one mean quiche.

for whatever reason, i'd been craving quiche in the worst way this past week (and anything egg-related at that). so, i made one. i spent a night collecting recipes and ended up going with one from lululu @ home. i've been paying a lot of attention to that blog, and i knew anything posted there would definitely be worth a try (especially something involving spinach and caramelized onions!). so naturally, this was my choice.

because this quiche was to be a brunch meal for my brother and me (to kick off a long day at the mall + school), i had caramelized the onions, prepared the ham, and thawed the spinach the night before. this helped save me tons of time in the morning, which was great! (i'm the opposite of a morning person). i also used only one onion (rather than 2 as the recipe calls for), because my brother isn't the biggest fan of onions; it was a compromise.

i used 3 eggs, but would probably suggest using 4. i like me some egginess in my quiche, and i felt the egg was underrepresented in this one a bit... but that might be due to going a little overboard on the spinach (shame on me). also, i didn't make my own crust (SHAME ON ME) due to time constraints, but next time i really want to give this one a try because the method seems very interesting.

before

after

to pass the time while the onions caramelize and the quiche sits in the oven, give this band from minneapolis a listen. if you have an interest in folk/strings/irresistible voice and lyrics, you might really find that you'll love these guys. "special party time for everybody" is lucy michelle & the velvet lapelles second album, and though their first album is beyond great, this one is really something special. i'd suggest the tracks 'land and sea', 'mouth of the beast', and 'treetop lullaby' (and most others on this album are worth trying, it would be hard NOT to find something you like with these guys). the tracks/album can be listened to and purchased (for next to nothing) on amiestreet.com.

it turned out to be some of the best quiche i'd ever tasted (sorry mom ><). the flavors were vibrant and deep, tasty enough to leave out the ketchup this time around (not to say i didn't douse that plate in ketchup and dressing after this pic was taken...). it definitely stood on its own, as did the leftovers which were gone in a flash. if you're looking for something with great flavor without much work... i urge you to give this quiche a try.

from:

http://www.lululuathome.com/2009/04/ham-cheese-and-caramelized-onion-quiche.html

Ingredients:
1 short crust pastry
2 tbsp olive oil

2 large onions, sliced

Pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper

1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 cup ham, chopped or sliced

1 1/2 cup old-aged cheddar cheese
3 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

Directions:
Roll out pastry dough. Fit into a 9" round tart pan. Transfer to freezer to chill for at least an hour (It helps dough from shrinking when being baked).

Heat olive oil in a sautee pan on medium heat. Add the onions with salt and pepper. Cook until onions are softened, about 10 mins. Stir occasionally. Reduce heat to medium low and cook for an additional 20 mins, until the onions are browned, but not burned. Add balsamic vinegar and cook for 10 mins more, until onions are completely caramelized. Remove from heat.

In the same pan, raise the heat. Add ham and sautee for about 10 mins. Remove from heat and mix with onions. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350F. Place tart pan onto baking sheet to catch any spilling.

Sprinkle half of the cheese on the bottom of the tart shell. Evenly spread out ham and onion mixture over the cheese. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.

Mix eggs, milk and spinach, and pour mixture over the cheese.

Transfer to oven, and bake for about 30 mins until the center is set.

Let cool for 5 mins. Serve warm with greens.