Recipe: Crustless Summer Vegetable Quiche

I've joined a CSA this summer, and I am having a ball with all of my goodies so far, and it's only been two weeks!  I had some veggies that needed using (most from the CSA), so I decided to make a summer vegetable quiche as a light dinner.  It is hot here this week.  I walked outside after work and my glasses fogged up.  Seriously.  That's not ok.  This quiche can be served room temperature, or even chilled, is perfect for a light summer dinner.

Some of my CSA bounty

Instead of using a crust, I used some leftover boiled potatoes that I made for my Swedish Midsommar Celebration this past weekend.  They were boiled, with butter and some dill.  You could just use plain boiled potatoes as well.  Try this with whatever veggies you have on hand!

Crustless Summer Vegetable Quiche

1 small bunch asparagus
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 small potatoes, boiled and sliced thinly
1 small tomato, sliced thinly
1/4 c scallions, chopped
2 eggs
1/3 c heavy cream
1/3 c milk
1/2 c shredded parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp fresh oregano, chopped

Preheat oven to 450 F.  Trim off any woody ends from the asparagus and toss with the oil.  Roast for about 15 minutes.  Set aside.

Lightly spray a tart pan with cooking spray.

Spread one layer of potato slices on the bottom of the tart pan.

Lay a layer of thinly sliced tomatoes on top of the potatoes.

Spread the asparagus over the tomatoes decoratively.

Whisk together the eggs, scallions, cream, milk, cheese, and oregano until fluffy and pour evenly over the vegetables.

Bake at 450 F for 15-20 minutes, or until lightly browned and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.  Let cool for 5 minutes before turning out of pan.  Serve in slices, warm, room temperature, or chilled.

The kids each had two slices!

Lunches for an Outing: Wheeler Mountain - 6.15.13

Our first hike of the season!!

The Boy has been begging to do Wheeler Mountain since last year... It is a 2 hour drive from our house, so it isn't an easy one to get to.

But I think we may all have a new favorite mountain!  It's a relatively short hike and so pretty... challenging at times, and all of us came down with holes in our pants - though this was caused by foolishly sliding down granite slabs on the way down.  Poor planning, but it was fun.

We had several friends along with us, and I made all the lunches.

Everyone had some Asian snack mix, fruit (The Girl got strawberries, but everyone else had cantaloupe), a sandwich, and either BBQ Corn crunch snacks from Naturebox or Guacamole bites from Naturebox.

For my vegetarian friend, I put leftover grilled curry veggies in his sandwich instead of ham.

A stack of hike-ready lunches!

I also brought along some Astronaut ice cream that I had as a treat.

The lunches were delicious mountain-top.

None of us can wait for our next adventure - and the accompanying lunch!

Family Lunches: 6.12.13

Daddy made a delicious macaroni and cheese with ham, tomatoes, and chicken last night for dinner.   He has leftovers with strawberries and apple slices.

I have leftovers with grape tomatoes and strawberries.

Sandwich: 28g, granola bar: 29g, strawberries: 5g, apple slices: 4g

The Boy has a banana for snack (not pictured, 28g).  His lunch is strawberries, apple slices, a sandwich with ham and cheese and hummus, and a Nutrigrain granola bar.

The Girl has a bbq at school.

Family Lunches: 6.11.13

I have leftover Grilled Veggie and Chickpea Curry with black rice, peach slices, and orange slices.

Sandwich: 28g, apple slices: 8g, granola bar: 18g, strawberries: 5g

The Boy has a banana for snack (not pictured, 28g).  His lunch is a hummus and turkey sandwich, apple slices, a granola bar, and strawberries.

The Girl has a banana for snack (not pictured).  Her lunch is a hummus and turkey sandwich, orange slices, strawberries, and a granola bar.

Recipe: Grilled Veggie Curry with Chick Peas

I had some veggies in the fridge that needed to be used, and I wanted to make a Meatless Monday dinner.  I made this Grilled Veggie Curry with Chick Peas by flying by the seat of my pants, and I have to say, I'm thrilled with the result!

I served the curry over black rice with a generous dollop of mango chutney.

Grilled Veggie Curry with Chick Peas

1 medium eggplant
1 small zucchini
1 small yellow squash
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp tumeric
1/2 tsp ground ginger
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1 onion
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 small can diced tomatoes, with juice

Slice the eggplant into thin rounds.  Place in a large baking dish or a bowl.  Dissolve 2 tsp salt in 1 c warm water and pour over the eggplant.  Add enough cold water to cover the eggplant and weigh down with a smaller dish or a rack with something heavy on top of it.  Allow to soak for half an hour.  (This step draws any bitterness out of the eggplant).

Meanwhile, mix together the spices. Slice the zucchini and the yellow squash into rounds. Drain and rinse the eggplant after the half hour soak is over.  Coat all the veggies with the oil, and sprinkle with the spice mixture.

Heat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat.  Put the veggies on the grill and cook until char marks appear on them, flipping to get them cooked thoroughly on both sides.

In a large saute pan, melt the coconut oil and saute the onion until soft.  Stir in the chickpeas and diced tomatoes.

Slice the larger pieces of grilled veggies into smaller pieces if desired, and stir all of the grilled veggies into the onion, chick pea, and tomato mixture.  Saute for about 5 minutes, or until flavors combine.
Serve over rice (I like black rice), with chutneys and Indian pickles as desired.

Family Lunches: 6.10.13

Happy Monday!

Daddy has a turkey and hummus sandwich, a couple slices of ham, orange slices, and apple slices.

I have a turkey and hummus sandwich, orange slices, peach, and grape tomatoes.

Sandwich: 30g, carrots: 2g, Chobani Champions: 9g, apple slices: 4g, cantaloupe: 5g

The Boy had a banana for snack (not pictured, 28 g).  His lunch is a turkey and hummus sandwich, cantaloupe, apple slices, a Chobani Champions yogurt, and baby carrots.

The Girl had a yogurt for snack (not pictured).  Her lunch is a turkey and hummus sandwich, an orange, peach slices, carrots, and Chobani Champions.

Family Lunches 6.7.13

Friday's lunches were yummy.

Daddy had lunch at work, so I didn't pack for him.

I had a sandwich with turkey and hummus, orange slices, cantaloupe, and grape tomatoes.

The Boy had a banana for snack (not pictured, 28 g).  His lunch was a hummus and turkey sandwich, cantaloupe, apple slices, and carrots with hummus.

The Girl had a banana for snack (not pictured).  Her lunch was a turkey and hummus sandwich, apple slices, some leftover chicken pasta salad, orange slices, and jumbo raisins.

Family Lunches: 6.6.13

Daddy has a wrap with ranch, leftover steak, and salad, along with orange slices and jumbo mixed raisins.

I have a wrap with ranch, leftover steak, and salad, along with orange slices, peach slices, and cherry tomatoes.

Crackers: 20g, liverwurst: 2g, apple: 8g, cantaloupe: 5g, carrots: 2g

The Boy has a Chobani Champions yogurt for snack (not pictured, 9g).  His lunch is crackers, liverwurst, apple slices, carrots, and cantaloupe.

The Girl has another field trip, and has Chobani Champions yogurt for snack (not pictured).  Her lunch is in a strawberry container like some of my lunch packing brethren have done in the past.  She has a wrap with ham, ranch, and salad, along with jumbo raisins (in a baggie on the bottom), carrots, a small apple, a piece of corn on the cob, and a juice.

Family Lunches: 6.5.13

Happy Wednesday!

Daddy has a ranch, ham, and salad wrap, orange slices, apple slices, and blackberries.

I have crackers, liverwurst, orange slices, jumbo raisins, peach slices, and cherry tomatoes.

Crackers: 20g, Liverwurst: 1g, raisins: 16g, carrots: 2g, strawberries: 5g, apple: 4g

The Boy has a banana for snack (not pictured, 28g).  His lunch is crackers, liverwurst, carrots, apple slices, jumbo raisins, and strawberries.

The Girl has a Chobani Champions for snack (not pictured).  Her lunch is crackers, ham, orange slices, carrots, peach slices, and blackberries.

Family Lunches: 6.4.13

Daddy has a banana, blackberries, strawberries, a wrap with salad, ham, and ranch, blackberries, and orange slices, along with an Emergen-C.

I have a wrap with ranch, lettuce, and ham, along with strawberries, orange slices, and cherry tomatoes.

Apple slices: 8g, sandwich: 20g, strawberries: 5g, carrots: 2g

The Boy has a banana for snack (not pictured, 29g).  His lunch is a sandwich with liverwurst, lettuce, cheese, and ham, along with strawberries, carrots, and apple slices.

The Girl has a field trip, and has banana for snack (not pictured), a sandwich with ham, cheese, and lettuce, along with blackberries and orange slices.

Family Lunches: 6.3.13

Happy Monday!

I got some pretzel rolls in the deli clearance at the store, so we have those in our lunches.

Daddy has half a pretzel roll with a little bit of liverwurst and cheese, salad with Italian dressing in the little container, an orange, and blackberries, packed in his GoGreenLunch box.

I have half a pretzel roll with liverwurst and cheese, salad, Italian dressing, cherry tomatoes, and orange slices, packed in an Easylunchbox.

Sandwich: 30g, Strawberries: 4g, apple slices: 8g, carrots & ranch: 2g, corn: 3g

The Boy has a Chobani Champions yogurt for snack (not pictured, 9g).  His lunch is half a pretzel roll with liverwurst and cheese, apple slices, carrots and ranch, strawberries, and a piece of corn on the cob, packed in an Easylunchbox.

The Girl has a Chobani Champions yogurt for snack (not pictured).  Her lunch is half a pretzel roll with ham and cheese, blackberries, orange slices, carrots with ranch, and a piece of corn on the cob, packed in an Easylunchbox.