New Year's Eve

I planned Crustless Mini Quiches and Baked Potato Stacks for supper and a decadent hot chocolate for dessert.

I baked both of those in a 6 cup muffin tin which worked out really well.  

The 4 quiches were placed in the remaining wells. I used my silicone muffin liners for easy removal and clean up.

I added some halved cherry tomatoes, some biscuits I had made earlier this week and a bit of grated Parmesan Cheese. 

This was very yummy!

This is the potato stack which was baked in the muffin tin.

I sliced the potatoes on my mandolin set on thin. I added a bit of olive oil and seasoning.  Some Parmesan Cheese on top.

The slices were placed directly in the metal muffin tin wells.  I filled 2 of them because I had reserved 4 for the quiches. The total baking time was 45 minutes so they went into the oven earlier.

The hot chocolate was prepared in one of my beautiful vintage crystal mugs.

I made the hot chocolate with hot milk and hot chocolate powder and then added a bit of table cream.

I made whipped cream just before supper and added a couple of dollops on the top then grated some dark chocolate to finish it off.

It was very delicious! 

I turned on my wax warmer with the Cinnamon Vanilla scent.  My favorite.

I placed a small tea light on the end table beside me with the great hot chocolate.

I did have to turn off the Christmas tree because it was reflected directly onto the TV screen.

I turned out most of the lights and enjoyed a quite evening.

I have watched the Harry Potter Movies several times and I have the full set on DVD. 

I had watched Part 1 the night before and decided to settle down and watch Part 2 on New Year's Eve.

They are always a great watch.

I enjoyed parts I had not remembered from previous viewings.

A feel good story to start the new year. 

Welcome to my Kitchen

It was our Welcome to my Kitchen fellowship group gathering this morning. 

We met in a clubhouse of a condo complex so there was plenty of room for everyone with great kitchen facilities!  Thank you so much.

We had mini quiches, ham and cheese breakfast oven casserole. There were crackers, cheese and fruit. I really appreciate the yogurt.  The tea and coffee was excellent.

We had a good turn out with the weather being very decent this morning. 

Share Your Cup - Favorites

I made some more Mini Crustless Quiche Muffins this week. 

I added ham this week which enhanced their flavor.  It is such a flexible recipe so you can use what veggies and meat you have on hand.  The recipe I did get from the host from our fellowship group includes some egg whites as well as whole eggs.  This would contribute to a stiffer quiche. 

I baked them in my silicone liners which helps with clean up but does not give them nice golden edges.  I may try them in greased metal cups next time. 

These are becoming a regular choice at my place.

I was looking for glass lemons to create a center piece for my table when I came across these at a thrift store.  The price was right so them came home with me.  The peach on the left top is not the same as the others so that will be going back.

There is only one lemon. The hunt is still on!

It gives me enough variety to create vignettes of different ones as I see fit.  A good mix of each type and a good color range as well.

This was breakfast this morning. 

A cup of Masala Chai tea with honey and cream.  My favorite tea.

A couple of the Mini Crustless Quiche Muffins, a bit of homemade KimChi, carrot sticks and a tomato. Served on a bright yellow plate to help me feel springy when it snows again outside.

A book to browse.  Half Yard Heaven which includes several project using small pieces of fabric. 

I bought myself a yellow umbrella! 
It is a promotional item with a logo on one panel but the color is great. 

Ever since I read book titled "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo which I wrote about here.  I often ask myself "Does this make me happy?" when I look at things in my life.  The yellow one will make me happy and the dull purple patterned one can head to the thrift store in hopes it makes someone else`s day.  There are all kinds of folks in the world so likely it will.

There is a tote bag pattern in here that I want to try.
The outside patterned fabric is laid out in 2 different directions. The liner fabric is a contrasting solid color. The handles are sewn in between the liner and outside fabric where the liner creates the top border of the bag.  It features nice box corners.

There is a project apron as well that may be a great item.  It features several pockets to hold tools as you work.

Books are a constant favorite and I am enjoying more of them with a bit more time.


Sharing in the link party with Jann at Daily Cup with Mrs. Olson who hosts Share Your Cup #239.

Share Your Cup - This Week

The tea cup coaster project is a go!  I am very excited.
A quilter friend who is helping on the project injected some new fabric small pieces. Some were 5" squares left over from some of her projects and some is small pieces of yardage. 
I expect I will make a couple from each fabric and return the fabric back to her. I have a few more options to use now.   Now to select a solid for the back and lace.

Check out this tea related fabric.  This will make fabulous tea cup coasters!







This is the book on my bed side table these days.  It was slow at he beginning but it is now picking up.  A little girl living in near this large lake. There is a hermit lady in village which she befriends. There is death and long lost loves.


I went searching for an image of this book and it was published with at least 5 different covers.  I wonder why that is?  Makes it hard to recognize.




This was the DIY project for this week.  I have been wanting a cast iron fry pan for a while.  The price was right so I brought it home but it needs a lot of work before I will be cooking food in it. It will entail a full restoration.

I will keep you posted on my efforts and results.

Mini Crustless Quiches Muffins

You may remember a couple weeks ago that I shared having this type of nibbly at our monthly fellowship event. I thought they were delicious and decided I would give them a try. I did not get the recipe so I found the one linked above.  They were not as great as the others but it may have been seasoning or the lack of meat.  I made them for Shrove Tuesday.

I have asked for the recipe and will keep you posted.

Sharing with Jann at Daily Cup with Mrs. Olson - Sharing Your Cup #238. 

Tea, Fellowship and Spring

This was my tea this afternoon.  I'm going with summer colors as the weather today was really warm and I can see that it is on it's way. 

The tea is Lemon & Ginger by Clipper which is really nice.  Served in my true blue dishes which have been neglected during the winter season.  I chose a yellow place mat and a striped napkin.

The glass fruit in the wide bowl from the true blue dishes are a new acquisition. 

A couple Citrus and Cranberry cookies.

The glass fruit in the wide bowl from the true blue dishes are a new acquisition.  I have been looking for a few glass lemons for a table center. 

I managed to get 12 fruit in a punch bowl for about $1 each.  I was thrilled.  I chose the lemon, pear and banana for this bowl.

I have been spending time on one of my goals for 2017 - relax. 

I received this tea coloring book in the blog giveaway from Margie at Tea in the Valley. 

I selected a doodle tea cup and chose colors to coordinated with my afternoon tea.  The colors are deep yellow, true blue and navy.

It was our women's fellowship Welcome to my Kitchen group get together this morning.  Our host provided some baked quiches, cinnamon rolls, fruit, cheese, yogurt, juice and delicious tea.  We were 9 with a few new attendees.  It was a wonderful time.

These small quiches were absolutely delicious. 

They were baked in muffin tins.  They had cheese and ham. 





After breakfast and a made a visit to the wetlands.

The pussy willows are starting to emerge.  I think it is a bit early and hope they don't get a shock later when we get more snow and cold weather. 

It was very encouraging to see them though. 

The pond is nearly melted which surprised me.  There are bits of snow still showing.  I did not manage to get a photo of the chickadees which were certainly singing their hearts out.  

Sharing with Jann at Daily Cup with Mrs Olson - Share Your Cup #236.



Tuesday Cuppa Tea hosted by Ruth.


Bernideen's Tea Time