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Egg Frittata Muffins

Last night PB decided to drive here so he could miss today's Labor Day traffic. Even though he wasn't going to arrive until 1 AM, I was so excited I couldn't sleep, so what did I do? Cook, of course! (Well, after vacuuming and polishing my floors and rearranging furniture).

My inspiration was the "savory turkey bacon egg white mini quiches" I saw on seebriderun.com a few weeks ago. Caitlin has a great concept here.. throw a hodge podge of your favorite egg ingredients into muffin tins and end up with a delicious, healthy, and BEAUTIFUL meal. ohh and it was SO easy! I picture myself making these for my next brunch for sure!

Here's my version:

Egg Frittata Muffins
Serves 2
Calories/serving: 269

Ingredients:
4 Eggs
2 Egg Whites
1 ugly garden tomato, diced
4 big basil leaves, chopped
2 oz goat cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Beat your eggs + egg whites in a medium size bowl (add a little water or milk to make them fluffier)
3. Add the tomatoes and basil leaves and mix together.
4. Fill each muffin tin 2/3 of the way up.
5. Sprinkle goat cheese over the top of each muffin.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, and then broil for 2-5 minutes until the cheese is nice and golden brown.

My version made 8 muffins. I wanted a big protein punch since this is our lunch for today and I know we aren't having any protein at dinner (it's homemade pizza Friday!). If I were to do it for a normal lunch I would probably have used a little milk instead of the extra 2 egg whites.

I just heated this up for 1 minute in the microwave and they were to die for. Also, like Caitlin mentioned in her post here, the possible combinations are endless!

Next time I would use a little shredded mozzarella on top, but I didn't have any on hand.

Cheers!

My banana bread is sad.

This is what happens when you get too excited over banana bread and don't let it cool in the pan first:


And this is the solution to lots of smooshy banana bread chunks... just add fresh peaches + vanilla ice cream:


And if you're wondering why this picture is blurry, it's because I only use my iphone now for blogarific pics, sorryyy.

Feeling penguiny

I miss PB SO. MUCH. right now. I can't even stand it. Last time we saw each other was our engagement party TWO stinkin' weeks ago! And that weekend was filled with family, friends, and the celebration of US so obviously I am feeling so very loving after all that. I can't wait for tonight or tomorrow when he gets here!!!!!!!!!!!

Things I am loving about PB today:

1. that the Buena Vista Social Club album reminds me of him even though we've never listened to it together. He always tells me about this one job during his DJ Trig days where he played the whole album from start to finish during a dinner.

2. that he doesn't get mad when I use my funny voices the entire time we are on the phone!

3. that he is working super hard today so that maybe, just maybe, he can come here tonight and work from my office tomorrow. That would be so super fantastic.

4. That he makes kick @ss pizza dough, and is experimenting with adding whole wheat flour to make it more Rhodeygirl friendly.

5. that he often sends me pics of his meals, just to show me a. how good they are and b. how good he is taking care of himself (no fried foods on his plate!).

6. that he loves me so much!!!!

I am so obsessed

I AM SO OBSESSED WITH THE FOLLOWING:

mr. and mrs. luggage tags (hello HONEYMOON)

mr. and mrs. beach towels. (so CUTE- it is a towel for two, no joke)

just got married bathing suit (where can i find a classy one?!?!)

I saw Mindy Weiss' new store products in the $10 wedding magazine I bought for no reason last night... well the pictures were just so pretty!

https://www.mindyweiss.com/store/p51/love_is_in_the_air_mr_and_mrs_luggage_tag_set/
https://www.mindyweiss.com/store/p70/mr__mrs_beach_blanket_with_love_is_in_the_air_tote_bag/

WHY AM I SO OBSESSED WITH ALL OF THIS RANDOM WEDDING STUFF?!!?!

I am total getting sucked down the dark hole of the wedding industry.. SAVVVVEEE MEEEE!

The Week of Parties

Party 1: V's baby shower. made cupcakes
Party 2: Girls' night (with my high school friends)
Party 3: Tonight, 2 of my best friends coming over for dinner.

Parties 1 & 2: Completed.

Having my high school friends over for dinner was loads of fun, and not too much work either.

Here was the menu:

Appetizer:
Sea salt pita chips + store bought hummus

Dinner:
Grilled chicken
Grilled eggplant
Steamed zucchini
Baked fries
Pasta with fresh mozzarella and garden tomatoes

Dessert:
Little dollops of ice cream with peaches soaked in wine and a bit of sugar

It was really simple to put together because I did almost everything the day before. Pick up the ingredients from the market, marinate the chicken and veggies, clean the house, cut up the peaches to marinate, and set the table. Then when I got home from work the day of all I had to do was cut up the potatoes, fire up my amaaazing panino maker (read: indoor grill! thanks PB!!!), bake the fries and zucchini, cut up the mozzarella and tomatoes, and cook the pasta.

The tricks to a successful party are simple:
1. Plan ahead. Start thinking about your menu a couple of days ahead.
2. Prepare as much as possible the day before. That means going to the market, making sure your house is in tip top shape, setting up the table, and prepping the foods that can be prepped.
3. Clean up as you go along. This makes the cleanup at the end of a party so easy and fast. And with an open kitchen like mine, I NEED that area to stay clean!
4. Marinate your veggies and meats from the day before. I swear that food just tastes SO MUCH BETTER when it has had the proper amount of time to marinate.

My simple dinner table:


The eggplant on my panino maker. I cooked the pasta and cut up the mozzarella and tomatoes while this grilled.


The main meal all set up on my platter:


Close up of the zucchini:


Close up of the pasta:


The peaches (the vanilla ice cream is hiding at the bottom):


PB- jealous?

Market Shopping Week #3

I imposed a weekly budget for myself at the supermarket. I really could spend more, but I really want to try and not be wasteful. So the goal is to reduce my spending as much as possible while keeping my cabinets more empty (instead of say, 3 open boxes of kashi crackers) and using up everything I buy.

I only could Monday breakfast through Friday lunch as my weekly budget, since I can never anticipate what my weekend will be like... dinner out, going to Philly to see my boy, wedding meetings in prov which = weekend lunches out, you get the idea.

Week #1 I spent $20, and used a lot of the stuff in my cabinets
Week #2 I spent $30, which included nothing too expensive, I guess I just bought more.
Week #3 I spent, er, $70!!!!! I couldn't believe it. And, I went back last night for a couple of forgotten items and a new mop which I never should have bought from the market, and spent another $30. Ew.

Here's why I think I spent more:
1. I made those cupcakes on Sunday which required a few $$ items that I don't normally stock in my kitchen
2. I had 5 girls over for dinner last night, and I really wanted to cook a nice, fresh, healthy meal.
3. I bought a bunch of Smartwaters, which is my beverage of choice at work, along with hot tea and seltzer water. I tried using a reusable water bottle but the water just tastes funny to me, even in one of those Sigg ones. At home I drink out of my Brita.
4. The blackberries were $4.99 a pint, but they just looked so amazing so I bought 2.
5. I bought a stupid mop from the market since Target and the other good stores are like 20 minutes away and I was really excited to polish my floors.
6. I went to the market hungry. 'nuff said.
7. My PhillyBoy is coming this weekend and I must have yummy goodies for him! Wraps and lettuce and cheese and veggies.. all of his favs

Is anyone else as inconsistent in how much they spend/week?