cooking for a crowd

Tonights focus was on the lovely company that came to call this evening. Karen, Madeline and Olivia came over for a much needed visit this evening and I needed a crowd pleaser.

QUICHE! or Quie-chie as my sister once called it is great for everyone unless, you are a vegan, then, it's not the best option. But, omnivores delight in cheesy goodness. AND it's palatable for lil mouths.

Quiche:
7 eggs
1 1/2 c shredded mozzarella
1/3 c pasta sauce
1 bag spinach sautéed
2 c greens sautéed
pinch of salt and black pepper

hand mix all of the ingredients but the eggs in a bowl, place in an oven safe dish and then cover with slightly beaten eggs. work your fingers or a spatula through the egg and greens mixture to make sure that it's evenly dispersed throughout the dish.

bake until puffed up and solid to the touch, or if you would like poke it with a spaghetti stick and if it comes out clean, it's done. 25-35 min at 365

Rice and Lentils:
steamed rice (we have been over the preparation of rice before, by now you should have caved to my command and purchased yourself a damn rice cooker. I will not cover how to steam rice again.)

lentils, 1 lb of dry lentils to 8 c water, simmer for 20-25 min or until tender in a pot that is large enough to handle the load. Want to punch it up a bit, add 1 tbs of veggie bullion.

Serve the quiche with the lentil rice. Great for little mouths.

Pear Tartlets:
ready bake biscuits in a can - halved and placed in the bottom of muffin pan wells to shape while baking
pear butter - apple sauce works well here too
1 thinly sliced pear
1 tbs honey

bake the biscuits until golden brown 5-7 min at 365, let cool, remove from tin, plate, cover with 1 tbs pear butter and a few slices of pear, dust with cinnamon. If you have the munchkin crew that I had this evening, just skip all of the solids and give them the jar of pear butter and a spoon. If you are smart, you will place them in a kiddie pool or trash bag, something easily hose-off-able, as it seems that pear butter gets everywhere and is a great adhesive.