Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Real Men Eat Quiche

It's true, your husband/father/brother/etc may not admit to it, but if you fill a pie tin with cheese, eggs, and good hearty fixins he will like it. Or if the it's the name "quiche" itself that turns him off, just call it "Breakfast Pie" like my bumpkin roommate from freshman year.

Mom handed this recipe down to me. There are many variations. Here's the most recent one I made.

Ingredients
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup diced ham
1/2 bag fresh spinach
1 tbsp garlic
1/2 cup red onions
1/4 cup diced sundried tomatoes
2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar and monterey jack are my favorites)
1/2 tsp nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
frozen pie crust, thawed

1. In a sautee pan, heat the garlic until it is browned. Add the spinach and cook until done

2. Layer the spinach over the bottom of the crust. Sprinkle on the ham, tomatoes, and onions.

3. Spread the cheese over the meat and veggies.

4. Beat the eggs and stir in the nutmeg. Pour over the cheese. Top the quiche with whipping cream.

5. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook at 350 for 30-35 minutes. I recommend placing the pie tin on a cookie sheet, as it usually cooks over.

Quiche can be served hot or at room temperature. It's a wonderful breakfast, but is hearty enough for lunch or dinner too. I love making quiche in the winter time because it's a great warm breakfast that only takes a minute to prepare (nuke) in the morning.

For variations, try any combination of the toppings I included. Or go vegetarian by leaving out the ham. Or try just cheese quiche or changing the type of cheese for a different flavor.

*Health tip for dieters: cut into 6 slices, this particular variation has about 400 calories per slice. Using lean ham or low fat cheese and cream can cut the calories.

Bon Appetit!
The Food Whore

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