Zucchini Tomato Bacon and Gorgonzola Tarts

Ingredients:

1 box ( 14 oz) refrigerated pie crusts

4 eggs

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

3/4 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 roma tomato, cut into six slices

1 large zucchini, thinly sliced

1/2 cup crumbled gorgonzola


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  On a lightly floured surface unroll both pie crusts. Cut six 5" circles and press into mini pie pan.

In a large bowl whisk eggs, cream, milk, salt, pepper, parmesan , parsley and chives until well combined.

Place a tomato slice and surround it with the zucchini slices on top of the pie crust.

Sprinkle the crumbled bacon and gorgonzola over the zucchini and tomato.

Pour the egg mixture on to each tart. Filling crusts nearly to the top.

  

Bake for 23 to 27 minutes until the eggs are completely set and the crust is golden brown.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

These quiches make a wonderful and filling and healthy lunch.

How to Wrap A Gift Card

The gift card is inside of the envelope. I save pieces of cardboard and wrap them in colors or themes that the recipient would like. Then I just tape on the envelope with the gift card enclosed. It makes an easy and unique presentation.

In this case the gift card is for my son's baseball friend.

When I wrap these cardboard gifts for kids - I usually wrap a candy bar and tape that on the cardboard. But it was going to be too hot to wrap a candy bar - so I just wrapped a small piece of cardboard and taped that on for an added dimension.

I hope this inspires you -  to be creative the next time you give a gift card!

No Bake S'more Bars

I was checking my twitter and Tidy Mom tweeted about some back-to-school snacks. So I clicked on her link which was a round up of ideas from a bunch of different blogs and was immediately drawn to the recipe of S'more Bars. My family loves S'mores - but I was really attracted to the words "no bake."

So the No Bake S'more Bar recipe was from The Domestic Rebel. And I must tell you that her recipes are fantastic. I wanted to make at least ten of her recipes!

Ingredients:

30 Golden Oreo's, finely crushed

1 bag of white chocolate chips

1 can, 7 ounce sweetened condensed milk

1 package of Dove milk chocolates, roughly chopped

1 and 1/2 cup Kraft Mallow Bites

1 cup miniature chocolate chips

Directions:

Line an 8 x8 pan with foil and be sure to extend the foil over the sides of the pan. Lightly mist the foil with some cooking spray and set aside.

In a very large bowl (because we are going to add everything in this bowl) microwave the white chocolate chips for 1 minute and stir until melted. Pour in the condensed milk and stir again. Now comes the fun part! Add the cookie crumbs, stir. Add the chopped chocolates, stir! And add 1 cup of the mallow bites and stir.

Once everything is combined spread the mixture into the prepared pan. Press the mixture down and evenly into the corners.. Sprinkle the top with the remaining Mallow Bites and mini chocolate chips. Gently press the toppings into the bars.

Put the pan into the fridge and clean up!

Using the foil handles remove the bar mixture from the pan. Place on a cutting board and start cutting into bite sized squares. 

These were so easy and unbelievably good! I bought everything I needed at my local grocery store. If you have a problem finding the Kraft Mallow Bites I know that they have them at Target. Here is a picture of the container.

It is the same size container that Kraft uses for the Parmesan cheese.

My son licked the bowl! He also unwrapped all of the Dove chocolates and crushed the Oreo's. Of course he ate a few chocolates and Oreo's - but then he went to basketball practice and probably burned all those calories and more! Oh to be a kid again!

Thank you Domestic Rebel for a great recipe! My family loved it!

Gift Wrapping Paper Idea for a Cookbook

If you have been reading my blog for a while you know that I bought the above spoon and fork at the after holiday super sales! That's right they were intended as use for Christmas tree ornaments. But when I saw them I knew that they would be really cute on cookbook gifts.

After I tied the spoon and fork on the gift - I felt my gift looked a little "bland." So I glued on a bunch of different sized rhinestones! This really made the gift "pop." And it just took a few extra minutes!

I also love to decorate the ribbon with rhinestones! Next time you wrap a gift remember it is fun to add a little "sparkle!"

Homemade Pink Lemonade

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups water

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

6 cups cold water

2 cups ice cubes

1 lemon cut into slices

1/2 cup grenadine

Directions:

First make a simple syrup. In a small saucepan bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil. Add the sugar and  stir so that the sugar dissolves. Allow the simple syrup to cool at room temperature. Then cover and refrigerate for at least two hours.

In a pitcher combine the simple syrup, freshly squeezed lemon juice, cold water, ice, lemon slices and grenadine. Stir so that everything is combined. 

Quick tip: roll the lemon on your counter for 10 to 15 seconds. This helps to release the lemon juice.

This lemonade is so pretty and refreshing! 

Milano Flip Flop Cookies

A friend of mine - who lives in a different state wanted to make the Nutter Butter flip flop cookies for her daughter's birthday/pool party. Alas, she could not find Nutter Butter cookies at any of her nearby stores. I really am not familiar in the stores in her area. So I suggested that she use some Milano cookies. These are an adorable pool party treat or party favor! Everyone loves Milano's!

Milano cookies are delicious. I love the look of the chocolate peeking out! My son and husband love Milano cookies. These will not last long in our house!

These would be a cute treat to serve at a BBQ also! This is an such an easy treat to make!

Are You Reading 50 Shades of Grey?

Here are some fun party favor ideas for your book club or friends who love these books.

I read the first book for a book club and hated the way it ended. Okay - I said it! I will keep the majority of my other opinions on this book to myself. Although I really didn't care for the writing so I am thinking of finding out how the third book ends via friends and the internet. Therefore, I don't have to subject myself to  reading the next two books.

Wrap some candy bars (these are Snickers) in silver or gray wrapping paper and decorate with a simple rhinestone.

Another fun idea is to find some grey or silver nail polish and place it in a cellophane bag and tie with a silver ribbon. So simple and such a fun themed party favor for the book club!

Have fun at your next book club meeting!

I Can't Stop Making Fruit Tarts!

For the recipe see the Fruit Tart post on June 1, 2012. Every time I make a Fruit Tart it turns out a little different.

I always make a fun design with my fruit! This time I lined the edges with a blueberry and raspberry pattern.

My husband loves pineapple - so I added a big pineapple ring! I will probably be making fruit tarts all summer!

Use your favorite fruit! Perfect for a BBQ or brunch. I eat the leftovers for breakfast!