Monday, October 24, 2011

The Hunt is On

I know, I know, I'm a horrible blogger! Or recipe creator/tester. Please find it in your hearts to forgive me. I thank you. That being said, I am now on the hunt for a new type of recipe to try. I am searching for recipes to eat cool or at room temperature.

Here's the deal: I currently have 2 jobs. I am a substitute teacher and I work at a gym. Most days I go straight from a school to the gym. This means that I am packing my lunch and dinner before I go to the school in the morning, and I am carrying both around with me all day. Sometimes I am lucky enough to be in a class that has a fridge or a microwave, but most days my meals stay with me in my bag. I am seriously over carrying a cold-cuts sandwich or PB&J. So I am now on the hunt for recipes that will last all day and do not require heating (or refrigeration, preferably). The only exception I am willing to make is for soup, and only because I have a kick-butt camping thermos that would probably keep soup surface-of-the-sun hot for days if I chose. Ok... Maybe not that hot, but it keeps it nice and toasty warm for at least 10 hours. More than enough time!

To start things off, here is the first recipe I am going to try:
Ham, Cheese, and Spinach "Crustless" Quiche*
Serves 6. Approximately 180 calories per serving.

2 large eggs
1/2 C liquid egg whites
1 5-oz can evaporated milk
2 t Dijon mustard
1/2 t salt
1/4 t ground black pepper
1 10-oz box frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 6-oz chunk ham, diced
1/4 t Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb blend
3/4 C grated part-skim Swiss cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Spray a 9-inch pie plate with non-stick spray

Whisk eggs, egg whites, milk, mustard, salt, pepper in a medium bowl. Add ham, spinach, Mrs. Dash, and cheese. Pour mixture into pie plate and back 25-30 minutes. Remove and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut into 6 wedges and serve.

*This recipe is a variation on a section found in the Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight & Eating Great by Pam Anderson