Crustless Country Quiche Bites

Ingredients

• 1 (10 oz) bag Cut ‘N Clean Greens Country Greens
• 3 strips bacon
• 1 cup onion, finely diced
• 1/4 tsp Freshly ground pepper (about 1/4 teaspoon or so)
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 (15 oz) container low-fat ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded Italian blend cheese
• 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 eggs, beaten slightly (can use egg substitute)
• Garnish: pine nuts (optional)

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mist mini muffin pans with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

In a large pot, bring 4 quarts water to a boil, add Country Greens and boil gently for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking. When done, drain greens in a colander and allow to cool slightly. When cool enough to handle, mass greens on a cutting board and chop more finely, then squeeze with hands to remove any remaining excess water.

Meanwhile, cook bacon in large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon, drain, cool and crumble or chop finely.

Leave a small amount of bacon fat in same skillet, and cook onion until tender, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Add greens, freshly ground pepper and nutmeg, and cook over medium heat until liquid evaporates, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Stir bacon into greens and remove from heat.

In a large bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan and eggs. Add cooled greens mixture to ricotta mixture and stir well.

Spoon mixture evenly into prepared muffin cups. Place 3 or so pine nuts on top of each mini quiche if desired, and bake 25 minutes or until filling is set and quiche is slightly browned. Remove from oven and let stand in pan for 5-10 minutes. To remove from pan, run a thin-bladed knife around edges and release the quiches from the cups. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature. Allow quiches to rest on a wire rack until room temperature and then refrigerate or freeze for later use.

Makes 36-40 individual quiche bites.

You may amp up the spice by sautéing 1-2 cloves garlic with the onion, and by adding a few drops of chipotle hot sauce to the ricotta mixture if you like. At the Cut ‘N Clean Greens test kitchen, we prefer the quiches without both of these additions because it makes them more versatile to serve for breakfast or lunch, or to sensitive palates. The garlic and hot sauce are more appropriate if serving quiches strictly for cocktail party or pre-dinner appetizers. Freezing hint: Package the baby quiches in snack-size zipper-top bags, 4 to a bag, and that will make it easy to pull out a few at a time for lunches or breakfasts.