It started as a small idea really. After several failed attempts of dating in Portland over the last three years, I decided to have a love affair with food instead. Food always knows how to express itself, doesn't pretend to be something it's not and since it's dead, won't walk off and leave me because it's scared (it should be scared though...being mashed up by my omnivorous teeth, squeezed down my esophagus and landing in the acid bath that is my stomach is a little intimidating...). Sounds like my perfect match!
So who am I? My weaknesses include Junior Mints, crunchy scones, cheese, green smoothies and my homemade quiche (see recipe and terrible picture at the bottom). Yes, I’m one of those people who eat sushi in two bites. No, I don’t want to stick the whole thing in my mouth. It tastes better and I experience all the flavors instead of them all being meshed together and lost on each other. I don’t take big bites. I savor it, smell it, study it, and then I eat it.
So why should you listen to me? I decline to eat certain things, either out of taste or ethics. Oddly enough, I don’t eat much seafood (ethics) but if you put a plate of bacon in front of me, I will eat it blindly and oh so happily. My palette is not discerning and my tastes are all over the board. But I truly do love food. This blog will be a smorgasbord of topics, but mostly revolve around food in all it's glory. I also run, bike, swim, and work outside with children in nature so don't be surprised if another topic besides food (would that be considered cheating?) slips into the mix.
So here goes nothing!
My favorite quiche recipe, modified and as healthy as a quiche could possibly be without subbing low-fat cheese (is that still considered cheese??) is below. There is no butter or vegetable shortening in the crust so it's thin but really crunchy and perfect. Enjoy!
Crust:
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup skim milk
1/4 cup olive oil
Filling:
6 eggs
1 cup skim milk
1 cup cheese!!!!! (cheddar, pepper jack, swiss, many kinds work with this)
1/2 teaspoon salt
cracked pepper
olive oil to saute
any vegetables you desire (I use cut up carrots, spinach, kale, bell peppers, onion, brocollini, etc)
meat! I use Trader Joe's jalapeno chicken sausage (I use one, cut up small) or (turkey) bacon (6-8 slices)
To make this damn tasty quiche, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Mix olive oil, milk and salt together. Then add the flour and blend well. Push down (or roll it out if you're feeling fancy) in a thin layer to cover your olive oil smeared 9" pie dish, or similar vessel. Poke holes in the bottom with a fork to prevent bubbling. Then stick it in the oven for 8-10 minutes or so. You don't want to cook it until it's brown because it still has about 30 minutes to go once the filling is inside.
While the crust is cooking, cook bacon/sausage in a skillet and cut up in needed, then set aside. Saute in olive oil the onions, carrots, brocollini, bell peppers and spinach/kale, in that order so as not to overcook anything. If the pan gets too crowded, cook a couple things, then set aside and cook the rest. Let everything cool for a few minutes when finished so the heat doesn't immediatly cook the eggs. Lastly, beat the eggs, milk, salt, pepper and cheese in a bowl . Add meat and veggies to egg mixture and pour into 1/2 cooked crust. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees F and cook for 35 minutes, or until set. Let stand 10 minutes and then devour! Serve with a side salad to make yourself feel better about eating so much glorious animal fat...