See the Beauty in the Ordinary

Cheesy Quinoa Quiche Cups for a Holiday Brunch

I know I'm late, but I think I'll jump right on the quinoa bandwagon. It's good stuff and this recipe is a great example. In addition to all the health benefits of quinoa it is easy to prepare by giving it a quick rinse and then boiling for about 15 minutes in 1 to 2 ratio of water or broth (twice as much liquid as quinoa). It adds a nice mild flavor and chewy texture that doesn't overpower the other ingredients. I'm not promising that I will consistently pronounce it correctly, however, so maybe they won't let me on the bandwagon. Once you read a word and have a pronunciation in your head, its hard to adjust. Hard, but doable if I can just get on that bandwagon!

Parents and Peppernuts (Thanks to Grace Children's Home)

My siblings and I can thank Grace Children's Home for our parents. For if they had not met they would not be our parents and it is highly unlikely that they would have met if not for Grace Children's Home.

We can also thank Grace Children's Home for an unusual recipe for peppernuts. This one includes black pepper as one of its ingredients and uses sour cream rather than butter. We found the recipe among those my mother had saved and decided to try it. I'll be sharing the recipe with you a bit later.

Make-Ahead Meatballs for Big Batch Cooking

Everyone has them. There are days that we simply don't have the time or inclination to prepare a home-cooked meal.

The advantages to home-cooked meals are many. Usually they are healthier, less expensive and tastier. On the downside they take time and require clean-up.

Over the years I've figured out a few ways to have a home-cooked meal without a big investment in time for each meal. (Sorry, I haven't figured out how to eliminate the clean-up.) One of the best ways is to make-ahead meals (or meal starters) by creating big batch recipes and freezing portions for later. In other words, the freezer is your friend.