A Thankful Heart

Derek and I are hosting our first holiday in our house this Thanksgiving. So naturally on Thanksgiving Eve, I'm running around like crazy. I've got a billion and one things to do, but in the midst of it all, I have so much to be grateful for. This year has been amazing. It has given my family and me so much. Our cups truly runneth over. I'm slowing down-put the potatoes down, Lyndsey; drop the scissors and burlap immediately- to bring you a list of my Thankful Thirteen. Thirteen things that I'm grateful for that have happened or maybe are just "constants" in my life.

1. I'm thankful for the relationship D and I have with my parents. They truly are our best friends. We hang out, we laugh, we drink beers, and we always always have a soft place to land with them.

 

 

2. I'm thankful for days like today, where my windows are open, Pandora is blaring, and a cool breeze is floating through our house.

3. My job. I love my job and all the joy it brings me. I couldn't imagine spending my days any other way. Okay, well, maybe I could imagine me on a beach with a fruity drink, but I digress...

4. My SLJ. Samuel L. Jackson is the light of our lives. He's spunky, adorable, a love muffin to the extreme. And he makes us laugh on the daily.

 

5. Bravo TV. Yes, this is shallow. Yes, this is slightly embarrassing. But seriously. Bravo has gotten me through many a day :)

6. Our Home. We hit the jackpot when we found our house. We've lived here for a year and we couldn't be happier.

7. Books. Books. Books. If I could put an addition onto our home, I would add a library. A cozy place with all my books and big fluffy chairs with soft pillows to read for days. I can think of nothing better.

8. My friends. I am blessed with great friends. Friends who laugh, cry, yell, drink, and make memories doing even the smallest (or stupidest) things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. My family. My family is almost too close, some would say. But I couldn't and wouldn't have it any other way. We spend every minute possible together. We are "thick as thieves" as Caroline Manzo would say :)

 

10. The relationship I had with my Nanny. Nothing could ever prepare me for life without her, but the fifteen years I was able to spend with her shaped me as a person. I can truly say I am better because I knew and was loved by her.

 

11. My Husband. He should be awarded a medal for putting up with me everyday.

12. This girl. 'Nough said.

 

13.  I'm thankful that God has blessed my life with these twelve things. These twelve people and places that fill me with smiles and happiness everyday.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving.

-L

 

 

 

 

Q is for Quiche

With family and friends soon gathering for Thanksgiving, what better time to introduce you to my favorite (and easiest!) breakfast casserole. Thanks to a great friend for introducing me to this many years ago.

The title of this post has a story. I know, shocking...me, tell a story.

In Kindergarten, my fantastic, nurturing, sweet-as-pie teacher, Mrs. Klein, had us try a different food for each letter of the alphabet. Each day, we'd learn about a new letter, then try a food to go along with it at lunch. I was into this. I thought it was awesome. Letters! Food! Fun! ...until we got to "Q." Mrs. Klein, or Mother Klein, as we have always so lovingly called her, introduced quiche to us on Q's day to shine. This girl, the one typing this post, was having no part of that quiche. None. Zero. Zip. Nada. Ain't Gonna Happen.

Now, I was a pretty cute kid. I got away with a lot by just batting my eyes and smiling real pretty. Well, that sweet-as-pie teacher would not let me leave the lunchroom table until I tried that darn quiche. I distinctly remember being five and left at our class' lunchroom table until I tried the quiche. Lucky for me, the lunch lady let me leave when she came to the realization that it just wasn't in the cards. Bless that sweet lunch lady. I'd probably still be at that table 21 years later.

15-ish years went by and I still had never once tried quiche. Talk about #scarredforlife. We had a potluck breakfast at work one day and I noticed this quiche-type casserole on the table. Immediate flashbacks. Somehow, I was talked into tasting this particular quiche. Life. Changing. Cheesy, flaky, deliciousness.

Make this for your family this holiday season and watch them swoon.

Start with a tube of crescent rolls and a greased baking pan. Ninexthirteen should do perfectly.

Do not. I repeat do not separate the crescent roll pieces, just lay the whole tube of rolls on the bottom of the baking pan. Press and seal the little creases throughout to make it one hole-less piece. I didn't have any crescent rolls on hand, so I used a tube of biscuits instead.

 

 

Next, crack six eggs into a mixing bowl and add 1/2 cup of milk, along with a dash of salt and pepper.

Whisk away!

 

After you've finished, cut up some ham. It can be fresh, lunchmeat, whatever you have or whatever tickles your fancy. Dice it into small-ish pieces and dump on top of the dough in your pan.

 

Now, pour your egg/milk mixture on top! Start grating some cheese-cheddar and mozzarella are my personal faves for this. Sprinkle this evenly on your eggs. I kinda eyeball this. Whatever looks good to you! You a fan of cheese (who am I kidding, who isn't a fan of cheese?), add more! Add less if you're one of the four people on earth who don't like cheese.

 

 

Throw this in a 350 degree oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until eggs have set.

 

 

Once you take it out, let it sit for a minute or two. Try not to drool looking at it.

 

Cut this little slice of heaven into squares and get to eating!

 

It's that easy. Your family will love seeing this on the breakfast table!

 

-L