Leftover Quiche

Making quiche out of leftovers... not eating yesterday's quiche.

This basic recipe lends itself well to all kinds of substitutions.  Use what you have on hand and you'll be shocked at how well those leftovers taste!

Ingredients:
4 Eggs
3/4 cup milk
2 cups cheese (two or more varieties)
2-3 cups leftover meat and vegetables
Non-stick cooking spray
1 pie crust (optional)

Directions:
-  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
-  Cube leftover meat and vegetables. 
-  Spray skillet with non-stick cooking spray and heat meat and vegetables taking care to not overcook.
-  If you like your quiche with a crust, line a pie pan with the pie crust.  If you prefer a crustless quiche, omit this step and spray your pie pan with non-stick cooking spray.
-  Combine eggs and milk in a bowl and whisk until smooth.
-  Add half of the cheese to the egg/milk mixture.
-  Add the other half of the cheese to the warm meat and vegetables and immediately pour into crust (or empty pie pan).
-  Pour egg/milk/cheese mixture over meat and vegetables.
-  Cook quiche for 40 minutes or until center has set.

Hints:
-  Next time you're at the grocery store ask the deli counter if they have any "ends and pieces" of meat or cheese.   Most deli counters package up the small ends of meat and cheese that are hard to slice and sell them at a reduced price.  This is a great way to get lots of different types of cheese for your quiche or a couple kinds of meat to toss with leftover veggies.
-  Just about any leftovers taste great in a quiche.  Here are a few ideas:
*Ham and green beans *Stir fry *Fajita meat and veggies *Turkey and broccoli *Ground beef and green peppers *Sandwich steak, green peppers, mushrooms and onions

Nancy's Pretty Good Pizza

Makes 3 big 16" pizzas

Ingredients for Crust

2 pkg. Quick Rise dry yeast (I use Fleishman's or Red Star)
3 c. lukewarm ( 110°-115°F )or milk (okay to use skim or powdered dry milk, reconstituted)
4 Tbsp. olive oil
3 Tbsp. honey
1 tsp. garlic powde
1 tsp. onion powder (or) 2 Tbsp Italian seasonings
2 tsp. salt
8 to 10 c. flour more or less)

Directions for Crust
- Mix yeast in milk in glass bowl. Add other ingredients in order.
- Use whisk for first additions, then switch to wooden spoon when mixture thickens.
- You may add the last 2 cups or so of flour by hand during kneading process.
- Knead 2 or 3 minutes on counter or bread board.
- Use the same bowl you mixed in (no washing needed) and pour in a Tbsp of oil.
- Put in the dough, press down, turn it over, and cover with a plate or moistened towel.
- Let sit in bowl half hour or so in a warm place, covered.
- After rising, punch down and divide into thirds
- If you want to freeze your dough, this is the perfect time.
- If using immediately, roll each portion to a 16" circle on floured surface.
- Bake (partially) on greased pan. (about 10 minutes.) remove from oven

Ingredients for Pizza
Don Pepino pizza sauce (try to get that brand if it's available. 1 can is good for 2 pizzas) (or) Alfredo sauce - any brand (1 jar is good for 2 pizzas)
6 to 8 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
a good variety of pizza toppings, meats and vegetables

Directions for Pizza
- Begin with one partially cooked pizza crust.
- Spread sauce of your choice
- Add toppings, and cheese
- Bake at 450°F for about 3 - 5 minutes or until cheese melts.

Hints
- I am really flexible with amounts, and pretty flexible with temperatures, and times. Think of this as a starting point, and don't be too stressed out about getting it exact. Like music, or painting, make it your own.  Sometimes you improvise....
- If it's really cold in your house, you may have a hard time getting your dough to rise. Try pre-heating your oven to the lowest temp it will allow (usually 150-200 degrees). As soon as it is heated turn the oven off and open the door. After about a minute put the bowl of dough in and close the door. When using this method it is really important that the dough is covered with a damp towel.
- If you have frozen your pizza dough take it out of the freezer the night before and put in the fridge. Take out of the fridge approximately one hour before using (more if your house is cold) and allow to come to room temp before rolling out.

Submitted by Nancy

Tortilla Soup

Ingredients
1 cup minced onion
1 cup minced carrot
1 cup minced celery
2 cloves minced garlic
3 tbs vegetable oil
10 cups chicken stock (or broth)
1 rotisserie chicken - meat removed and shredded
3 cups prepared fresh salsa
1 bag tortilla chips

Directions
- In a heavy bottom dutch oven or stock pot heat oil.
- Sauté onion, carrot and celery in hot oil until onions are translucent.
- Add garlic.
- Add 10 cups chicken stock and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a simmer
- Add chicken meat and all the juices from the rotisserie pan.

To serve
- Spoon 1/2 cup fresh salsa into bottom of soup bowl.
- Ladle chicken soup over fresh salsa.
- Top with crumbled tortilla chips.
- Serve immediately.

Hints:
- Fresh Salsa can be found in the Deli section of your grocery store.  It is sometimes called pico de gallo.  It is mostly chopped tomatoes, peppers, chilies, onion and spices and is chunky, not saucy.
- Make sure to combine the salsa and soup right before serving or the tomatoes will get mushy,
- It is not important to have exactly one cup each of onion, celery and carrot.  It is more important that you have equal parts of each.

Submitted by Amy

Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

INGREDIENTS
1-1/2 cups quinoa
1-1/2 cups canned black beans, rinsed and drained
1-1/2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1-1/2 cups cooked corn (fresh, canned or frozen)
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
4 scallions, chopped
1 tsp. garlic, minced fine
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves, chopped fine
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/3 cup olive oil

DIRECTIONS
- Rinse quinoa in a fine sieve under cold running water until water runs clear.
- Put quinoa in a pot with 2-1/4 cups water.
- Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer 20 minutes or until water is absorbed and quinoa is tender.
- Fluff quinoa with a fork and transfer to a large bowl and allow to cool.
- While quinoa is cooking, in a small bowl toss beans with vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.
- Add beans, corn, bell pepper, scallions, garlic, cayenne and coriander to the quinoa. Toss well.
- In a small bowl whisk together lime juice, salt, cumin and add oil in a stream while whisking. Drizzle over salad and toss well with salt and pepper. Salad may be made a day ahead and refrigerated, covered. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Submitted by Rachel

Black Bean Pizza

Ingredients
6 to 8 ounces of shredded Mozzarella cheese
1 can black beans
Chopped, drained tomatoes
1 pre-made pizza crust (or make your own)

Directions
- Spread HALF the cheese over the prepared crust.
- Top with beans that have been rinsed and drained.
- Add the remaining cheese and top with chopped tomatoes.
- Bake at 425 degrees until hot and lightly browned.

Hints
- For a lower-fat/calorie version use reduced fat cheese.
- This recipe tastes great on a Boboli pizza crust.

Submitted by Carol

Dill Lime Chicken

Ingredients
4 chicken breast halves
¼ cup lime juice
¼ tsp. salt
Dash of pepper
½ tsp. dried dill weed
1 tsp. minced dried onion
1 Tbsp. olive oil or 2 Tbsps. melted butter

Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a zip-lock bag to make a marinade
- Add chicken and turn to coat well with marinade
- Refrigerate for at least one hour - longer is better.
- Grill over medium heat.

Submitted by Carol

Hamburger Taco Pie

Ingredients:
1 lb hamburger or ground turkey
onions --diced (however many you want)
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 can diced or stewed tomatoes
1 can kidney beans, drained
1 can sliced black olives
1 can corn, drained
1 small can of green chiles
Grated cheese (your choice)
Cornmeal mix (make cornmeal bread recipe according to directions on box)

Directions
- In a large skillet, cook hamburger and onions then add taco seasoning and tomatoes and mix well.
- Simmer a few minutes and then stir in the rest of ingredients, one at a time.
- Put in a large casserole dish.
- Top with cornmeal mix. Bake at 400 for 30-40 minutes.

Submitted by Terry

Easy BBQ

Ingredients
5-8 lbs of meat
2 large bottles BBQ sauce

Directions
- Put the meat in your crock pot.
- Cover with 1 entire bottle BBQ sauce.
- Cook on low for 6-10 hours.
- Pull meat out of cooking juices. Shred with fork and add additional BBQ sauce.

Hints
- This works well with chicken, pork and beef (I use a pot roast when making BBQ beef).
- My favorite BBQ sauce is Sweet Baby Ray's. I always get great compliments when I use it and have never heard a complaint.
- If you'd like to take a little more time you can cook down the juices with some BBQ sauce and add them back into the meat for a more flavorful sauce.
- Check out your crock pot times less for chicken, more for beef, pork is kind of in the middle.
- This makes a great shredded BBQ for sandwiches, on salads, in wraps and on tacos.

Easy Pot Pie

Ingredients
1 package pre-made pie crust (two pieces)
2-3 cups cooked and cubed chicken
1 bag frozen mixed veggies
1 can cream of chicken soup
Salt and pepper

Directions
- Thaw pie crust according to package directions.
- Put one pie crust round in the bottom of your pie pan.
- In a bowl combine veggies, chicken, soup and salt and pepper (to taste)
- Pour veggie/chicken mix into pie crust.
- Top with second pie crust and pinch edges to seal.
- Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Submitted by Amy

Christopher's Corn Dog Muffins

Ingredients
2 Boxes Jiffy Muffin Mix
2 eggs
2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup melted margarine
6 hot dogs - cut in thirds

Directions
- Make the muffin mix according to the package directions
- Add 1/4 cup melted margarine to the mix
- Spray muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray
- Spoon muffin mix into the bottom of each muffin cup
- Press one hot dog piece into the muffin mix
- Spoon remaining muffin mix over hot dog making sure each hot dog piece is covered in mix
- Cook at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown
- Remove from oven and immediately brush tops of muffins with remaining melted margerine
- Serve to happy children

Yield: 18 muffins

Submitted by Amy

Chicken, Ham & Rice Casserole

Ingredients
2 c. cooked white or brown* rice
1 c. cubed ham, cooked
2 c. cubed chicken, cooked
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
Worcestershire sauce
1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1 c. bread crumbs

Directions
- Combine all ingredients except bread crumbs and cheese.
- Top with bread crumbs then cheese and bake at 350° for 30 min. (closer to 45 min. for brown rice).

Submitted by Terry

Crockpot Enchiladas

Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef, cooked
1 medium onion, sauteed
1/2 tsp. Mrs. Dash's Southwest Chipotle seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
4 whole wheat flour tortillas
1 can corn, drained
1 10-oz. can enchilada sauce
1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
sour cream

Directions
- In a bowl, combine ground beef, onion, Mrs. Dash's, salt, and pepper.
- In another bowl, mix the Rotel and enchilada sauce.
- Place 2 tortillas in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place half of the following in layers over the tortillas: meat, corn, sauce mixture, and cheese.
- Repeat layers.
- Cook on low 5-6 hours.
- Serve with a dollop of sour cream on top.

Hints
- Ground turkey works well as a low-fat substitute in this dish.

Submitted by Terry

Cheddar Chicken Spaghetti

Ingredients
1 package (8 oz) spaghetti, broken in half
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 cup milk
1 T diced pimentos (optional)
1 can green chiles (optional)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
-  While pasta is cooking combine the chicken, 1 cup cheese, soup, milk, pimientos, green chiles, salt and pepper.
- Drain spaghetti, add to the chicken mixture and toss to coat.
- Transfer to a greased 13 x 9 x 2 baking dish.
- Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- Bake, uncovered at 350°F for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.

Hints
- You can use an entire box of past.
- Try whole wheat pasta for a healthier, more flavorful dish.

Submitted by Terry

The Greatest Pasta Sauce Of All Time

Ingredients
3 Green peppers
1 Onion
4 Garlic cloves
3 Cans Diced Tomatoes
Italian seasonings
2 tbs Olive Oil

Directions
-  Chop green peppers and onions and saute in olive oil over medium high heat until onions are translucent
-  Crush garlic in garlic press and add to pepper-onion mixture
-  Add tomatoes and Italian seasonings to taste
-  Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes
-  Puree in blender/food processor/magic bullet until smooth

Hints
-  Don't add the garlic too early or cook for too long.  Garlic becomes bitter if overcooked. 
-  For a stronger flavor wait until five minutes before pureeing to add the garlic
-  This also tastes great with browned ground beef or ground turkey added.
-  You could also add mushrooms or olives (or any other veggie) to the saute.

Submitted by Amy

Spinach Pesto Pasta and Cheese

This was a thrown together, last minute attempt at a one-dish meal that came out much better than I expected. I will definitely be making this one again.

Ingredients
10 oz frozen spinach
2 1/2 cups assorted shredded cheese
1/2 cup milk
1 lb pasta
1/4 cup prepared pesto

Directions
- Boil pasta according to package directions.
- While the pasta is cooking defrost your spinach and blend it (blender, food processor or magic bullet) with the milk until it is as creamy as your blender is going to get it.
- In a small sauce pan combine the spinach-milk mixture, the pesto and the cheese. Cook over medium heat, stirring regularly, until the cheese is melted.
- Grease the bottom of whatever casserole dish you typically use.
- Drain the pasta and put it in the casserole dish.
- Pour the spinach cheese sauce over the pasta and lightly toss.
- Top with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese.
- Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.

Submitted by Amy

Turkey Veggie Burgers

Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey
2 cups cooked mixed veggies
2 eggs
1/2 cup bread crumbs or quick oats
1 cup shredded cheese

Directions
- Puree veggies and eggs in blender or magic bullet.
- Combine turkey, pureed veggies, bread crumbs and cheese in a large bowl and mix until all ingredients are incorporated.
- Form into patties and cook on the stove top or on the grill.

Hints:
- A great, tasty way to get some extra veggies into the kids. Or into you.

Corinne's Amazing Pasta Dinner

My SIL made this amazing pasta dinner one night when she didn't feel like cooking. I LOVED it and have been making versions of it ever since. This is the best way I've found to duplicate the dish. Check the comments in a day or two to see if Corinne adds any instructions.

Ingredients
1 lb short pasta (such as gemelli or penne)
2 large ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 package baby spinach, about 6oz
12 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into bite-size pieces
2 cloves garlic, chopped 
1/4 cup prepared pesto (like this one by Classico)
2 tbs olive oil

Kosher salt and pepper

Directions

-  Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
-  While the pasta is cooking put the spinach in the bottom of a large bowl.
-  When the pasta is finished, drain and return to pan.
-  Add the olive oil, pesto and garlic and quickly stir until the pasta is coated.
-  While the pasta is still very hot, pour it over the spinach
-  Let stand for about two minutes so the pasta has time to wilt the spinach.
- Stir in the mozzarella and tomato.

Hints:
-  It's a good idea to let your tomato, mozzarella and spinach come to room temp before making this dish or the end result will be lukewarm.

Rotel Chicken

Ingredients
6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 can of Rotel
1 green pepper - diced
1 cup monterey jack cheese - shredded
Salt and pepper
3 cups cooked rice


Directions
-  Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper
-  Arrange seasoned chicken breasts in bottom of casserole dish
-  Cover with Rotel and chopped green peppers

-  Bake at 350 until chicken is cooked through
-  Cover with cheese
-  Return to oven until cheese has melted

-  Serve with rice


Serves 6


Submitted by Amy

Chicken Noodle Casserole

Ingredients:
1 can (10 3/4 oz) cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 cups medium egg noodles, cooked & drained
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions
-  Stir soup, milk, black pepper, parmesan cheese, vegetables, chicken and noodles in 1 1/2-qt. casserole.
-  Bake at 400 degrees for 25 mins. or until hot.
-  Stir.
-  Top with cheddar cheese and serve.

Submitted by Terry

Sauteed Chicken With Pesto Mushroom Cream Sauce

Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 ½ pounds)
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
10 ounces white mushrooms, sliced thin
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
¼ basil pesto
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (fresh is really better in this recipe!)

Directions
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook chicken until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plate and tent with foil.

- Add remaining oil to skillet and cook mushrooms until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add cream, broth, and chicken to skillet and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until chicken is cooled through, about 15 minutes.

- Transfer chicken to serving platter and tent with foil. Return to skillet to high heat and simmer until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Off heat, stir in pesto and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over chicken. Serve.

Hints
- Be sure to use fresh or refrigerated pesto rather than the jarred variety in this recipe.

Submitted by Kelly