It's a Wrap!

Tonight's meal plan called for wraps. See me, standing in front of my refrigerator. Watch, as I frown at the breadbox.

No fancy sun dried tomato or spinach wraps today, so I reached for the tortillas. Now, what to put in them?

I had turkey slices, and sliced ham.
I had bacon.
I had a red onion.
I had cheddar cheese, and blue cheese.
I had a bottle of ranch, and a bottle of Fresh and Easy blue cheese dressing (yum!).
I had tomatoes, fresh off the sad looking vine.
I had some kalamata olives.
I had lettuce to shred.
And, I had some salsa.
Finally, I located a box of crackers. Yes, that's right. Crackers.

Huh? That's a lot of ingredients that don't really match. What do we get when we put these things together?

1 (Almost) Cobb Wrap
1 Southwestern Turkey & Bacon Wrap.
And, instant lunchable dinner for two.

Almost Cobb Wrap:
(Regrettably, I did not have an avocado).
Slice turkey thin.
Crumble bacon.
Crumble blue cheese.
Dice red onion.
Shred cheddar cheese.
Shred lettuce.
Dice tomatoes.

Spread out wrap
drizzle top with blue cheese dressing.
Pile turkey, bacon, cheddar, red onion, tomatoes, lettuce, a bit more dressing, olives, and finally blue cheese crumbles.
DEVOUR.

For the Southwestern Turkey Bacon
Spread out wrap.
Combine 1 part salsa to 2 parts ranch.
Spread above "sauce" on wrap.
Pile turkey, bacon, cheddar, tomatoes, onion, lettuce (unless you're feeding Perry), and more cheddar.
Melt for 30 seconds in microwave.
Serve extra sauce for dipping.
Make another, he wanted seconds.

For the kids:
Fun up turkey & ham by using cookie cutter small shapes.
Do same for slices of cheddar cheese.
Serve with tomatoes and crackers.
Clean up crumbs!

I love my kids, but...

Here's a lunch I will NEVER EVER MAKE for them.

We don't own a Bento Box - nor do I serve my daughter's sushi.
Rachel, not for lack of trying.
Ellie, for fear she'll love it as much as I do.

http://bit.ly/lm8l9

Give me a little Quiche!

Quiche is a favorite of my family's - and by my family - I mean the Rather clan. Maybe it's the English thing. Or the Scotch-Irish thing. It certainly isn't the German thing, as Perry will tell you, he's not a Quiche fan.

My favorite quiche recipe comes from the days I catered for a small coffee shop in Tucson, Arizona called "Cuppacinos."

For Ashley's Veggie Quiche, you'll need:

* Pillsbury Ready Made Roll Out Crust
* 6 eggs
* 1/4 cup 1/2 & 1/2
* Julianned Red Pepper
* Yellow Banana Squash, Thinly sliced
* Italian Squash, Thinly sliced
* defrosted, squeezed out, chopped spinach
* 1 cup cheddar shredded cheese
* 1 cup swiss shredded cheese
* 1/3 cup minced onion
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 1 tbs EVOO
* 1 tbs butter
* pinch of salt & pepper

Using a spring form pan, if you've got one, line bottom with one crust, and tear 2nd crust in half, building up the sides.
Bake crust in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes, until golden (poke bottom with a fork, if it puffs up)
In a heated pan, drizzle EVOO and melt butter
Sautee onion & garlic together
Add red peppers & squash & zuchini, tossing with salt and pepper

Defrost (do not cook) chopped spinach, and squeeze out all extra water (salt leaves liberally)
Place in pan with sauteed veggies and stir together.

Place veggie mixture in browned crust.
Top with shredded cheese.

Whisk eggs and 1/2 & 1/2 together, and pour over top, poking down into the veggies for even distribution.

Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes, until top is firm to touch.

Serve up with a caesar salad! If you have a Fresh & Easy nearby, pick up their caesar dressing! it's divine...

Happy Eating!

I'm In! And it's all because of my oven grilled cheese sandwiches...

Oven grilled cheese is so easy, I don't know why I didn't think of it before my daughter's first birthday party.

Ingredients:
bread (two slices per sandwich in whatever flavor goes with your cheese)
cheese (whatever kind you like - I like to combine flavors of cheese)
margarine or butter (I prefer soft margarine because its easier to spread)

Instructions:
1. Put a cookie sheet (or two) in the oven on a centered rack and preheat the oven to 450.

2. Spread margarine on one side of each slice of bread (this will be the outside).

3. Slice cheese (or unwrap the slices or whatever).

4. When the oven is heated, place ALL slices of bread on the cookie sheet margarine side down (this speeds up the process and eliminates the need to sit in the kitchen with an open oven flipping sandwiches).

5. Cover each slice of bread with one layer of cheese.

6. Close the oven and wait for the cheese to melt and the bread to toast (4-5 minutes).

7. Take the cookie sheet out of the oven, combine the slices of bread to make a sandwich and voila! You've got at least three perfectly grilled cheese sandwiches all at once!

Stay tuned for my favorite cheese and bread combos...

Burritos!

Well - that went pretty well with only minimal food "manipulation."

Due to the fact Perry (bless his heart) put the Taco Casserole in the oven without a generous topping of cheese, and neglected to add the sour cream which was sure to make the meal a hit... it didn't have the...um, visual that we were going for.

With my kids, it's all about the presentation. If it doesn't look good enough to eat, then you might as well not even try.

SO... instead, he made a quick adjustment, and served "Instant Daddy Burritos!"

* Flour Tortillas
* Prepared Refried Beans
* 3 Cheese Mexican Cheese

Wrap like a diaper, roll, and serve.

These were summarily devoured by both girls. Who knew?