Yes, the Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken made our list of favorite frozen food to buy

How many times have you wanted to just order takeout instead of cooking something on a busy weeknight? Probably more than a few. Rather than stress over preparing a meal from scratch, why not rely on some of the best Trader Joe’s frozen food? These meals, snacks, and sides are quick, simple, and easy on the wallet. Best of all, there’s something for every palate, even your pickiest eaters (Check our top Trader Joe’s food for picky eaters, too!).

Mac and Cheese Bites

mac and cheese bites are some of the best frozen food from Trader Joe's

It's the best of both worlds with Trader Joe's Mac and Cheese bites: bite-size bites of cheesy goodness and a crispy crust. With seven types of cheese that include Cheddar, Havarti, Swiss, Gouda, Cream Cheese, Monterey Jack and Pecorino Romano for good measure, the whole family will meet their dairy quota for the day, all while enjoying the updated panko-style breading.

Cost: $3.99

Japanese Style Fried Rice

Karly Wood

Whether you make this rice your main meal or a delicious side, you can't go wrong. Packed with edamame, tofu bits and carrots, the flavorful entree is made even better with two tablespoons of TJ's toasted sesame seed oil.

Cost: $4.99

Pork Gyoza Pot Stickers

Pork Gyoza Pot Stickers are some of the best frozen food from Trader Joe's
Karly Wood

This bag of potstickers is your future dinner in a flash. We prefer tossing them in with a bag of frozen vegetables and some of Trader Joe's Gyoza sauce for the perfect one-pot dinner.

Cost: $2.99

Related: 16 Easy Trader Joe’s Recipes That Take 15 Minutes or Less

Outside-In Stuffed Gnocchi

Outside-In Stuffed Gnocchi is some of the best frozen food from Trader Joe's

There's a reason why these made our list of the best Trader Joe's frozen food. A twist on the classic, Outside-In Stuffed Gnocchi has sauce and cheese on the inside! The wheat, flour potato pillows contain tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese and can be enjoyed with a simple salad. Kid and adult approved!

Cost: $2.99

Mixed Mushroom and Spinach Quiche

Mixed Mushroom and Spinach Quiche is some of the best frozen food from Trader Joe's

Great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this quiche—packed with Swiss cheese, spinach, and two kinds of mushrooms—just hit freezer shelves straight from France. The sweet flower shape of its real butter and wheat flour crust is pretty darling, too. Your tot can don the corresponding aluminum pan as a hat for some entertainment while this dish cooks—it needs 30 minutes in the oven. You’ll find it right next to their Broccoli and Cheddar Cheese and Quiche Lorraine mainstays.

Cost: $2.49

Mini Beef Tacos

Mini Beef Tacos are some of the best frozen food from Trader Joe's
Jennifer Massoni Pardini

If the Shopkins sensation is any indication, kids absolutely love tiny things—so give mini foods a try. These tacos come in beef or chicken varieties and are also easy to load up with nutritious goodness like fresh tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, or Trader Joe’s reduced-guilt chunky guacamole!

Cost: $4.29

Related: 20 Things from Trader Joe’s That Picky Eaters Will Love

Parmesan Pastry Pups

Pastry pups are some of the best Trader Joe's frozen food
Trader Joe's

We all have those nights when dinner needs to be fast and fun. Thankfully, our cries have been heard with this spin on the perennial kid favorite—the hot dog, but in a mini form. The kids will love watching these pups “puff” up in the oven. Then try widening culinary palates with a variety of dipping options, from ketchup to garlic aioli.

Cost: $5

Gluten-Free Cheese Pizza

Gluten-Free Cheese Pizza is some of the best frozen food from Trader Joe's

Food allergies are more common than ever these days it seems, and thankfully so are food options that everyone can enjoy, like this classic cheese pizza with a nutritious cauliflower crust. But the kids don’t have to be gluten-free to absolutely love this version of pizza night. It even made the list of 50 of the best Trader Joe’s products in store history.

Cost $4.99

Chicken Burrito Bowl

Healthy and hearty come to mind with this version of popular food bowls. It makes an easy meal unto itself with tons of seasoned chicken, brown rice, red quinoa, black beans, bell peppers, and cheddar cheese. You can also add it to tortillas for easy tacos or a real-deal burrito!

Cost: $3.49

Mini Vegetable Samosas

Trader Joe’s doesn’t rest on its food laurels. These vegetable samosas are chock full of peas, carrots, potatoes, lentils, onions, and Indian spices. So, yes, these do have a bit of a kick, perfect for kids who aren’t afraid to spice things up. These also pair deliciously with their Mango Ginger Chutney and other ready-to-heat side dishes.

Cost: $3.49

Related: 26 of the Healthiest Things You Can Buy at Trader Joe’s

Party-Size Mini Meatballs

Anna Doogan

Right when you think there isn’t anything to make for dinner, you'll remember there are meatballs in the freezer and a bag of pasta or a cup of rice ready to boil. With a stash of these minis on hand, it’s also easy to heat up a portion for a side of protein whenever a little diner needs it. Pair it with Trader Joe’s Island Soyaki for an easy dinner sensation. Toothpicks always make fun mealtime props for kids, too.

Cost: $4.99

Black Bean & Cheese Taquitos

Jennifer Massoni Pardini

Vegetarian, but still rich in iron and protein, these taquitos make a well-rounded finger food for lunch, dinner, or linner. They work great with sour cream, green onions, and salsa, but also pack enough flavor all on their own if your kids usually take a hard pass on toppings (There’s a tasty chicken version as well.).

Cost: $3.69

Mandarin Orange Chicken

Considering this is THE most popular Trader Joe’s frozen food item for the last several years, chances are you may already know and love this freezer favorite. You fortify it with broccoli, peas, and green peppers. Vegetarians and vegans can also rejoice because Chicken-Less Mandarin Orange Morsels are back in the freezer aisle as well.

Cost: $4.99

Chocolate Croissants

Karly Wood

Breakfast anyone? These flaky croissants will have you feeling major French vibes, with just the perfect amount of chocolate. Put out the night before to rise overnight, then toss in the oven before enjoying on the go.

Cost: $4.99

Gone Berry Crazy!

Don’t forget about dessert! How do strawberry halves drenched in dark chocolate sound? These sweet treats are brand new and already a chilly craze for summer days. The best part may be that you can eat them straight from the freezer.

Cost: $2.29

All photos: Courtesy of Trader Joe’s

 

Filling your house with flowers doesn’t have to mean hitting the local grocery store or stealing perfect petals from the neighbor’s garden. You and your young gardeners can spend the summer days tiptoeing through dahlias, sunflowers and lavender, and picking gorgeous bouquets to decorate your home. Local U-pick flower farms offer families a dreamy way to spend time together. Read on to find out more.

Sunblossom Farm

You don't have to leave the city to enjoy a U-Pick experience. Located in the NE Cully Neighborhood of Portland, Sunblossom Farm is a sustainable, urban, bee friendly micro farm. Their flower gardens are cared for without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers and are grown in an urban setting designed to help support and provide a sanctuary for today’s struggling bee population. This unique farm is dedicated to providing local, seasonal, and sustainably raised flowers. Your young florists will find sunflowers, roses and more at this awesome spot. Drop-in cost is $20/per bucket. They provide everything you need to pick flowers, but ask that you bring your own container to take flowers home in.

Open Wed 6 p.m.-sunset, Sat 9 a.m.-1p.m.
NE 50th ave, between Ainsworth and Holman
503-498-8638
Online: sunblossomfarm.com

Helvetia Lavender Farm

This Hillsboro favorite for Christmas trees goes purple in the summer with two varieties of lavender: English and Lavandin. Drop into the tea pavilion for a lunch of homemade quiche, salad and scones or just the tea and scones for $10. Check out the lavender festival on the first and second weekend in July where you can watch lavender wreath demonstrations, visits a kids' station and shop all things lavender! If you just want to pick some lavender to scent things at home, for $8 a bundle, the owners will give you a pair of scissors and a bucket and you spend your day wandering rows of flowers and picking some to take home. Note: U-Pick only takes place on weekends throughout July.

12814 NW Bishop Rd.
Hillsboro
503-647-5858
Online: helvetialavenderfarm.com

Justy's Produce and Flowers

Dahlia fans, rejoice! Justy's has your favorites, ready to be picked. Since you're heading there, their produce market has it all from A to Z. From apples to zucchini and artichokes to zinnias, they aim to offer everything you need so your flower-picking and produce-shopping is done in one all-organic trip.

Looking for variety? This flower farm also carries a variety of flowers you can purchase and take some home. There are wildcats, show and tells and more. Filling your house with color is easy after a trip to this farm.

7924 SE Lake Rd.
Milwaukie
503-659-4169
Online: justysproduce.com

Mountainside Lavender 
Mountainside Lavender is a small family-run farm nestled in the hillside of Chehalem Mountain in the community of Scholls, Oregon. They offer over 2000 lavender plants representing more than 20 varieties of both French and English lavenders in several colors (white, pink and shades of purple). This gorgeous flower farm grows both Lavandins (a cross between Lavandula angusifolia and Lavandula latifolia) and  French Lavender which is characterized by longer stems and high oil yields. In addition to U-pick, visitors can also purchase farm-made lavender products such as massage oil, sachets, neck and eye pillows, dried flowers, lip balm, and more all derived from the farm's plants.

Mountainside Lavender is now open for U-pick. Your family can pick your own bouquet for $6/bundle (approximately what you can fit your hand around, fingertip to fingertip), or 5 bouquets for $24. All u-pick supplies will be provided for you, but you’re welcome to bring your own clippers and basket! They are open daily through the end of July from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

17805 SW Hillsboro Hwy
Hillsboro
503-6443465
Online: mountainsidelavender.com

The Pumpkin Patch
This Sauvie Island pumpkin patch has so much more to offer before the fall. They provide your flower-cutting supplies and their flowers are priced at $5-10 per bouquet or $12 per bucket. Give them a call in August to find out what's blooming and save some time to shop the produce market and gift shop for... well, everything else you could possibly need.

16511 NW Gillihan Rd.
Sauvie Island
503-621-3874
Online: thepumpkinpatch.com

Let’s face it: when it comes to lunch ideas for kids, no matter how enthusiastic you are at the start of the school year, every parent everywhere gets in a rut. To keep you inspired, we’ve rustled up our favorite lunch recipes that offer an appealing alternative to your standard PB&J. Scroll down and click through to get a complete list of school lunch ideas for kids.

15 Ideas That Aren't Sandwiches

lunch ideas for kids
Damn Delicious

There's no reason that your kid's lunch needs to have a sandwich to be satisfying. With these alternatives, like the turkey pinwheels featured above, you'll have plenty of recipes to get you through two weeks + of lunches. Click here to read more. 

10 Meat-Free, Protein-Packed Lunches

Jennifer Martine

Protein is what will keep those little muscles going from the playground to P.E. and beyond. But there are plenty of recipes that swap out meat for plant protein, and many of them pack some extra veggie goodness, too, like the Sweetie Pie Quesadilla featured above. Click here to get more ideas. 

30 Fresh Ideas for Healthy Lunches

Hungry Hannah

Healthy doesn't have to be boring, and this honey-mustard chicken wrap proves it. We gathered a month's worth of lunch ideas (including weekend fare) that are all as yummy as they are fresh. Click here to get inspired.  

10 Awww-Inspiring Rainbow Recipes

The Indigo Kitchen

Yes, we want nutritious and we want quick. But also sometimes we want rainbows! These rainbow dishes are totally outside the lunchbox norm, but imagine their surprise when they open it. Unicorn sushi? Read more here

20 Cold Pasta Dishes Perfect for Lunch

Jennifer Tyler Lee

When looking for sandwich alternatives, pasta should top your list. It's inexpensive, you can make the recipe the night before (or even the day before) and then dish it into containers when it's time to make the lunches. We've found 20 impressive recipes for pasta salad that even kids will love, like the nut-free basil pesto pasta pictured above. Click here to check out the big list of your new favorite dishes

13 Gluten Free & Allergy Friendly Recipes

Little Big H

From a few lunchbox treats to some perfectly pop-able mini quiche (egg free, like the one above) we've rounded up several delicious recipes that are free of common allergens. Add these into your rotation when you just can't peel another carrot. See the complete list here

12 Whole30 Lunches You'll Want to Pack for Yourself, Too

Fashionable Foods

Jump on (or stay on) this healthy foods trend with school lunch ideas that are suitable for grown-ups, too. We know the kiddos will love the chicken fingers (shown above) but mom and dad are going adore the chicken salad with bacon and scallions. Get more recipes here.

 

 

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Gone are the days where you miss out because you follow a gluten-free diet. There are a plethora of gluten-free recipes out there and we’ve done the hard work of picking out 10 of the best gluten-free bakes for you to try. See below for the recipes.

Save all these recipes to Pinterest by clicking here!

Gluten-Free Bread

Feed Me Pheobe

Everyone needs a great gluten-free bread recipe in their lives. This one from Feed Me Pheobe looks just like bread should be crusty on the outside and spongy on the inside. Click here for the recipe. 



Crustless Quiche

Boulder Locavore

Crustless Quiche is an easy bake from Boulder Locavore. Quiches are perfect at any time of the day. This recipe is so flexible that you can add different ingredients to make it your own. Bacon and Cheese? Spinach and Red Pepper? The world is your oyster. Click here for the recipe.



Raspberry Cream Cheese Bars

A Taste of Madness

The lightness of the lemon, the tartness of the raspberry, and the richness of the cream cheese makes this recipe from A taste of Madness the best combination for a summer dessert. Don’t miss out. Grab the recipe here.

The Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Meaningful Eats

Meaningful Eats has made a chocolate chip cookie recipe that is so soft, chewy, and tasty that no one would even guess that they are gluten-free. Get the recipe here



 

Creme Brulee

Boulder Locavore

This indulgent creamy dessert is usually restaurant fare, but this version from Boulder Locavore is easy to make in the instant pot. What could be easier? Click here for the recipe.



 

Instant Pot Nutella Cake

Bake Me Some Sugar

This recipe from Bake Me Some Sugar is super easy. It has only two ingredients, Nutella and Eggs. Just the thing you need for that chocolatey hit. Grab the recipe here



Easy Almond Macaroon Cake

The View from Great Island

If you love almonds, coconut, or macaroons in general then this recipe from The View from Great Island is for you. Bake it in a tart pan and you have one seriously elegant cake. Perfect for entertaining or enjoying on your own. Click here for the recipe.

Cinnamon-Sugar Churros

Boulder Locavore

Needing a Disney Inspired Snack? These Churros from Boulder Locavore are just the ticket. The combination of freshly fried pastry dough and the sweet aroma of cinnamon-sugar is simply irresistible. Get the recipe here



 

One-Bowl Gluten-Free Banana Bread

The Minimalist Baker

Banana Bread is a classic way of using up overripe bananas. The Minimalist Baker has come up with this Gluten-Free Banana Bread recipe that only uses one bowl to get the job done. The result is a scrumptious, hearty bread that you’d want to make over and over again. Grab the Recipe here



Warm Lemon Pudding Cake

The View from Great Island

Fancy a tart and tangy dessert? The View from Great Island has this lemony recipe that can either be made in individual cups or in a single casserole dish. It is delicious on its own or paired with either blueberries or raspberries. Get the recipe here.

 

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There are flowers to buy, brunches to make and macaroni necklaces to paint. Mother’s Day is on the horizon and it’s time to get gifting.

Forget about paying full price. Your mother would never approve. Some of your fave retailers are going all in for this very special day, helping all of you gift givers make the most of your moolah. We’ve got the sales, freebies, deals and more that you need to score!

Amtrak

It’s time for a road trip! Amtrak’s Unconditional Love Sale is offering a 2-for-1 deal from May 9 to 13. Buy one ticket and get one free for travel during June 1 to September 30, and enjoy some special bonding time with mom.

Bath & Body Works

Make the most of your Mother’s Day gift with Bath & Body Works’ tote deal. Get the $117 value product-filled bag for $30 with any $30 purchase. Enter the code MOMSDAY online to claim yours.

Belli Skincare

New moms rejoice! This line of skincare products is on sale (on Amazon) for 20 percent off.

Fogo de Chao

Dine at the eatery on Mother’s Day and mom gets a complimentary card to use on her next Full Churrasco Lunch, Dinner or Sunday Brunch visit.

Kohl’s

Spend $50 or more on select women’s clothing, accessories, shoes, fashion jewelry, juniors’ clothing and home goods between May 1 and 12 in store or online and get $10 off. Download the coupon here or use the promo code MOMSDAY10.

Owlet Smart Sock 2

This high-tech device fits around baby’s foot, tracking their heart rate and oxygen levels as they sleep. Get $100 off this gadget for new mamas through May 12.

Mrs. Fields

Mmm cookies! Get 25 percent off select Mother’s Day gifts online with the code MDAY2019.

TCBY

Treat the special lady in your life with the country’s best frozen yogurt. Moms get a free froyo on May 12!

The Fresh Market

Gift mom with a special brunch deal—including gourmet chocolate and flowers. Between May 10 and 12 shoppers can get either Quiche Lorraine or Broccoli Cheddar Quiche, two pounds of bacon, fresh tropical fruit, pound cake, chocolate and a small mixed bouquet for four for the low price of $39.99.

Tim Hortons

Get a free “mom-sized” iced coffee (52 ounces) at participating Tim Hortons locations.

Whole Foods

The grocery retailer, and Amazon of course, want to help you celebrate Mother’s Day with a discount on tulips. From May 8 through May 14, get 20-stem bunches for $15. Prime members score an added bonus discount, getting the same 20-stem tulip bunch for $10!

Williams Sonoma

Score big on cookware right now. The retailer’s semi-annual cookware event (with up to 50 percent off prices) has plenty of can’t-miss deals.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Xavier Mouton Photographie via Unsplash

 

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5 Simple Dishes Anyone (Yes We Mean Anyone) Can Pull Off

With all the gorgeous food blogs, glossy cookbooks and “that looks easy” videos out there, you have every reason to be overwhelmed. It goes without saying that you want to make attractive, appetizing and healthy food for your kids. You’re a positive parent! But the world is bombarding you with beautiful images of perfect-looking food and instead of that feeling like a useful blueprint it leaves you not knowing where to start. Because there will always be somebody who won’t eat something. Don’t panic. Put your apron on—wait, who are we kidding, you already stained your shirt at least once today anyway—and get practical. All you need is a little bit of confidence and some solid ideas for riffing on basics. And here they are:

Unhateable Roasted Vegetables:
Do they have to have those perfect grill marks? No! Does it matter which ones your second child hates and might smear all over the walls? Yes! So, if that means no broccoli, then that’s what it means. Do what you need to do, not exactly what the recipe says or what’s on what’s-her-name’s instagram. It’ll be ok, we promise.

Mix about 6 cups assorted winter/root vegetables (potatoes, sweet potatoes, Brussels
sprouts, parsnips, beets, carrots) in a bowl, and toss with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and
sea salt. Optionally, add sliced onions and garlic, and/or season with fresh rosemary.
Roast in 350-degree oven for 45-60 minutes (depending on how small the pieces are).

Dal for Your Darlings:
The flavor is mild, and the vegetable choices vary, yet you’re making something they don’t have every day. All hail! Now, you do you. And them.

Saute 2 cups yellow or orange lentils, 1 potato, 2 carrots, onions, garlic, and ginger with
olive oil and salt and curry powder in a large pot until onions are soft. Fill the pot about
halfway up with boiling water. Cook 1 hour. Add any other vegetables later, such as broccoli
or zucchini squash.

Can You Cous Cous?:
Um, that was rhetorical. Of course you can. Cous cous is absurdly easy to make and you can put in anything you want. You can’t ruin it.

Just pour hot broth over the cous cous and cover for 15 minutes
(add nuts, fruit, chopped veggies, a protein—do it how you do it). Fluff with a fork.

The Crepe Escape:
Sweet, savory, breakfast, lunch dinner. What’s more flexible and riffable than crepes? Nothing. Nada. Rien.

Whisk together 1 egg, 1 cup of almond milk and ½ cup of flour.
Pour about ½ of this into a crepe pan on low heat, and cook until very solid and easy to flip.
Flip and cook on the other side, adding whatever you wish to the top at that time.
Savory choices: Cheese, tomato, spinach, cooked potatoes, cooked egg, cooked vegetables, ham or turkey deli slices. Sweet ways: Banana and Nutella, strawberries and whipped cream.
These are just options, people!

Be the Master of Your Quiche:
Eighties jokes about who eats quiche aside, this is one make-your-own-mark food item if ever there was one.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lay a pie crust in the bottom of a pie pan. Layer grated
cheese (gruyere or parmesan or what you have) in the bottom. Next, put sautéed vegetables
of your choice with salt, celery seed, and thyme or spices you like. Good combinations are asparagus and purple onion, cauliflower and shallots, or spinach and garlic. Pour 6-8 eggs mixed up with some cream or half-and-half on top. Bake about 45 minutes. Easy to make ahead of time and in multiples.

From this basic foundation, let your creativity go wherever it takes you.
You can even deconstruct it like this: Cut 4 small corn tortillas cut into pieces—cook in canola oil until the bottom side turns brown. Pour 4 scrambled eggs on top, let cook until set, then flip.
Add chopped asparagus and cook until egg sets again. Break it up and crisp it up.
It’s deconstructed quiche. It’s a riff on Tortilla Española. It’s a veggie omelet. It’s a healthy, hearty meal.

You want to feed your family well? Learn the ways of riffing and make your family’s own culinary music.

The Anti-Cookbook Easy, Thrifty Recipes for Food-Smart Living
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

We're Shelley Onderdonk and Rebecca Bloom. A veterinarian and a lawyer-turned-writer walk into a kitchen… We aren’t chefs and that’s exactly the point. We have a lot to share about food-smart living with our own young-adult children and other people and their children, too. Together, we wrote The Anti-Cookbook: Easy, Thrifty Recipes for Food-Smart Living.

For a hearty meal with minimal hassle turn to this quiche recipe that combines ingredients kids love: cheese, egg and puff pastry dough. Sneak in veggies like leeks, onion and spinach or whatever goods you have in your fridge for this dish that can be made for lunch, dinner or a mid-day snack. Using puff pastry dough means you’ll cut down on the hours you spend in the kitchen. What’s not to love?

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:
1 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 chopped roughly Onion
2 minced Garlic Cloves
12 oz Baby Spinach
1 lbs Ricotta Cheese
3 Eggs
1 T Thyme (Leaves only, minced)
1/2 tsps Salt
2 oz small dice Salami
1 tsps Water
1 Package Puff Pastry

Method:
1. In a large skillet heat up your Olive Oil and add in your Onion and Leek. Cook for at least 5 minutes, then add in your garlic and cook for another 3 minutes. Add in all your spinach, cook and toss until the spinach is completely wilted. At this point, taste and season with salt and pepper. Take off the heat and let cool.

2. While your veggies are cooling, prepare the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, mix together your ricotta, 2 eggs (save the 3rd egg for later usage), Thyme and 1/2 tsp. Salt. Once mixed, add in your spinach mixture from Step 1 & mix thoroughly.

3. On a large baking sheet, with a silpat on top, roll out your Puff Pastry. The Puff Pastry I usually buy comes in two sheets, so i made two medium sized Quiches. Fill your pastry up but leave about an inch or two around the edges. Fold the edges over the filling. Now mix together your last egg and about a teaspoon of water and brush the egg wash over the crust of the puff pastry to help it get golden brown and crispy!

4. Bake in a 375 degree over for 40-45 minutes or until perfectly golden brown. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

“Like” this recipe if you plan to make a quiche this week.

recipe and photo courtesy of Urban Cookery. Check out their website for more fantastic recipe ideas.

Has all the Twin Peaks revival talk got you craving some cherry pie and a “damn fine cup of coffee”? If so you’re in luck, because a charming little pie shop (cranking out varieties both classic and creative) just opened its doors, and it’s even got a counter to sit at and do your best Dale Cooper with the kids. Bonus: there’s more than pie on the menu, they’ll pour you a glass of wine or a beer, and you can even snack al fresco in a yard out back.

photo: Pels Pie Co./ Meghan Doherty

Flour Power From Oz

After stints at Bed-Sty coffee shop Bedford Hills and Glady’s in Crown Heights, and months searching for just the right space for her pie shop, Sydney native Alison Pels has laid down roots on Rogers Street in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens.  Just steps from Prospect Park, Pel’s Pie Co. is an honest-to-goodness shop that serves delicious flaky butter crust pies expertly prepared by baker Maddy Gentile.

photo: Pels Pie Co./ Meghan Doherty

Let Them Eat Pie 

Classics like apple and chocolate mousse are mainstays on the menu along side more outside-the-box varieties like fig buttermilk honey and other inventive seasonal creations. Gentile also bakes scrumptious cheddar bacon biscuits and savory quiche, all made fresh each and every day.  Eager to please and offer something for everyone, Pels also serves a lovely cheese plate, coffee from Counter Culture, Kusmi tea, and a nicely curated menu of wine and beer. Tea service with fresh scones and cream is available on the weekends from noon – 4 p.m. — perfect for a rainy afternoon DIY tea party!

photo: Pels Pie Co./ Meghan Doherty

A Slice of Sweet Serenity

Pels Pie Co.’s atmosphere is as charming and comfortable as its namesake dish. The shop features sea glass colored countertops, the space’s original tin ceiling, and complementary walls of white-washed brick, patterned celadon hued wallpaper and venetian plaster.  Beachy, warm and welcoming, the shop is spacious, with loads of room to breathe and enjoy the simple pleasure of homemade wholesome treats. The kids will love sitting on stools with a slice at the counter, where they can watch Gentile, elbow deep in flour, whip up more pies.

photo: Pels Pie Co./ Meghan Doherty

Wanted! Little Green Thumbs 

Step out and enjoy the spacious garden, where the kids can frolic under the sounds of handmade wind chime garlands. Pels hopes to decorate the garden’s currently unadorned long fence with DIY planters — and she wants the kids to help!  Bring a recycled half gallon or gallon plastic milk jug and a seedling next time you come in and the kids can plant it and hang out in the garden.  (Of course, gardeners of all sizes are encouraged to stop in week after week to nurture their plant and appetite.)

Pels Pie Co.
499 Rogers Ave.

Prospect-Lefferts Gardens
347-350-5906
Online: www.pelspieco.com

Have you had a slice of Pel Pie yet?  We’d love to know your favorite. Tell us in the comments below!

— Melissa Vaughan

Ham and Leek Quiche

Did you know that French cooking doesn’t have to be intimidating? Just ask Claudine Pépin, the daughter of beloved chef Jacques Pépin’s. This dynamic father-daughter duo just released a cookbook entitled Kids Cook French that features simple classic dishes that parents can make together with their kids. Read on below for an easy recipe for Ham and Leek Quiche from this new book that even boasts illustrations by Jacques Pépin himself.

Serves 8

Ingredients:
1 leek, washed and chopped (about . cups [134 g] raw)
4 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter
4 ounces (115 g) premium deli ham, diced (about 1 cup)
4 ounces (115 g) Swiss cheese, finely grated (about 1 cup)
3 eggs
2 egg yolks
1 1/4 (295 ml) cups heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 sheet (10 x 10 inches [25 x 25 cm]) unsweetened puff pastry (such as Pepperidge Farm)

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).

2. Cut the leek in half lengthwise and wash thoroughly between each of the leaves. Cut off the top part of the leek that is dark green and leathery. (Lighter-green leaves are perfectly tender and delicious). Cut off the bottom, including the roots and about 6 mm of the white stem. Chop medium to fine, about 1 cm.

3. Saute the leeks with butter and a pinch of salt on medium-low heat, until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. You may need to add a little water to prevent browning. Set aside to cool.

4. Dice the ham and grate the cheese.

5. Whisk together the 3 eggs and the 2 egg yolks. After they’re well beaten, add the cream, salt, and pepper. Stir in the grated cheese and the cooked leeks. Butter the glass pie pan with 1 to 2 teaspoons of butter.

6. Roll the 10 x 10-inch (25 x 25 cm) puff pastry to 12 x 12 inches (30 x 30 cm), about 1/8-inch (3 mm) thick. Gently press the rolled puff pastry into the buttered pie pan.

7. Use a paring knife to trim the hanging corners/edges. Press the scrap pieces onto the pastry in the pan to fill in any gaps. Prick the bottom of the dough evenly with a fork in 8 to 10 places.

8. Fill the pie shell with the egg, cream, cheese, and leek mixture, then evenly distribute the ham. Stir gently for even distribution.

9. Place the quiche on a sheet tray and into the preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes on 350°F (180°C), then lower the heat to 300°F (150°C) and bake for 1 hour, until the top is slightly browned, puffed in the middle, and a cake tester comes out clean. The crust should be thoroughly browned across the bottom.

10. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before cutting.

Do your kids like quiche? Leave us a comment below.

This recipe comes to us courtesy of the new book, KIDS COOK FRENCH [Quarry Books, February 2015, $21.99 US / $23.99 CAN] by Jacques Pépin’s daughter, Claudine Pépin. This book is a fun, interactive cookbook for both parents and kids that introduces them to the art and joy of cooking. Finding inspiration from the very first page, parents will soon be helping kids to learn how to make their own meals while learning better eating habits and embracing the importance of French culture. Buy the book at Amazon.com

Seattle date ideas shouldn’t be limited to Friday or Saturday night. We’ve all had those long weeks where all you want to do is get to bed early, and sleep in late. So why not schedule some adults-only time on Saturday or Sunday morning and head downtown for an intimate brunch of savory quiche with piping hot coffee? Our partner in Date Night fun, Seattle Magazine, has the scoop on five hot spots for your quiche cravings.

Cafe Besalu
If you aren’t already a leek lover, the leeks and goat cheese quiche will surely convert you. Ever so delicate, its ingredients are of uniformly tender texture, making each leeky, cheesy bite incredibly smooth and savory without being heavy. $4.50/slice. Ballard, 5909 24th Ave. NW; 206.789.1463; cafebesalu.com

Lynn’s Bistro
Highlighting one of the Pacific Northwest’s treasured crustaceans, the crab meat quiche is a customer favorite. Lumps of fresh Dungeness crab pair wonderfully with the complex, nutty flavor of Gruyère. $16/whole. Kirkland, 214 Central Way; 425.889.2808;lynnsbistro.com

To check out the rest of these hot spots for savory quiche, click here.

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at Seattle Magazine, which keeps readers on the pulse of restaurants, personalities, arts, entertainment and culture that reflect the tapestry of our dynamic landscape. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a weekly dose of fantastic Date Night ideas throughout greater Seattle.