Quiche with Tater Tot Crust

Of all the "carb diva" foods I make in my kitchen, quiche has to be in the top 10 of my favorites.

• It's so versatile. You can serve it for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or even as an appetizer. 
• You can adapt the basic recipe to just about whatever ingredients you have in your refrigerator. Change the cheese, change the protein.
• It's a tasty way to get your family to eat more veggies.

There is one downside, however. The pastry crust. I'm pretty darned good at making pie dough, but depending on the humidity it can be a tad fussy. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood for fuss. Yesterday was that kind of day, so I made a quiche with a potato crust.

I took a few photos during the process but didn't have a recipe (I'm making this up as I go). Here's what I did.

Quiche With Tater Tot Crust

Equipment and Ingredients

• a tart pan with removable bottom
• parchment paper
• straight-sided drinking glass or measuring cup
• measuring cups
• wire whisk
• frozen tater tots (about 4 cups)
• 1 cup cooked chicken Italian sausage (see other suggestions below)
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup milk

Instructions

(1) Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.

(2) Line a tart pan with a sheet of parchment paper. Here's the first Carb Diva trick for you. My parchment is notoriously uncooperative. It's stiff and doesn't like to nestle into the bottom of a pan. Simply take that sheet of paper and wad it up into a ball. Don't be gentle. Then unwrap; it will now submit to your will and line the bottom and sides of your tart pan.

(3) Fill the tart pan with tater tots—be generous but don't crowd them in.
Place in the preheated oven and "bake" for 5 minutes, just enough to thaw the tots.
Remove from the oven and allow to sit for a few minutes to cool.

(4) Grab that drinking glass (or measuring cup) and use it to squish the no longer solid tater tots over the bottom of the pan and up the sides. Be sure to completely cover the bottom of the pan.

(5) Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

(6) Bake the tater tot crust for 15 minutes, or until golden and crisp on the edges. Remove from the oven.

(7) Layer on the meat. I used chicken Italian sausage, but you can use your imagination here. 

(8) Next, add the veggies, and then the cheese.

(9) Whisk the 4 eggs with the milk until well-blended. Pour over the cheese layer. Bake the quiche for 30 minutes or until the eggs are set. 

Meat Suggestions

• cooked ground beef, turkey, or chicken
• vegetarian crumbles (faux ground beef)
• pulled pork
• diced cooked ham
• crisp-cooked crumbled bacon

Cheese Suggestions

• Cheddar
• Swiss
• Mozzarella
• Parmesan
• Colby
• Cheddar jack
• Provolone

Veggie Suggestions

• diced bell pepper
• diced onion
• chopped tomato, seeds removed
• broccoli florets
• asparagus tips
• black olives

Gorgonzola Chicken

When did I first make this meal? I have no idea. Was there a special occasion? Maybe. 

What I do know is that I posted this on my other website where my alter-ego lives. It was one of the first recipes that I recorded there. Since then, I've found my voice on that web place, and it isn't merely posting recipes. I explore individual food ingredients, delve into their history, and then find interesting ways to use that specific ingredient. 

So, those "early postings" I will move here. One at a time. This one is (in my humble opinion) pretty good. I hope you enjoy it.

Chicken Gorgonzola with Marsala Mushrooms

Ingredients

• 6 medium boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 strips of bacon or turkey bacon
• 1/2 small onion, minced (about 1/2 cup)
• 2 cups white button mushrooms, sliced
• 1/3 cup marsala wine
• 1 cup half and half
• 1/2 cup Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
• 1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil to an oven-safe  medium sauté pan and heat to medium-high. Place the thighs in the pan and reduce the heat to low. Saute until the underside is beautifully golden, about 7-8 minutes. Turn the thighs over. Transer the saute pan to the preheated oven and roast the thighs until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, about 5 minutes. Remove the thighs to a plate, cover with foil, and set aside.
3. Next, in the same saute pan cook the bacon, onion, and mushrooms over medium-high heat. Be careful! The handle of that pan is extremely hot! Cook, stirring frequently, until the bacon is crisped and the mushrooms and onions are golden. 
4. Add the Marsala wine. Cook until Marsala reduces a bit then add the half and half. Cook for a few minutes, until the half and half reduced a bit and has a sauce-like consistency. Stir in the Gorgonzola. When it is melted, taste the sauce for seasoning. (The cheese and bacon are salty so you probably won't need any additional salt).
5. Add the spinach and then nestle the chicken thighs into the pan. 
6. When chicken is ready, remove from oven; place one cooked chicken breast on each serving plate and top with mushroom-Marsala-Gorgonzola sauce. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for a few minutes, until everything is heated.
7. Serve immediately over rice, linguine, or whipped potatoes.

What Makes This Recipe Work?

• Boneless, skinless chicken thigh is a healthy, no-waste protein.
• Frozen chopped spinach is convenient, inexpensive, and nutritious; and again, no waste.
• Bacon or turkey bacon lends a smokey, savory note.
• Sauteing the onion removes its hot bite and makes it sweet.
• You deserve the mushrooms; they make any dish "fancy", don't they?
• Marsala wine, half and half, and Gorgonzola marry to make a creamy, sweet, tangy sauce that unites all of the flavors of the dish and makes it rich and luxurious.

Oatmeal Pancakes

How are those resolutions working out for you? If one of your goals for 2020 was to eat healthier, I have a recipe to share with you.

Here's a hearty, healthy pancake that takes a bit of planning (part of the batter needs to rest overnight in the refrigerator), but it's well worth the wait.

Oatmeal Pancakes

Cook Time.

Prep time: 12 hours,

Cook time: 10 min.

Ready in: 12 hours 10 min.

Yields: Who knows? This feeds 4 people in my house

Ingredients

• 2 cups regular rolled oats, not instant
• 2 cups buttermilk, or 2 teaspoons cider vinegar plus enough milk to make 2 cups
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted and cooled
• 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries, fresh blueberries, chocolate chips, etc.
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

1. In a medium bowl combine oats and buttermilk (or soured milk). Stir to blend. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
2. In the morning add the eggs, melted butter, and raisins--stir just to blend. In another bowl combine all of the remaining ingredients. Add to the oatmeal mixture and stir just until moistened.
3. Cook on a lightly greased griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat. Use about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake.

So What are the Health Benefits of Oatmeal?

Oatmeal is truly a "superfood". Packed with soluble fiber and healthy nutrients, oatmeal is a nutritional superhero. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, elevated total cholesterol is a chief risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Soluble fiber-rich foods such as oatmeal are an effective way of reducing elevated cholesterol levels.

Sticking to a diet can be challenging if your appetite isn't under control. According to a study published in the October 2009 issue of "Molecular Nutrition & Food Research" a compound in oatmeal reduces appetite by increasing a hunger-fighting hormone. You can help reduce your appetite even further by consuming fibrous foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables with your bowl of oatmeal.

And then, there is colon cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, almost 50,000 adults die each year from colon cancer. Antioxidants help reduce colon cancer risk by fighting cancer-causing compounds known as free radicals. Oats are rich in a class of antioxidants known as avenanthramides, which may help reduce colon cancer risk (December 2009 issue of "Nutrition Reviews").

Cassoulet - A New Twist on an Old Favorite

I know that some of you are wondering "what is cassoulet"? Does the name sound French? Well, there's a good reason for that—it is. Cassoulet is an all-day-simmered casserole of beans and meats. A Google search of recipes will give you numerous variations made with sausage, veal, venison, and even duck confit. It seems that cassoulet is French for "clean out the refrigerator."

But I digress. Many people traditionally begin the New Year with cassoulet. I don't like veal or venison, don't get me started on duck, and I don't have all day. So here is a Readers' Digest version of cassoulet. To a few this might be sacrilege. To me, it's just good-tasting, nourishing, savory food that doesn't take all day to cook and doesn't break the bank.

This is the recipe I created and posted on my blog at HubPages.

Photo Credit: Nibelle et Baudouin