Crustless Spinach and Red Pepper Quiche

Easy and delicious and not too strong on flavours for those early morning tummies!
This recipe is from a delightful calendar that so many Canadians look forward to receiving every January- the "Milk Calendar" which is delivered in one of our large newspapers. They always have delicious recipes for each month and I try to make as many as I can during the year.

1 Tbsp dry bread crumbs
1 Tbsp butter
2 green onions, thinly sliced
4 cups baby spinach
1/4 cup (I used more) of roasted red pepper strips
2 cups milk
4 eggs
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp each, salt and dried oregano
Pepper
3/4 cup crumbled feta (well drained)

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter a 10" pie pan (I used 9.5" and it was just fine); dust bottom and sides with the bread crumbs. Place pie pan on a baking sheet and set aside.
2. Melt butter in a large frying pan and add the sliced green onions. Cook about a minute. Add the spinach and stir until very wilted (2 minutes or so).
3. Spoon spinach mixture into the pie plate. Place red pepper strips on paper towels and squeeze out the oil as well as possible.  Place strips of red pepper on top of spinach like spokes on a wheel.
4. In a large bowl, whisk milk with eggs, cornstarch, salt, oregano, and pepper until well blended. Pour over spinach mixture. Arrange feta over top (it will sink a bit).
5. Bake about 35 minutes or until egg mixture is just set in middle. (For me this was too short-- I added about 10 minutes).
6. Remove from oven, let stand about 10 minutes. To serve, cut into wedges. Like pie, the first wedge may not be perfect.

Variation: You could try different combinations, like sundried tomatoes and dill.

(I forgot to take finished photos so these last two are photos of the recipe on the calendar where I found the recipe. This is the 2017 Milk Calendar from the Dairy Farmers of Canada. Next time I will take photos and replace these!)

Goat Cheese and Gruyère Frittata

This makes a fabulous and delicious frittata that serves 6.

I found it in one of my favourite breakfast cookbooks- "Sarabeth's Good Morning Cookbook", by Sarabeth Levine. (She's a legend in NYC!)

Frittata

12 large eggs

2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup packed arugula

3 oz grated Gruyère cheese (2/3 cup)

3 ounces fresh goat cheese broken into small pieces

Salad

2 cups packed arugula

juice of 1/2 lemon

2 tbsp EV olive oil

salt and pepper

1/4 cup toasted raw hulled sunflower seeds

1. Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375F.

2. In a large bowl, using an immersion blender or whisk, beat the eggs until well combined. 

3. In an oven-proof  nonstick 10" skillet, heat 1 tbsp of the oil over medium heat. Add the arugula and cook for about 1 minute. Add the remaining oil and the eggs and turn the heat to medium low. Cook the eggs just until the they are set around the edges. Stir the eggs with a spatula to combine the cooked and uncooked parts. Continue to cook until the edges are set again. Lift up the edges and tilt the pan so that the uncooked egg runs under the cooked portion. Add the Gruyère and the goat cheese and cook for a minute or two. When the top is shiny but the cheeses are not yet melted, turn off the heat and put it in the oven.

4. Bake in hot oven for about 8 minutes, until the frittata is puffed and the cheeses are melted.

5. While the frittata bakes, make the salad. In a bowl toss the arugula with the juice of half a lemon and 2 tbsp EV olive oil.. Season with salt and pepper.

6. Cut frittata into 6 wedges and serve with the arugula salad on top. Sprinkle each serving with some of the sunflower seeds.

Cheesy Quiche

This quiche is easy to make though the ingredient list might seem daunting. It's quick to whip together once you have the cheeses all grated.

3/4 c all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup veg. broth
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 c 18% cream
6 lg eggs, beaten
1/2 c green onions, finely chopped
1/2 c sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
1/2 c red pepper, finely chopped
1 small clove garlic, finely chopped
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
1 1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp parsley, fresh or dried, finely chopped
1 tsp fresh dill, finely chopped

1 c white cheddar, grated
1 c Havarti, grated
1/4 c crumbled Feta
1/2 c Swiss cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 350F/180C
Spray a 9x5" loaf pan (really well or this will stick!) with Pam and place on a baking sheet.

In a large bowl whisk together all the ingredients up to the cheese. When it's nicely mixed then add the cheeses and stir well. Pour into the pan and sprinkle with a little paprika and Parmesan cheese.

Bake until firm, about 45-55 minutes. I prefer mine a little more cooked so I almost always leave it for 55 minutes.

Cool for 2-3 minutes then turn over on a cutting board and slice.