Vegetables or Cupcakes? Yes, Please.

Together? Veggie cupcakes? Why not? Ok, so they aren't really cupcakes - but they kind of look like them. Mini crustless quiches, baked in muffin tins, no less. Quiche is essentially a savory baked custard, which means it combines eggs and either cream or milk or both. I am working on a vegan recipe that actually has the sensation, if not exact flavor, of quiche - stay tuned for more. While these are neither low fat nor low calorie, they are low carb, for those who care about that. And they are totally yummy, very easy, attractive, re-heat well, and make use of lots of delicious veggies. We all know that real men DO eat quiche, now get into the kitchen and make some, too.

These little crustless quiches are great for brunches, in your lunches, for friends in bunches, after you do crunches, you will like them I've got hunches (any more -unches?)

Basic Mini Crustless Quiches

4 large eggs
1 cup heavy cream, half & half, or whole milk
1 cup grated cheese
1/2 tsp grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Beat eggs with a whisk. Add in cream or milk and mix well. Add in spices and salt. Heat oven to 375, well-grease muffin tin (or you can line tin with muffin papers.) Put any veggies and cheese in bottom of each muffin cup, ladle egg on top, filling about 2/3 full. Bake about 25 minutes until eggs are set. Remove each quiche from pan and serve warm. These freeze well, just don't heat in the microwave - you will end up with eggs the texture of a rubber ball, ugh.

Great Good Greens, Mini Quiches!

Basic quiche recipe, using cheddar or smoked swiss cheese
1 1/2 cups chiffonade fresh tender greens (spinach, arugula, broccoli rabe, baby chard)
2 Tbs finely chopped or slivered leafy herbs (basil, loveage, sorrel, dill)
2 Tbs finely chopped chives, green onions, or green garlic
dash of cardamom

Follow the instructions for the basic recipe, adding greens to each cup with the cheese and cardamom to egg mixture.

Great Greek Mini Quiches, Opa!

Basic quiche recipe, using crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, roughly chopped
1/2 cup roasted red peppers, roughly chopped
1/4 cup white or yellow onion, finely chopped
2 tsp dried crushed oregano

Follow the instructions for the basic recipe, mixing the oregano into the egg mixture and putting the fillings in the bottom of each cup.

All Of The Fixing, None Of The Bagel Mini Quiches

Basic quiche recipe minus the cheese and minus the salt
1/2 cup cream cheese, chopped into very small bites
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup lox, chopped or shredded
2 Tbs capers

Follow the instructions for the basic recipe, put the fillings in the cups.

do people in Santa Fe really eat this Style Mini Quiches

Basic quiche recipe using cheddar and jack blend for the cheese
1/2 cup chopped green chiles
1/2 cup cooked black beans
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup corn kernels
1 tsp ground toasted cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Follow the instructions for the basic recipe, put spices in egg mixture and fillings in cups.

All Veggie All The Time Mini Quiches

Basic quiche recipe using whatever cheese you like, or no cheese at all
2 cups of chopped, sliced, or minced veggies (mushrooms, peppers, broccoli, spinach, onions, sun dried tomatoes, fresh drained chopped tomatoes, corn kernels, peas, blanched green beans)
dried or fresh herbs, to taste

Follow the instructions for the basic recipe, add herbs to egg mixture and put veggies in cups.

You get the picture - now go make something delicious!