DOWN TO EARTH

I do believe in a great breakfast every morning.  I love eggs but I don’t like the fat and calories in them so I cook with an egg substitute.  I prefer Egg Beaters to the other brands because they taste the best.  You can use them as scrambled eggs, quiche, omlets.  Basically, any receipe that calls for a beaten egg, egg substitute can be used instead.  They have approxiamatly half of the calories and no choresterol.

You can acually make scrambled eggs and omlets in advance.  After you make them just place in an air tight container and later you can put a portion in the mircowave to heat.  I like to make a large quiche made with Egg Beaters, mushrooms, pieces of crispy no nitrite bacon, no fat cheese and spinach.  You can add any ingrediant you want.  Here is the recipe:

Spray a shallow Pyrex baking dish with a natural no stick spray (you can get this at Trader Joe’s.)  Now evenly fill the dish with your favorite ingredients about 1/4 way up the dish.  Pour enough egg substitute to cover all the ingredients plus more.  Make sure you allow enough room in the dish for the ingredients to rise (because it will.)  If you want to, sprinkle no fat cheese on top.  Let it bake for approximately 45 minutes to an hour at 350 degrees.  You can check to see if it is done by putting a toothpick in the center of the quiche.  If it come out clean it is done.  If it has egg on it, put it back in the oven.  Try not to overcook it though.

After it is done and cooled, cut it in serving portions and put in an airtight container.  When you are ready, just plate a serving, place in the microwave for about 1 minute and that’s it.  You can top with sour cream, salsa or hot sauce.  This is a great time saver in the morning.  You kids will love this quiche as you can put everything they love in it.

Cook for the week instead of every night. By planning your meals for the week you can do all of the messy prep and clean up in a few hours which leaves the rest of the week free for other projects.  You can prepare meals so that all you have to do is pop them into the oven or microwave and serve. This can save you  hours per week.

 On Sunday I often serve roast chicken, brown rice and veggies.  It is just as easy to pop 2 chickens in the oven so I have plenty of left overs for the week.  When I get home from work I can make a quick stir fry and a sandwich for lunch the next day.  And think of the savings!!  Two whole chickens cost about $5.00 a piece, so for about $10.00 you can eat lunch for the week.  Going out to lunch everyday costs a fortune.