put some in a clear container with a big Christmas bow!

  Perfect for any chocolate lover!

Have other ideas of what to roll these delicious little chocolate bombs in? 

 Leave your creativity in the comments!

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Scones

Kammy's Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Scones

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons oil
2 cups dry oatmeal
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 stick of REAL butter (if using unsalted, then add a dash of salt to the dough)
2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Whisk together first four ingredients.  Then mix dry ingredients together in bowl and stir into mixture until completely moist. Slice butter into small pieces and stir the butter and chocolate chips until mixed in evenly.  Butter should be cold when you do this or it won't cut well.  It should also stay in small peices in your batter, and should not mix in thoroughly.  

Using an ice-cream scoop, drop dough onto a non-greased cookie sheet (about 1/3 cup) and bake for 15 minutes at 350.  Serve warm!  To reheat, pop in a toaster oven. :)  This recipe is large and yields about 28 scones.