Grown Up Easter

Well friends, this Easter marked the first official holiday hosted in the Brodie Abode. 

It was strange waking up here in Virginia and not having a trail of plastic eggs to follow to the Easter Bunny's presents. Nope, you know you are a grown up when you wake up and your immediate thought on Easter morning is the brunch that you are preparing for your in-laws. 

I thought I had it planned to a tee. I pre-baked the pie crusts for the quiche and mixed up the pineapple stuffing. After church, we returned home with Ian's parents and it was time to work my magic. 

So for my first trick, I had the pie crust with eggs, cheese, ham, and cream overflow in the oven, which quickly turned our basement apartment into a smoky inferno. I thought it was just a little bit of bubbling over, but when I noticed that there was a steady stream pouring into the bottom of the oven, I got really hot, my bangs started sticking to my forehead, and I was officially in freak out mode. 

With some quick thinking, Ian helped me put the quiches into glass pie plates which temporarily stopped the overflow and for the time being, all was well again.

Until about five minutes later, when the pan of oil sitting on the stove waiting for the hash brown potatoes got really, really hot. I had visions of a flaming pan starting forest fires in Virginia, when out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of orange as Ian poured the potatoes into the pan. A freaking potato ignited.

After cursing very loudly in front of Ian's parents (sorry....!!) I commanded that Ian take the pan outside and set it on the ground before dumping the rest of the potatoes in it. It didn't take long for those suckers to be done, but the quiche was still bubbling away in the oven. Taking much, much longer than it was supposed to.

So we had our first course--hash browns and pineapple stuffing--while I checked on the oven every five seconds. What a feast.

Finally, the knife came out clean when I stuck it in the middle and we had ourselves some delicious ham and cheese quiche. (If you're wondering, I made the recipe from Taste of Home and it turned out amazing. Minus the overflow...)

The smoke dissipated, I started breathing again, and although my bangs might have been a little more curly, everything turned out great.

Of course, an Easter basket filled with movies, candy, and a giant peanut butter meltaway egg sure was a highlight.