I know that most of you have not even had your turkey and stuffing yet...but I wanted to share one of my favorite ways to use the Thanksgiving leftovers.   This is easy and delicious!  So plan ahead so you have enough leftovers!  Happy Thanksgiving and Enjoy! 

Stuffing Fritatta

·         2 to 3 cups leftover stuffing

·         1 cup diced leftover turkey

·         1 cup shredded cheddar

·         6 large eggs

·         2 large egg whites

·         3/4 cup milk

·         1/2 teaspoon mustard powder

·         1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

·         2 tablespoons grated Parmesan

·         Salt and pepper

Sour cream  or Greek yogurt to garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 400

Coat an ovenproof nonstick skillet (cast iron is my favorite) with cooking spray or butter.

Place over medium heat (on stovetop).

Mix stuffing and turkey in a bowl, then put mixture in the bottom of pan to warm through.

Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese over top.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, 1 tablespoon of parsley (save the rest for later), red pepper flakes, and nutmeg. Add salt and pepper to taste… it depends on how much seasoning was used in the stuffing.

Pour egg mixture over stuffing and cheese to cover stuffing. Sprinkle Parmesan over top.

Carefully transfer to preheated oven.

Bake until the eggs are set and the sides have puffed up a little bit and cheese is golden, about 15 to 20 minutes. 

Cool before cutting.

Sprinkle with remaining fresh parsley and serve with a little sour cream or Greek yogurt  

Frozen Mini Pizzas  

School is out for then next 10 days.  So far today I have heard "I am hungry" at least a dozen times!  I am slightly behind with my real job so I was letting B fend for herself.  Breakfast was hot chocolate and cinnamon toast.  9:00 snack Crackers, 10: 00 snack Grapes, 11:00 snack Cheddar Bunnies.  And then..:what's for lunch?"  I gave her all of her normal choices.  All I got was a blank stare and  "is there any pizza?"  I decided that  it was time to take action!  I spent less than 1 hour and made 14 mini pizzas that are in the freezer,  ready for toppings and  then into the oven.

Quick Pizza Dough
1 Package Quick Rise Yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 c. warm water
1 T. Honey
2 1/2 c. flour
1/2 t. Garlic Powder
1 t. Salt
Cornmeal for dusting

Mix the yeast and water in a glass bowl. Let it rest for 5 minutes.  Add the other ingredients.  Mix well.  Let rest for 5 more minutes.  Divide the dough into desired portions and roll out.  Place on a baking sheet that is dusted with cornmeal and prick with a fork.

For thin crust roll and put immediately in a 450 degree oven for about 8  minutes or just until they start to turn golden.

For thicker crust roll our and let rest for 10 minutes then bake until just golden.

This dough is easy to work with and has a silky texture.   It makes excellent bread sticks! 

Cool the crusts on wire racks.  Once they are cool, place them back on the baking sheet and  top with your favorite pizza sauce.  At this point you can add whatever tickles your fancy. Put the baking sheets and pizzas in the freezer. Once they are solid wrap them individually in plastic wrap and put them back in the freezer.  We don't top our until we are ready to bake them.  I keep shredded cheese, olives and other toppings chopped and ready to go in the refrigerator. When someone wants lunch, they top their own pizza and place it in 350 degree oven until it is hot and bubbly!

It has been nearly 3 hours since B had her pizza, I have not gotten one "I am hungry"!  

  

I spent $2.99 for 50 meal worms.  I think the container probably cost more than the value of 50 worms.  I have heard that it is really easy to raise your own, so I figure why not!

Here's How:

1.        Get a small plastic tub for a container. Inexpensive clear containers with vented snap on lids are available at pet stores.

2.       Place 1-2 inches of substrate (which mealworms will eat) in bottom. Use oat bran or unmediated poultry feed.

3.       Place 1/2 a potato or apple on substrate (supplies moisture and food).

4.      Add a small container of live mealworms from the pet store.

5.       Replace potato/apple every couple of days (do not let it get moldy).

6.      The mealworms are the larval stage; within 3 weeks they should pupate, then in another two weeks beetles should emerge.

7.       The beetles will lay eggs, which are minuscule and very difficult to see. When these hatch, the larvae are also very small.

8.      The beetles will die, while the larvae will grow and repeat the cycle.

9.      After one life cycle the colony should be well established and you can start using them for treats/food.

10.    Once feeding mealworms from the colony, you can offer a variety of vegetables and fruit (e.g. carrots, orange, greens) to increase the nutritional value of mealworms for your pet.

11.     Do not allow mold to grow on the food or substrate.

12.    Add bran/oats as necessary to maintain the substrate level. Start with fresh substrate occasionally (especially if mold or damp conditions develop).

13.    If you have too many mealworms, place the whole container in the fridge, as this will stop their development.

14.    Simply rewarm to room temperature when ready, and the colony will resume development.

Tips:

1.        Do not change the substrate until the colony is well-established, as eggs and tiny larvae will be lost and the cycle interrupted.

2.      Once you have lots of mealworms, it is fine to completely clean out the substrate - filter out the mealworms, discard the substrate, and start over.