Spinach Cheese Mini Quiches
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Happy almost New Year’s!
This year went by so quickly, especially these last few months.
But then, maybe it always feels that way– the near past and present are all enveloped in a busy blur, while the more distant past stretches out behind us, deceptively calm and rose-colored, punctuated by a few specific memorable events.
In 2012, I didn’t leave the U.S. for a single trip outside the country. (The last time that happened was 1999– the year I graduated from high school.)
Instead, this year has been about taking stock and appreciating family and friends. I enjoyed several memorable visits from friends to Santa Barbara, hung out with my nephew and met my new baby niece in D.C., and went home to Madison three times to visit family.
A whole year without stopping in and crashing on my friends’ futons in Japan has left me a little melancholy about all the time-and-money barriers there are to overseas traveling. It’s hard to live so far away from close friends– who I’ve been spoiled enough to see quite often up until now– but it’d be harder still to live back on that side of the ocean now that my mom is sick and I want to visit my parents in Wisconsin more often.
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I’ve traveled less around California this year, too, because of car problems, mostly. (Turns out, my car doesn’t work when it rains. You would think this wouldn’t be much of an issue in southern California, but the months from November to February put up more of a fight than the rest of the year.)
Instead, I’ve been taking joy in staying in with my girlfriend, Paula, dreaming and cooking up feasts for ourselves and our friends, as we listen to music and sip red wine. We’ve become such unintentional homebodies! Complaints that our feet hurt or that our fingers are wrinkly from washing dishes aside, I’ve been gratefully coming to the realization lately that my kitchen is my favorite place to be.
I hope you have all been as lucky as I was this year– to be able to spend so much time in your favorite place, and with people you love.
Here’s to next year bringing more of the same (with some traveling adventures thrown in)!
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Like my Thanksgiving dinner, I will be spending this New Year’s Eve cooking (too much) for two.
But if you’re heading to (or hosting) a gathering, then I predict you’ll need a perfect appetizery– yet warming and hearty– New Year’s Eve recipe that will please a crowd. Not to mention one that’s incredibly easy to throw together.
Look no further.
These are the most addictive little quiches you have ever had the pleasure of popping into your mouth. My sister usually makes these for our family’s Winter Solstice brunch– sometimes in the form of Spinach Cheese Squares instead of in the mini phyllo cups.
They are so good either way, and I should know; the day I made these for the blog, I also ate them for dinner.
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Print this recipe. (PDF)
RECIPE:
Spinach Cheese Mini Quiches
(or Spinach Cheese Squares)
(my sister’s Winter Solstice party recipe)
(Makes 60 mini quiches in phyllo cups, or one 9×13″ baking dish of 24-48 squares;
or make 30 phyllo quiches plus one 8×8″ baking dish of 16 squares)
Ingredients:
~ 1 10 oz. package of frozen chopped spinach
~ ½ cup flour
~ ½ tsp. salt
~ ½ tsp. baking powder
~ 2 eggs (if doubling this recipe, use only 3 eggs; double all other ingredients)
~ ½ cup milk
~ ⅓ small onion, diced (or finely chopped in a food processor)
~ ½ lb. shredded cheese (I used a blend of cheddar, monterey jack, and asadero)
OPTIONAL:
~ pinch of cayenne pepper
~ 60 mini phyllo shells, frozen (defrost at room temperature for 10 minutes)
~ butter to grease a glass baking dish for Spinach Cheese Squares
How to make it:
1. Microwave the frozen spinach– along with 2 Tbsp. water– in a microwave safe dish, covered with plastic wrap for 3 minutes. Stir, then microwave another 2-3 minutes.
2. Whisk the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
3. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, then add milk and the onions. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones, then stir in the cheese.
4. For Mini Quiches: Arrange mini phyllo shells on a baking sheet. Fill the shells with about 1 tsp. each of spinach cheese filling. Bake for 12-18 minutes in the center/top third of the oven.
For Spinach Cheese Squares: Grease the baking dish with butter, then pour the spinach cheese mixture in, and bake for 30-35 minutes.
Print this recipe! (PDF)
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Related recipe posts:
> Baked Brie with Fig Jam in Phyllo Dough
> Heirloom Tomato Goat Cheese Tart
> Pita Chips with Labne Olive Oil Dip
spontaneous tomato 
Great recipe. If we were doing the party at our house tonight I’d be making my Grammy’s spinach balls.
Thanks! Oo, those sound good too… same basic ingredients as these quiches?
Close but with less egg. Haven’t made them in ages. Need to do a post about them. :)
Yes– I’ll look forward to that post! :)
Looks wonderful — pinned! Being a homebody can be a good thing from time to time — enjoy! ~ Kat
Thanks! And that’s true– you’re right. :) I will enjoy it this (extended) weekend. Happy new year!
Homebodies for the win! ~ nerdwithtaste.wordpress.com
:)
Oh Allison…this looks tempting and divine…wonderful recipe!!
Thank you! It’s my sister’s recipe, but I agree it’s wonderful. :)
Yummy! Sounds like you had a wonderful year! I’m totally with you on the homebodies part- there’s nothing better than an evening in :)
Yes! :) Although the funny thing is that even though I like evenings in much more than evenings out lately, I’m still feeling the travel bug and I miss traveling to new places (even if I turn in early to my hostel/hotel each evening once I’m there).
Great winter app for a party..thank you! Always looking to incorporate more greens into my diet…
You’re welcome! Hope you enjoy it. :)
Allison, I can see myself having one too many of these spinach cheese quiches. Looks absolutely delicious. Definitely great for serving at a party. Nice post and thanks for sharing :)
Thanks! These quiches are definitely that addictive, but they are also so tiny that one too many is only one bite too many, so you could take consolation in that. :)
You can ignore my text–they just came out of the oven and look great! Hoping J might like them too. Thanks for posting the recipe!
Yay, cool! I totally didn’t even see your text until after I noticed this comment. How did the kids like them?
A hit with J, but as expected, H won’t go near them! Too green!:)
Bummer! You should show H the videos I just linked to (on the Spontaneous Tomato facebook page) of the little girl about his age who eats EVERYTHING. :)
I’m glad J liked it! (Although Jess gets all the credit of course!)
Very interesting your blog and your pictures are so beautiful. If you would like to see my recipes.. http://chiarazanone.wordpress.com/recipes-from-the-world-ricette-dal-mondo/ Thanks :)
Thank you! And thanks for stopping by and commenting!
I love your food pictures!
Thank you! The photography has been one of my biggest struggles with this blog, so I extra appreciate comments like yours. :)