Potato Crusted Zucchini Quiche

The weather in Chicagoland could not have been have been better this weekend!  Low 60’s and sunny.  I was really happy because my twin sister was volunteering at Gourmet Chicago which was happening this past weekend.  Last year was a bit chilly and rainy.  She got the opportunity to volunteer at the Celebrity Chef book signing table – as soon as she writes about her experience, I’ll link to it.  Next year I am going to join her! 

Just a bit jealous that she got to meet Rick Bayless!

Tony and I ran some errands on Saturday and ended up hitting Chili’s for lunch.  I already checked out the nutritional information before we went, and knew I was going to have the citrus chicken with black beans and rice – the whole plate comes in at 590 calories.  I ended up only eating half the chicken – this was so delicious, I recreated it for my SIL’s lunch this week.

And for the record?  Their bbq cheese burger?  Comes in at a whopping 1440 calories!  So crazy!

Later this week I have two amazeball banana recipes – both from the latest cooking light magazine – a nutella banana bread and a caramelized banana bread, which I turned into muffins – the muffins also had a brown butter glaze.  Swoon!  Why so many banana recipes?  Check out what I got on the $1 rack (sorry Kym for rubbing it in on my grocery store finds!)

Tony and I were going to have a bon fire Saturday night, but it was a tad windy.  We did enjoy sitting outside, sipping some wine, listening to music and grilling.  I love it when the leaves are changing but still on the trees!

Since Hannah’s car accident a week ago is still being investigated, she’s temporarily without a car, so I went to pick her up.  It took me an hour and twenty minutes to get to her house – traffic wasn’t too bad!  Can you see the Sears tower in the distance?

I decided to make a quiche for our brunch.  My Mom loves them.  She also loves my cheese souffle for one, but thought that might be hard to transport.  So I made a potato crusted quiche.

Potato Crusted Zucchini Quiche

• makes 4 servings:  249 calorie,s 10 fat, 21 carbs, 3 fiber and 24 protein

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces white potatoes (1 large) cooked in the microwave and cooled
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 cup diced zucchini
• (3 oz.) deli ham, diced
• 1 clove garlic
• 3 egg whites
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup skim milk
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper

Heat oven to 400.  Shred the potatoes and layer them on the bottom of a pie plate.  Heat olive oil and cook zucchini and ham for about 3-4 minutes with the garlic.  Take off the heat and mix in the crushed red pepper flakes.  Layer the zucchini/ham mixture over shredded potatoes.  Mix the egg whites, eggs, milk, salt and pepper and pour over zucchini.  Top with the cheddar cheese and bake for 30-35 minutes, until golden brown and the eggs are set.

With the caramelized banana muffin on the side.   My mom kept two and I sent the rest home with Hannah.

We sat outside and got caught up – it was very relaxing!  And guess who else likes to relax?  My Mom’s cats!  Meet Rose – she is a prima donna and likes to take it easy and lays on my Mom’s bed most of the day.

Lucy is the crazy one – she kept on climbing on the screen door to try to get out when we were outside.  When my Mom is working on her computer, this is where Lucy hangs out.

It was a nice time and a great way to spend the day as a football widow.  And I got to see Hannah twice this past week!

And now I have to get my shit together – I have to be to work a little early this morning.  I have my chicken parmesan meatball soup for lunch – can’t wait! 

How was your weekend?