Spinach Quiche

Here is an easy quiche recipe perfect for a brunch!  Use a deep pie dish if you have one.   This was part of our Fathers Day brunch.  What a lucky dad if I do say so myself :)

Ingredients:
9 inch pie pastry
1 TBSP butter
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 (8oz) package cream cheese, cubed
3/4 cup milk
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach,
    thawed and well drained
1/2 red bell pepper chopped
1/8 tsp pepper

Prick bottom of pie crust with a fork and bake at 425 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  Set aside.  Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium high heat.  Add the chopped onions and red bell pepper, saute until tender.

Add cream cheese and  milk to mixture, cook over low heat, whisk until the cream cheese is melted.

Very slowly whisk about 1/4th of the hot mixture into the eggs. then add the remaining hot mixture. 
Whisk in the spinach and pepper.

Pour into the prepared pie crust and bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until it is set. 

Spinach Strawberry salad with strawberry balsamic vinagarette

This is my favorite "go to" salad for any occasion.  We have been making this for about 12 years now.  It is just so good!  The trick is to layer the salad in a glass bowl for a great presentation.

For the salad:
6 cups baby spinach, washed and dried
3 cups sliced strawberries
1/2 cup toasted almond slices
fresh feta cheese ( i really like boars head brand)

For the dressing:
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 TBSP sugar
2 strawberries or strawberry jelly

Slice the strawberries, toast the almonds and set aside.

toast nuts in a dry pan until they start to brown

Start by layering the spinach first then add the strawberries around the outside of the bowl.  Add the feta around the outside of the bowl  and sprinkle on the toasted almonds.

Keep layering until your bowl is full.  Top the salad with a little more strawberries, feta and almonds.

Make the dressing.  It is easiest if you have a mini chopper or immersion blender to get all of the ingredients incorporated.  Place all ingredients into the mini chopper and blend.   If you don't have a mini chopper or immersion blender omit the strawberries and sugar.  Whisk all ingredients in a medium size bowl then add 2 tablespoons of strawberry jelly.