The Challenge

It's Friday!
And Friday the 13th might I add!  Any one out there superstitious?  I am not sure I am!

I am just a bit excited that the last day of the work week is here!

It is time again to discuss "The Challenge" as I have decided to call this little project of cooking through my pin board!  If you missed the post discussing how I am challenging myself to cook through my entire pinterest food board then Click Here!

Anyways there are going to be a few changes.  Monday's are going to be the days I introduce you to the 5 recipes I will be attempting to make that week!  You see I have already made three recipes this week off of my pin board, and you know what?  They were all a hit.  I think my parents are enjoying this challenge as much as I am.  My mom is loving all the new recipes she is acquiring!  Who doesn't love recipes that are tasty and most importantly healthy? 

So this lovely Friday I will show you the three stellar recipes  I have already tried (and yes they are all keepers)! and introduce you to the two that I will be completing over the weekend.  Because lets be honest, Minnesota is now cold and has lots of snow... which means this girl doesn't want to venture outside.  So why not cook!

So here they are your Friday 5!

The first dish of the week was this amazing quiche from Cooking Light.
Spinach, Caramelized Onions, and Feta Quiche!

  I subbed in Mozzarella cheese for most of the feta, since my dad is not a feta fan!  Hands down one of the best quiches I have had.This quiche was so good in fact that the entire dinner my dad was raving about it.  Not to mention after we got done with dinner, there was just 2 pieces left!  Now that my friends is a winner of a dish!  The caramelized onions add a punch of flavor, and the use of a store bought crust add to the simplicity (and short ingredient list).  I am thinking this quiche would make a great addition to any brunch, or eat it for a light dinner (served up with a big leafy green salad).  

Numero 2

Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken

Another mouth watering recipe from Skinny Taste.  And who doesn't love a meal that takes 5 minutes to prep.  The chicken was so tender that it literally fell apart as I was shredding it!  My dad actually assembled everything in the crock pot for me!  And mid day I got a text at work saying that dinner smelled amazing, well guess what it tasted pretty amazing to!  I am sending this recipe to my little sister!  The perfect meal for a college student if you ask me.  This recipe makes 8 servings, so you will have lots of leftovers!

3. The weather turned frightful here in Minnesota!  I am shaking in my boots it is so cold!  See what I looked like going to work here.  Oops sorry side not, lets get back on track.  When my mom and I were planning the meals this week we knew Thursday was going to be a blustery cold day, so soup it was!  And what better way to warm up then with this protein packed Red Lentil Chickpea and Tomato Soup with Smoked Paprika.  Brought to you by Kalyn's Kitchen!

Yes this soup really was good, and really what I was craving on a cold Minnesota night!  Served along side some fresh Honey Whole Wheat Great Harvest Bread (love that stuff)!  Will I be making this again, probably!
My friends that is 3 successful dinners from the Pin Board!  But we still have to more spots to fill in our Friday five!  So let me present to you #4!

4. Ginger Lemon Quick Bread, from The Girl Who Bakes!

Source: girlwhobakes.blogspot.com via Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy on Pinterest

Since making Peas and Thank You's Banana Bread, and then Eat Live Runs Almond Applesauce bread (both amazing by the way) I have realized that I love having a fresh batch of yummy bread.  Quick breads with a light smear of peanut butter are my perfect after dinner treat!  So this weekend I am going to be giving this bread a try!
But You will just have to come back and read on Monday to see how this recipe faired in the Wolfe household!

And last but not least on your Friday 5...

Homemade LaraBars

Source: enlightenedcooking.blogspot.com via Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy on Pinterest

Because I need to shake up my mid afternoon snacks a bit! Who knows maybe they will be better then the original!!

What recipes have you enjoyed recently?