The New Recipe Is....

QUICHE! I absolutely love quiche, and this one is even kind-of good for your with all the vegetables in it. This is a great recipe for Spring-time, or soon-to-come spring time, the extra heat from the oven will still feel good.

I've posted the new recipe and kitchen tip for this month on the sidebar on the right.

Hope you like it!

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PEPPERONI & VEGETABLE QUICHE

1 - unbaked pie shell in a 9" pie pan
1 TBSP olive oil
1 large sweet red bell pepper, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 of a medium onion, diced
1 small can of mushroom pieces, drained
1/4 tsp salt and pepper each
1 tsp dry basil flakes
1 tsp dry parsley flakes
5 eggs large eggs
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup half and half cream
1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 TBSP grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup sliced peperoni, cut into strips
1/2 cup frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium size skillet over medium heat add the olive oil and saute red pepper, garlic, onion, mushrooms, basil and parsley, sprinkle with salt and sautee until tender. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, beat the egss, salt, half-and-half. Stir in the mozzerella and parmesan cheeses, spinach, peperoni, and the sauteed vegetables. Pour into pie shell. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until the top is golden brown, the egg filling does not jiggle when moved, or when a kinfe inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Yield: 4 to 8 servings.



Kitchen Tip - March
SALT:
Use iodized table salt for baking, and Kosher salt for cooking. Kosher Salt compared to table salt has a much better flavor, it's not as salty, and it is coarser in size making it easier to finger. Kosher salt is what the chefs on foodnetwork, and it's what I use. You can find Morton Kosher salt in any grocery store, it's usualy sold next to the table salt. Buy a small sugar bowl or any pretty little bowl that matches your kitchen decor. Fill the bowl with Kosher salt and keep the bowl next to your stove for cooking.

PEPPER:
Toss that pre-ground pepper into the garbage bin and out of your kitchen for good. It has no flavor whatsoever. Invest in a pepper mill - they're quite cheap, they can be purchased for under $10.

I promise, freshly ground pepper and kosher salt makes all the difference! And it makes cooking fun, you can feel like a pro.