Bacon, Onion and Cheese Quiche Recipe

This is incredibly easy to make, even if you make your own crust. For those who are watching their carb counts, I have included a low carb recipe at the bottom of this post.

Ingredients

• 1 9-inch pie crust
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 6 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 8 slices of cooked bacon, crumbled
• 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped onion

Directions

1. Place pie crust in a 9-inch glass pie plate.
2. Add all other ingredients together in a large bowl, and stir until combined.
3. Pour egg mixture into crust, and bake at 350 degrees for roughly 40 minutes, or until the center is set.

Low Carb Crust Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup coconut flour

Directions

1. In a medium sized bowl, mix butter, eggs and salt together.
2. Add in coconut flour, mixing until no clumps are left.
3. Place dough in pie plate, and press into the bottom, pricking holes in dough to avoid bubbling.
4. Bake at 400 degrees for 9 minutes, then remove from oven and let cool.
5. Pour in quiche filling, and bake as directed above.

This crust makes 6 servings, with 3 usable carbs per serving.

Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe

Cabbage rolls are awesome, but can be time consuming to make. This dish contains all of the same ingredients, in a deconstructed manner.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 to 2 pounds lean ground beef

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 1 small cabbage, chopped

• 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes

• 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce

• 1/2 cup water

• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Directions

1. In a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.
2. Add the ground beef and onion, cooking until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is soft.
3. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Add the cabbage, tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 30 minutes, until cabbage is tender.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup Recipe

I dearly love the loaded potato soup from O'Charley's, but it is a nearly 40 minute drive to get there. This recipe is a spot-on clone.

Ingredients

• 3 lbs red potatoes
• ¹⁄₄ cup butter
• ¹⁄₄ cup flour
• 8 cups half-and-half
• 1 (16 ounce) package Velveeta cheese, melted
• white pepper- to taste
• garlic powder- to taste
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• ¹⁄₂ lb bacon, fried crisp
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• ¹⁄₂ cup fresh chives, chopped
• ¹⁄₂ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• sour cream

Directions

1. Dice the potatoes (do not peel) into 1/2 inch cubes.
2. Add the potatoes to a large pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes.
3. In a separate pan, melt the butter, then whisk in the flour until smooth.
4. Continue to stir the butter/flour mixture over low heat while slowly adding the half-and-half.
5. When the mixture is slightly thickened, add the melted Velveeta.
6. Drain potatoes and add to cream mixture.
7. Add in pepper, garlic powder and hot pepper sauce.
8. Cover and cook for 30 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally.
9. Spoon into bowls and top with bacon, chives, parsley, shredded cheese and sour cream.

Chocolate Meringue Pie

This pie contains no premade filling or boxed pudding, giving it an authentic, old-fashioned flavor. I like to use a made-from-scratch pie crust, but you may use a premade one if you like.

Ingredients

Filling:

• 1 cup sugar
• 4 tablespoons cornstarch
• 4 tablespoons good quality cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 eggs, separated
• 1/2  teaspoon REAL vanilla extract
• 1/2 of a (15 ounce) can evaporated milk
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 tablespoons butter

Meringue:

• 6 teaspoons sugar
• ¹⁄₂ teaspoon cream of tartar
• a 9-inch baked pie shell

Directions

1. Combine the sugar, cornstarch, salt and cocoa in a heavy skillet.
2. Beat 3 egg yolks together with the milk, and then whisk into the dry ingredients until smooth.
3. Add the butter, and then cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened to the consistency of pudding.
4. Remove from heat and add in vanilla.
5. Pour the chocolate mixture into the baked shell.
6. Add the remaining 6 egg whites to a large bowl or stand mixer, and beat until frothy.
7. Slowly add in the sugar, 1 teaspoon at a time, until soft peaks form.
8. Add in the cream of tartar and beat until medium-stiff peaks form.
9. Spoon the meringue over the chocolate filling, and bake at 350 degrees until the meringue is golden brown.

Let cool for 30 minutes before slicing to give the filling a chance to solidify.