Real Men Don't Eat Quiche

I heard that in a commercial once, and I think it's absolutely silly! I mean, quiche is good. It's full of cheese and whatever else you want to put it in, and they're so easy to make. They're awesome for using up leftovers that you don't know what the hell else to do with. And there is such a thing as a manly quiche.

I don't know if the quiche I have in the oven right now is "manly" but I think it's going to be pretty awesome, anyway.

Ingredients

1 refrigerated 9" pie crust
1 tbsp strawberry jelly

3 eggs
2 cups mild cheddar cheese, grated - divided
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup red onion, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup cactus, diced (Yes - cactus!)
1/2 cup broccoli florets
1 cup leftover roasted pork, diced
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F.

Take out pie crust out of the fridge to get soft - you can put it on the counter, but I find putting it on the stovetop as the oven preheats helps it "thaw" faster.

Heat the olive oil in a medium-to-large saucepan and saute onion until translucent. Add bell pepper and cactus and saute a few minutes longer. Add broccoli and pork. After mixing together, sprinkle with desired amounts of salt and pepper. (Garlic salt is great; I use that if I have used regular olive oil instead of the garlic olive oil I'm in love with.)

Put the pie crust in an (obviously ovenproof) pie/quiche dish and spread the jelly on the bottom. (You can also use mustard or ketchup, but I think berry jams/jellies/preserves are great in quiches, especially with meat; you'll be able to taste yumminess but not really identify it.)

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with a fork and then mix in 1 1/2 cups of the cheddar cheese, and the parmesan cheese, combining until the cheese is thoroughly coated with the egg. Mix in the pork and veggies, again until thoroughly combined. Spread mixture into the pie crust. Top with the reserved 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and bake for 35-45 minutes or until done (pastry crust will be golden to dark golden brown and the cheese sprinkled on top will be nicely browned).

I read that quiches are to be served "lukewarm" but I know I can never stand to let them cool for that long. I try to wait at least 10 minutes after removing it from the oven, but that's still pretty damn hot! If you have leftovers (I never do - not braggin', just sayin') you can pop it in the microwave or eat cold.

One day, I'll post the original "Zucchini Pie" recipe that began my love affair with quiche. If you don't have a dish that you think will be appropriate to hold a quiche, they sell some really nice ones at Target ranging from only $9 to $15.