new recipes and quiche kick fo'sure..

sundays have become the big cooking day at our casa. we make a few things to make meal planning easier during the week. i'm sure a lot of people do this..


i have been trying to break out of the usual, routine items. 
soo whatcha making?
chicken vesuvio. i picked up a cook's illustrated magazine that was dedicated to slow cooker recipes. i mean, they even had one for lasagna.. i mean really, how could i leave that at the check out counter? 

yeah, i didn't cook the vesuvio in the slow cooker. i didn't want to wait that long. as far as first attempts go, it wasn't bad. i feel like it needed to be richer... maybe in the roux.. in the wine flavoring? 


speaking of wine.. last saturday with decent weather, we invited the mf's over for the first barbeque of the season.. we grilled fresh halibut, green beans and they brought a wonderful salad. i haven't really been drinking beer these days and thought i'd load up on some wine options for the evening. i recently tried two new ones with one of my favorite whites..
quinta da aveleda has become one of my favorites. it has very subtle citrus flavors, not too fruity! 
the alianca also a Portuguese wine, was just a good. there is something about these vinho verde wines. they aren't super sweet. they aren't dry. they are perfect. crisp. refreshing! 
paco y lola.. this  is a spanish white. let's be honest though, by the time the unicornist and i got this one opened. i couldn't tell you if we really tasted those bursting peach and green apples crisp and fun flavors. 

tell you what thought, i'll buy'em all again!
            i also used my cuisinart for the first time..
               made a quick avocado dressing if you will for the halibut. 
                  i wanted to keep it simple, avocado, lime, flat parsley
                     and greek yogurt. perfect. 

now sunday.. it's the beginning games for the stanley cup. so our casa is all about the hockey right  now!
since some of these games are on sunday, i'm cooking before and during. so i gotta choose things that don't need to much of my time or attention. quiche!
as ya know i love the quiche.  it's easy to make. it makes breakfast before work super quick and let's be honest the cheap two for one pie crust tastes soo good. 
last weekend, i made two. one of which was a bottom layer of fontina cheese with parsnips on top then kale then the egg mixture and parmesan. 

i also made granola bars.
i used a receipe from ina garten. i added cranberries and cashews. next time i think i'll do sunflowers and maybe some dried mango...
we were quite happy with how they turned up. 
yummy!


http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/homemade-granola-bars-recipe/index.html












this weekend i am making yes, two more quiches! the ole stand by.. BACON with sharp cheddar... and a veggie sweet potato, carrot, broccoli with a little green pepper on top with cotija cheese. i can't wait.

for something more substantial..i'm also making black beans with corn, peppers and cotija. that will be an extra lunch or dinner salad. 
altough i've been in the house on one of the most beautiful days we've had in a long time, i feel so productive. i'm ready for the week.


and the since the sun is still shining away, i can now go and enjoy it!