Father's Day Menu 2013

Since it is Father's Day, Brian got to choose the menu. Hence, the meat quiche. We also served a beet salad and tropical banana bread. Both of the quiches and the beet salad were great. The Tropical Banana bread was delicious but it was a bit greasy. I will revisit the recipe and mess around with the oils. Maybe just cut out the olive oil and keep the coconut oil.

Ham and Cheese Quiche

Filling Ingredients

• 1 prepared pie crust
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese
• 4 tsps all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cooked, diced ham 
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground mustard
• 6-8 small tomatoes, sliced 1/2"

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400º. 
2. In medium bowl, toss 4 teaspoons flour with the cheese. Sprinkle cheese mixture into the pie shell. Add the ham.
3. In medium bowl, combine eggs, milk, salt and mustard. Whisk until smooth and pour over cheese and ham.
4. Place foil around edge of crust to protect it.
5. Bake for 45 minutes, or until filling is set and crust is golden brown. Garnish with parsley.

You can cover with plastic wrap and then foil and freeze after step 5. Then preheat oven to 400º and place frozen quiche in oven. Bake for 60 minutes.

Onion And Zucchini Vegetarian Quiche

Filling Ingredients

• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 small zucchini, chopped small
• 1 medium onion, sliced very thin
• 1 prepared pie crust
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese
• 4 tsps all purpose flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground mustard
• 6-8 small tomatoes, sliced 1/2"

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400º. 
2. Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Add onion and zucchini and cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
3. In medium bowl, toss 4 teaspoons flour with the cheese. Sprinkle cheese mixture into the pie shell. Add the zucchini and onions. Be careful not to get any of the liquid from the pan into the quiche, it will make the crust soggy.
4. In medium bowl, combine eggs, milk, salt and mustard. Whisk until smooth and pour over cheese and veggies.
5. Place foil around edge of crust to protect it.
6. Bake for 45 minutes, or until filling is set and crust is golden brown. Garnish with parsley.

Hawaiian Inspired Banana Bread

Blogged here.

Tropical Banana Bread

Beet Salad with Candied Walnuts & Feta

Ingredients 

• 3/4 cups walnuts
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/8 tsp coarse salt
• 1 (10 ounce) package mixed baby salad greens 
• 1 sweet apple, chopped 
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 
• 2 ounces Feta cheese
• Grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375º. 
2. Trim beet leaves and scrub. Place beets in pan and drizzle with olive oil. Cover with foil. Bake for 45-60 minutes or until beets are tender. Remove from oven set aside until cool enough to handle. Peel and chop beets. Set aside to finish cooling.
3. While the beets are cooking, place the walnuts in a shallow roasting pan. Place in oven for about 5 minutes to toast. Be careful not to burn them!
4. Place sugar in a pan over medium heat. Stir as sugar starts to melt. Once the sugar has melted and browned, add walnuts and stir well to coat.
5. Remove from the heat, spread in a single layer on wax paper, sprinkle with salt and set aside to cool.
6. In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar and olive oil to make the dressing.
7. Place baby greens in a large bowl, Add walnuts, beets and chopped apples over the greens, and top with dabs of goat cheese and parmesan. Drizzle with some of the dressing. Serve and enjoy.