Ana's Crustless Spinach Quiche

*All ingredients are an approximation, please don't stress over being exact

3 cups fresh chopped spinach
4 eggs
1 small can of sliced black olives
one onion, chopped
chopped garlic to taste (I used about half tsp)
1 cup milk
1 package of cream cheese
About half a cup of Parmesan cheese
some shredded jack and cheddar cheeses (I used about half a cup
If possible some chopped cooked bacon. (I used 2 strips)


Separate eggs in 2 different bowls, one with the whites and one with the yolks.
Put the chopped onion and garlic in a hot pan with a little olive oil, once cooked a little, add the spinach and the olives, let it cook in low heat while you heat the oven to 350 degrees and go back to the eggs.
Beat the egg whites until they are very thick and form peaks, then set aside.
Beat the yolks, the milk, cream cheese and Parmesan cheese with a mixer.
Use spices both in the pan and in the bowl.  I used Basil (about one teaspoon) some fresh thyme, about 4 leaves chopped, some salt and pepper and some Mediterranean spices (McCormick) to even it out.

Once the spinach is soft let it cool a little.  Then quickly mix it into the yolk mixture, add the bacon bits and then add the egg whites and fold them in carefully but quickly.

Place in a large pie pan (or a pyrex).   Top with the shredded cheese and bake in the oven for about 30 to 40 minutes.  I also put sliced tomatoes on top to make it pretty.  Keep an eye on it !
When the top is golden and you move it a bit and it doesn't wobble much anymore, it's ready.

When it's done let it set for about 15 minutes.

Juice

Here by popular request are my recipes for vegetable juices.
I used this juice because I wanted to clean out my system, I was bloated and felt huge.
I also don't eat many veggies, so this is great, I have never eaten so many veggies!
This juice has helped me get rid of a lot of the bloating.  It gave me a little gas at first but if that happens, take some baking soda with a  little water.

I use a small juicer, nothing fancy.

Green fuzzy Caterpillar drink
4 celery stalks
1 cucumber
2 apples
a bunch of kale
or a couple hand fulls of collard greens
2 carrots
add a squirt of lemon juice to taste
and sprinkle with some bottled hot sauce to taste

Vampire drink
1 large apple
2 carrots
1 large beet (I used 2 small ones)
2 celery stalks
1 bunch of spinach

I peel the apples because I don't know what kind of waxes and things they may have on the peel.  I also peel the cucumber, I am paranoid about what's on it.
Wash the celery stalks and carrots and greenery. 
Cut everything so all veggies fit your juicer. 

Juice everything, add ice and drink up.

Carrot Loaf

I have been juicing lots of fruits and veggies.  I had pulp leftover from carrots I juiced.  Here is what I did with it.

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup regular flour
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
about 1/2 cup carrot pulp
vanilla
orange juice
1tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
handful or raisins

topped with Sugar in the raw sprinkled and some cinnamon


Just blend the ingredients with a handheld blender (minus the raisins)
add the orange juice until the mix is smooth and a little watery
mix in raisins and place in a loaf pan (spray it with PAM).
Sprinkle some Sugar in the Raw and cinnamon over it and bake at 350 degrees until golden brown and a knife comes out clean.
(about 40 minutes or so)

This is a very light tasting loaf, you can taste the orange and a little of the carrot.  It is light and fluffy not heavy and not too sweet. 

Try to get unbleached flour, and natural orange juice with no additives. 

Gorditas

You will need:

Maseca (flour to make corn tortillas)
water for the tortilla dough (masa)
leftover ground beef
leftover beans or canned beans
cheese
a little chorizo (optional)



Start by mixing some tortilla dough.  Pour the tortilla flour into a large bowl.  pour some warm water in it and start kneading with your hand until it has the consistency of play dough.

Then form some little patties about as thick as a burger patty.  To save time, I placed several in the oven to bake for about 20-30 minutes.  But you can cook them in a pan with some cooking spray.

Take the beans and put in blender with a little water so it has the consistency of a creamy soup.  Add spices to your liking.  I used leftover beans made from scratch, they already had spices.

Place the patties on a Pyrex and cover with the beans mix.  Then top with the ground beef, if you had chorizo, (just a little bit) you can add it and cook it mixed in with the meat before hand.
Top the meats with some cheese and bake for about 20 minutes or until hot.

Serve and top with some nice salsa.

I used meats, my family never used meat in this, I did because my husband likes meat, but you can always make them without.  You could also top with shredded lettuce, a dab of sour cream and salsa, and even add avocado and radish slices. 

Fruit Cocktail cake

I used:

1 box of Betty Crocker Yellow cake
3 eggs
1 brick (8oz) of Philadelphia Neufchatel cheese
(found next to the cream cheese, says 1/3 less fat)
1 can of fruit cocktail
1 cup water

I beat the eggs, and the cheese first with the electric beater, then added the water and last, the cake mix.
Drain the fruit cocktail and when done mixing the cake mix, pour in the fruit and mix gently with a spoon.
I used a spring form pan, large size.  Spray with non stick spray like PAM.

Bake at 350 degrees until top is golden brown and a knife inserted int he middle comes out without uncooked batter on it.

It comes out like a hybrid cheesecake, very moist and light though.

Leave it to cool, I took the sides off the spring form and left the cake on the sheet, and just transferred the whole thing into the cake container.  I had to taste test it first of course!!

chiles rellenos

This is my first try. 

Take chiles poblanos and toast them.  I toasted mine on a cast iron skillet with a little Pam.  I had to use a lid a little offset because it was starting to smoke and pop.
Make sure to turn them over, the skin should turn dark in spots.  Remove and let them cool.

While they cool, take a can of steamed tomatoes, I used the ones with some sipces in it.  Add a small can of tomato sauce and blend.  Pour into a pot so you can warm it up.  Adjust seasoning to taste.

Take the chiles and carefully peel whatever parts are dark and blistery.  Most of the areas will be pealing off, if you don't get them all don't worry.

Open a slit on the side of the chiles and carefully cut out the seed clusters. 
Use a cheese you like.  I used a slice of "panela" cheese, which is a fresh Mexican cheese.  I added a little bit of shredded monterey Jack and cheddar.

Once you put the ceese in, making sure no cheese sticks out, use a skewer or toothpick to secure them closed.

Heat up a frying pan with your choice of oil.  I used canola oil.  You will need oil enough to cover at least half of a chile.

Mix one can of beer and a cup and a half of flour and a tsp and a half of baking powder.  Whisk it all together.

Once oil is hot, cover the chiles in the batter and place in oil.  brown, and turn over. 
When a little gold, take them out and put them on a paper towel.  proceed witht he rest of how many you want to make. 
Make sure to remember at this time, once they cool a bit, take the toothpick or skewers out.

In the meantime the sauce whould be warm, you can turn it off once it's hot.

Once you're done with the chiles, place in a Pyrex or baking pan.  cover with the sacue, and serve.  you can serve with beans and/or rice.  Or wahtever you preffer.
You can also top with "cotija" cheese, or Parmesan, or sour cream.

Lemon brownies

I made lemon bars, and paired it up with brownie mix.  I will post directions later.  Here's the picture though...