Tag Archives: quiche

Home-made Bagels… and a Quiche for Friends

21 Mar

Wishin’ you a pot o’ gold, and all the joy your heart can hold.

On Sunday March 17th it was my turn to provide snacks for the church coffee hour.   I love to bake and so this isn’t really a chore for me at all.  As it was a cold day, I knew that I would serve hot apple cider.   As for the baked goodies, I first chose to make gluten-free cheesecake brownies because I know several folks in our congregation who are gluten intolerant.  To do this, I merely replaced the all-purpose flour in my brownie recipe with some gluten-free all-purpose flour.  Then I mixed 8 oz of cream cheese with 1/4 cup of sugar and one egg until it was smooth and swirled it into the brownie mix in the pan.

Then, since it was St. Patrick’s Day, I made green Rice Krispie Treats like the ones pictured below because I wanted (felt the need to make) something celebratory.  And let’s add a bit of Irish humor here: “Why do you Irish always answer a question with a question?” asked President Franklin D. Roosevelt. “Do we now?” came New York Mayor Al Smith’s reply.

green rice krispie treats

Photo from http://www.sugarrookie.com

Lastly, I decided to make some home-made bagels for the parishioners who do not (or cannot) eat sweets.

bagels

Home-made bagels?  Yes!   About a year or two ago I found a recipe by a man named John D. Lee.  For five years, John owned a bagel restaurant and he clearly knows a thing or two about bagels.  In this recipe, John demonstrates how to make DELICIOUS bagels in a little over an hour.   You have got to try this recipe and let me know how you like it.  If you love a good bagel, I think you’ll be amazed that they can be made this simply.

Now for the pie of the week.  I’d been itching to make a pie and so I scanned our fridge and noticed that there were mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and shredded cheddar – perfect ingredients for a quiche.  But who would receive this savory pie?  As I rolled out the dough, and sautéed the mushrooms I let my mind wander.  The name of the person would come in time.

Once assembled, I placed the quiche in the oven to bake.   In a short while I thought of neighbors who I knew would appreciate help with a meal.  Not because they can’t cook or because they need money, but because their lives are so complicated right now.  Here’s hoping my quiche will offer them a momentary respite and give them assurance that they are surrounded by caring friends.

The purpose of life is not to be happy – but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all.  ~Leo Rosten

 

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Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu, Stastny Novy Rok, Godt NytÅr (Happy New Year! in Japanese, Czech, and Danish)

2 Jan

happy new year

How did it get to be January 2, 2013 so quickly?  It was a busy December for me with lots of catering (thank you everyone!) and then we were away for Christmas with both of our children… and then, BAM, Happy New Year!  I don’t know about you, but even though it arrived fast, I am excited about the possibilities!

I’m not really into New Year’s resolutions but in the past few days several friends have shared interesting links and I thought I would share with you some of my favorites.

Since I am still baking almost every day,  yesterday I decided to bake a pie for someone to celebrate the New Year.  As I thought of who might be a good recipient, I soon realized that many of my friends are on diets right now… and I didn’t want to be the reason someone fell off their diet.  I continued to think about a recipient, and found one right in my neighborhood.  One of our neighbors is an older man who lives alone… and that’s all I needed to know as I put together a quiche for him.  When the quiche was ready, I walked over to his house with a friend and surprised him with a piping hot quiche.  My neighbor beamed a smile at me and I was reminded of how good it feels to do something nice for someone… “just because.”

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Pepper, Onion and Cheddar Quiche

Here is wishing you all a very happy, healthy, joy-filled New Year!

Love doesn’t make the world go round.  Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.  Franklin P. Jones

 

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The Hand that Rocks the Cradle….

10 Oct

There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one.  Jill Churchill

Quiche Prep

Yesterday my friend stopped by and told me that her Mother had passed away a few days ago.  She told me that she was there at her bedside when her mother took her last breath and that she’d been able to spend some time with her sister who had been the main caregiver.  She shared how glad she was to have been there and how hard it was for her now that she was back home.

How well I know that feeling!  Having lost several family members, I know how hard it is to get back into your normal routine when you can’t help but feel that your world has forever changed.  And it has changed, whether or not it is apparent to others.  Life will be different from now on and that is not an easy thing to accept or to live with.

My own Mother has been gone for nearly 24 years.  I tried to make sense of that today.  Was her work on earth done?  Had she taught me everything she needed to?  I don’t think so.  But she did the best she could in the time that she had… and for that I am forever grateful.

Tonight I made a quiche for my friend to help her through this very difficult time of loss.   It’s just a small gift of food – but hopefully one that will help her realize that she has friends who care for her and understand what she is going through.

Life began with waking up and loving my mother’s face.  George Eliot

Spinach, Mushroom, and Sun-dried Tomato Quiche

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Welcoming visitors from far and near

17 Sep

It will come as no surprise for me to say “Life has been busy!”  For four days last week we were lucky to be visited by a couple from Scotland, Andy and Ryan Bond, who were traveling with fellow Scots on a Rotary exchange.  They traveled all the way to Oregon and spent two weeks visiting various Rotary clubs around the state.  As part of their visit to Oregon, these folks had a chance to tour the coast at Newport and the Rotary club there made sure that they had a fabulous time.

Ashland was the last stop on the journey for many of the Scots, though some of our visitors did plan to extend their trip into Vancouver, B.C.  We met our  guests on Tuesday and had a lovely dinner together.  I think that Rotary has a great idea here:  visitors come to a new city and are greeted by Rotarians… and are hosted by Rotarians, and are shown around the area by Rotarians.  It is a great way to see a new area… and make new friends along the way.

One of the goals of this “program” is to break down barriers, find common interests, and forge new friendshps.  That was easily done with our guests.  Andy and I found that we both loved to cook and bake… and we also shared an interest in contests!  She is a wonderful baker and one of her specialties is making traditional cakes covered in marzipan.  From the way she describes them, I just know that they are delectable!

Saturday was our last day with Andy and Ryan and I asked Andy to visit the Rotary Garden with me.  On the way I saw a sign for a yard sale and thought Andy might like to see what we call a yard sale here in Southern Oregon.  After a few minutes of browsing the items for sale, I could tell that Andy was sorry that the weight limit on checked luggage is 50 pounds!

We are so lucky to be a part of this amazing organization.  Through our participation in Rotary, we have made friends around the world.  Our world view is greater because we are not isolated from the rest; we can see that we are all connected.  And that is a wonderful thing.

What does this have to do with a pie?  Well, give me another moment and I will explain.

Quiche prep

Today I made a quiche for a couple who run a business in Ashland.  They are both hardworking, caring people.  They are amazing to me because they help out a man who has few options.  This man is like a visitor in a way.  He lives simply, doesn’t ask for much, but he needs help.  And these folks give it to him when they can… not because they have to… but because it is the right thing to do.

Spinach and Sun-dried Tomatoes

I’ve gone to church all of my life… and I think I know how we “should” live.  And I believe that these folks are doing it.  Just because.  I am truly touched by their simple act of grace and wish that we all could give of ourselves as easily and without judgement.   It seems like a nice dream anyway.

Finished Quiche

“If you can’t fee a hundred people, then feed just one.”  Mother Teresa

 

 

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Touch of Grey

14 Jun

These last few weeks have been eventful… and emotional.   Why does that not sound surprising?

This period of time began two Sunday’s ago when we were witness to the passing of one of our cats.  Grey, was a very timid cat who somehow appeared on our back porch one day. My guess is that she heard through the grapevine that the lady at this house put out “wet” food each morning and evening and so she came round to check it out for herself.   But something must have happened early on in that cat’s life,  for while she desperately wanted to eat, she did not want to be petted.  In fact, I think I fed Grey on my porch for two years before she ventured close enough for me to touch her.  For much of her life, Grey kept mostly to herself.

The one exception was that she spent a lot of time on my neighbor, Bernie’s, back porch sunning herself and enjoying the treats that he offered her.  She went there so often that there is a path in the grass from my house to his.  Sometimes Grey would be at Bernie’s in the morning and when I brought out her breakfast she would just stare at me from across the distance as if to say, “Thanks but I’m too comfortable to move right now.  I’ll see what you’ve got there in a little while.”

Last Sunday when I called to her, she just lay sleeping on Bernie’s old couch. I thought nothing of it, set her food down outside, and went for my usual walk with my daughter, Alex.  There was a message from Bernie on the phone when we returned.  Never one to mince words, Bernie’s message said “I think we’ve got a dead cat here.”

Fortunately, Bernie’s statement was premature;  Grey had not yet died.   I didn’t know what was wrong, but she was unable to move a muscle, and she couldn’t even open her eyes.   When I reached a friend who is a vet, he said that we should make her as comfortable as possible.  And so we did.  We gently stroked her back, moistened her mouth, and kept her covered against the chill of the day.   We probably spent more time petting her that day than we were able to do in the last ten years.   And at day’s end, she took her last breath, arched her body a bit, and died.

It was a sad way to begin the week, but we were glad to have been there for Grey… and also to have had the chance to be close to her.  As the week progressed I found I was on “Team Alex.”  What that means is that my life’s purpose for the remainder of the week was to help my daughter finish her Capstone for Southern Oregon University.

Okay, I really didn’t do anything to help her with her Capstone… but I did feed her, walk her dog, mop her brow, etc.   On the day her final paper was to be turned in, I remained at the ready – and for me, that meant I kept myself busy in the kitchen.  I cleaned, I organized, I baked.  At the time her paper was to be at the printer’s, I called to ask for a grace period.  And the young man gave me us an extra 30 minutes.  When I shared that news with Alex, she said, “Mom, we need to make them some brownies.”  Unbeknownst to Alex, I already had made a quiche for one of her teachers… Curt.  He has been a big help to her this last term and his name had been on the pie list for weeks.

As I look back, I can say that the week ended happier than it began.  That Friday evening, Alex handed in her completed Capstone, Curt received his well-deserved quiche, and the folks at Printfast received a plate of brownies still warm from the oven.

 

All in all, it was just a week in our life.  And a wonderful life at that.

Tonight I am sending warm wishes to everyone in the Universe,

From,

A very proud Mom

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Day 308: Doreen

8 Feb

Asparagus, Red Pepper, and Cheddar Quiche

Coming home from a vacation is often a bit challenging.  There is the dirty laundry to wash, there’s sand in your shoes, and you might have a bit of jet lag to deal with.   However, what I felt today after returning from Barra de Navidad was challenging in a different way.  I wandered through my house seeing abundance everywhere , yet where I had been, abundance was in short supply.  As I took Sofus, my daughter’s dog, for a walk, I could not help but feel a bit overwhelmed at the injustice of it all.

All these hours later, I have yet to reconcile the disparity between the two.  However, I think at the very least it is important to recognize the abundance and beauty in our midst, for too often we take it for granted.  Perhaps we all need to spend some time living in poverty before we can really appreciate our many blessings.

My friend Leslie helped me out today by suggesting that I take time to assimilate back into my “normal” life and I really appreciated that advice.  It was important to honor the break that we had from our routine and to acknowledge how lucky we were to be able to afford that luxury.  Of course that would involve giving thanks… and the way I do that is with a pie.

Fortunately I had some key ingredients on hand to make a savory pie – fresh asparagus, cream, eggs, and roasted peppers.  As I prepared the quiche, I let my mind wander until it settled on a fitting recipient – and today that person was Doreen.  She is the Alumni Director at Southern Oregon University and has served in that position for about five years.

When Doreen came on board, she brought with her a wealth of experience and a seemingly endless supply of energy.  She works tirelessly to build lasting relationships for the university and to orchestrate fabulous events throughout the year.  At one time I thought I wanted to have her position, but I am very grateful that Doreen was the person selected.   Like a trained dancer, she makes her work seem easy, but I know better. Doreen truly deserves to be recognized for her outstanding efforts.

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.  ~Thornton Wilder

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Day 287: A Quiche for Debra

18 Jan

As has happened many times before, today’s pie recipient was suggested to me by a previous pie recipient.  I think it’s kind of nice that the pie recipients want to share the good feeling that they had with someone else and I’m delighted to help make this happen.  In a way it is like a game of dominoes where each person that has been touched in turn touches another until finally everyone has been included in the game.

This sounds so lovely and yet I am very aware that on my own I cannot reach everyone.  As it is, I have less than eighty days to go before my year of pies is completed.  However,  I have heard from some people that they have been moved by my story to do something for someone else that they might not otherwise have done.  Perhaps they baked a loaf of bread for a neighbor, or made a pot of soup for a friend, or brought farm-fresh corn to someone new in the neighborhood.   Making a difference in someone’s life is really as simple as that.

If you were to consider being a part of this “game” you would not need to bake a pie by any means.  You need only find a way to share something with just one person and if they seem interested in the game, you can ask them to “pie” it forward.  If more of us do that,  then it is more likely that everyone will be reached.   In any case, I believe with all my heart that it’s worth a try.

It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.  Walt Disney

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Day 284: Rachel and Mike

15 Jan

A few months ago I wrote about a young man from our small town who was the victim of a violent homicide.   His name was David and he was only twenty-three years old. As a parent of two young adults I felt deeply moved by this tragedy and my heart ached for David’s parents.   As a small gesture I sent a quiche to his Mother and offered my condolences on the loss of her son.

At this point in time, the killer has not yet been found.  And somehow the residents of Ashland try to go about doing what they have always done while living with the knowledge that they aren’t as safe as they had once thought.  And, of course, for David’s parents, life will never be the same.

Recently I was told about a couple who are friends of David’s Mother.  For the past few months they have been helping her get through the most difficult time of her life.   I am very grateful that she was able to count on them for the help and support that she needed and hope they realize what a comfort they have been to her.   Today I brought them a Dutch Apple Pie to thank them for the gift of their friendship.    My hope is that we will all have friends like this when we most need them.

“The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing… not healing, not curing… that is a friend who cares.”  Henri Nouwen

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Day 270: Welcome 2012

1 Jan

This morning as I scanned Facebook posts wishing everyone a Happy New Year, I read a note written by my friend Aimee.  She mentioned that she had recently been told about a website called 750 Words.  You can read more about it here, but in a nutshell, we are encouraged to begin each day by writing 750 words (roughly three pages).  It is based on an idea promoted in the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.  As I understand it, it’s a way to release all the “clutter” in your mind so that you can allow the important thoughts, ideas, etc. to come through.

I’d read about this “practice” a few years ago, and from time to time I have begun my day in this way.  The first time I tried it, it was hard to imagine what I would find to write about but in a few minutes the words began to pour onto the page and in ten or 15 minutes I was done.  Each successive attempt at writing my three pages has been equally successful.

So, why don’t I do this more often?  I suppose sometimes I get lazy or I forget about it or maybe I feel too busy with other things.  But I think that will change with the “750 words” website.  One big difference is that you are typing and not writing long hand (which makes reading my work infinitely easier!) and there are little rewards built-in to make it fun.  Today it took me about 15 minutes to get to 750 words and I felt better at the end of the exercise.  While not really a New Year’s resolution, I hope to make this a daily habit and encourage you to see if it is something that would interest you.

As for my pie of the day,  a neighbor of mine mentioned that her friend Peggy might like to receive a pie.  She thought a quiche might be appreciated and that was pretty much all that I needed to get started.  I cooked bacon, spinach and onions and grated some sharp white cheddar for this pie.  In no time at all it was in the oven and an hour or so later we were on our way to deliver the quiche.

I was met at the door by a man who welcomed me in and went to announce me to Peggy.  When she first saw me, she definitely seemed a bit curious.  Immediately I mentioned my neighbor’s name so that she would feel more at ease and then I briefly explained my pie project and that today’s pie was for her.  When she had heard my tale,  Peggy’s beautiful smile was the best reaction I could ask for… and an absolutely wonderful beginning for the new year.

Because that’s what kindness is.  It’s not doing something for someone else because they can’t, but because you can.  ~Andrew Iskander

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Day 259: Karyn’s Quiche

21 Dec

Yesterday was a pretty hectic day, culminating in my catering a 50th Anniversary Party for a friend. After such a busy day, I knew that I needed to get busy making a pie early in the day because I wasn’t sure how long my energy would hold out.

With temperatures in the high twenties (28 when I woke up!) I thought making a quiche sounded like a good (and warm!) idea and so I gathered together these ingredients: italian sausage, mushrooms, peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese. In no time at all I had the quiche in the oven and then prepared to run my errands.

One of those errands involved bringing a gift of cat food to Rhonda at the Ashland Elk’s Lodge. Rhonda does pet therapy with veterans at the domiciliary in White City and she promised that she would bring my gift to a man out there who has a cat named Pearl. I thought that Rhonda would be a perfect pie recipient but I had a nagging suspicion that she was a vegetarian.

When I got to the Lodge I saw Karyn in the office and she told me that Rhonda was already there. I thanked her and went off to find Rhonda. When I did locate her I gave her the cat food and showed her the quiche and my suspicions were confirmed: Rhonda is a vegetarian! Even though she could not eat the pie, Rhonda smiled and told me that she would find someone special to give it to. And I knew that she would find just the right person… because she is really good at that!

Later today I received an email from Karyn. She told me that she had been feeling like she was in the doldrums this morning and she was delighted when Rhonda gifted the quiche I had made to her. What a great choice Rhonda! I think that Karyn is the glue that holds our lodge together and she certainly deserves a pie! Thank you Karyn for the work you do for the Ashland Elks… and thank you Rhonda for your caring and perceptive spirit.

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