Is this thing on??!

Wow, I haven't blogged in a while.  When Sydney Sue was sick, especially at the end, I didn't cook much, so all of my blogs became about her and her updates, and not about food.  After she passed, I took a bit of a break from things.  We're getting everything back together.  Jessie went to a new adoptive home a a few weeks ago; they bounced him the very next day after he kept trying to eat their cat. It was nice having him back; having gone from 4 dogs down to 2 dogs (and the 2 quieter ones, at that) was really hard.  We had barely gotten used to Crazy Jessie the Lizard Killer when I brought home a greyhound foster, a cute little red girl with the biggest smile you have ever seen.  So it's nice having four dogs again.  The greyhound foster will likely be adopted out at the picnic on June 6th, and then we'll be back to 3.  I don't see poor Jessie getting adopted out anytime soon, poor kid. I think it's his crazy hair, ha ha haaa....

School is going well, I have only 6 classes left after the current class. Today, I will register for the last time.  I am so beside myself with excitement. I'm really going to make it!  I am very proud of myself for having stuck through over 4 years of college while working full time, starting a rescue group, starting a new business, having an accident, losing my house, losing my rescue group, losing my business...  it's been a LONG road, but the journey is almost done!  I'm super excited to have a ton of free time after the last class, I don't know what I will do with myself! Oh, never mind, I know... I'll do more work with my greyhound rescue group. And have more time to sew 16th century clothes, and play the piano, and go back to ballet classes, spend more time at the gym...  I guess I'll be pretty busy after all. : )

So, a very dear friend has been giving me cookbooks, and one of them had the best recipe for little mini-quiches.  When I was in my 20's, my best friend and I used to buy a huge box of mini-quiches at Costco and have them at every party.  They are really good, but I am so not buying a Costco size box of them, plus I've always wanted to try to make them on my own. They are a bit of work, but the taste is so worth it.

The crust is made from cream cheese, butter, and flour.  It turns into a wet dough that is refridgerated so that it can be handled.  Once I had it chilled, I sprayed a mini muffin pan with Pam, and then I divided the dough up into 24 balls.  Each ball went into a mini muffin space, and I pressed it up the sides and onto the bottom.  Because the dough is soft, it forms beautifully, and the edges of the little tarts came out perfectly smooth and even.  Then, I cooked bacon in a pan, and crumbled it, and set it aside. In the bacon fat, I sauteed spinach, garlic and onion, and then I let it cool. Into the little tarts I put a bit of bacon, a bit of spinach, and a bit of grated monterey jack cheese.  In a small bowl, I whipped together eggs with cream, and I topped off each tart with the mixture.  Into the oven they went, and half an hour later, I had 24 beautiful little mini spinach and bacon quiches.  The crust was unbelievably light and flaky; the filling was perfectly flavored, and the texture was perfect.  I ate a few (well, a lot) and froze the rest.  To reheat them, all I have to do is pop them on a baking sheet and into a 350 degree oven for 10 - 12 minutes, and presto! They are like new again! The filling possibilities are endless...  simple Quiche Lorraine, with just a pinch of swiss cheese;  brie and artichoke;  hame and swiss;  bacon and cheddar...  This just might be my new favorite appetizer.