New Recipe Thursday*

Hallelujah it's Thursday...starting the week one day short is the best idea ever. Well, having the whole week off was actually the best idea ever, but that's not really practical.

I'm not really sure what inspired this concoction, but thankfully (spoiler alert) it worked! Often I simply think about what think would taste good together and then, well, put it together.

Our Winter Harvest baskets featured a Siberian kale from a new (to me) farm:

"Dane Fisher from Fisher Farms has just returned to providing us produce. Dane is a professor at Pfeiffer University and one of area's earliest supporters of buying local and eating local. He has grown Siberian Kale for us. When young, this interesting kale variety is peppery and smooth. As the cold comes, the flavor is milder but richer. " 

I don't think I've had this variety, but I could tell it was going to be tasty! So much so that I decided to save a little out of the recipe for steaming so I could taste the true flavor.

Anyhow, chop up the butternut it pretty small pieces ~ 3 cups. Transfer to a microwave safe container, add 1 T water, and cook for 5-8 minutes until tender and mushy.

Love the Ikea foldy cutting mats, but really, REALLY wish they could go in the dishwasher.

Meanwhile, saute kale & green onion. Microwave 4 breakfast sausage style links and mash (could easily substitute regular sausage here). 

Combine 4 eggs or egg equivalent**, 1/3-1/2 cup low fat ricotta cheese, and desired amount of garlic powder, sage, and rosemary. (I never ever measure, but it was maybe 1 t garlic, 1 t sage 1.5 rosemary). Mix well until smooth.

Combine sausage crumbles, kale, and butternut and mix with eggs. Pour into pre-heated deep dish pie crust. Top with parmesan cheese and bake for 30 minutes on 400 degrees, plus a 3-4 minute broil.

The kale was phenomenal. Due to it's dainty leaf style, it is here by named Fancy Kale in this house.  The quiche was the perfect flavor/texture combination, not too eggy, and felt more filling than some others.

Definite keeper!

*note that unlike Wordless Wednesday, this will likely not be a regular feature :P

**egg substitutes are probably not the most wisest choice when it comes to nutrition, local eating, organic, or sustainable, but for me, I choose the lack of cholesterol as more important to make this "healthy" for me. It's totally your call.