Crustless Breakfast Quiche

The start of a new year usually means one thing for me: get my appetite back on track.  From Thanksgiving until Christmas, I am no stranger to indulgence.  (Come to think of it, indulgence and I are friends all year.)

I like food.  Love, even.  Always have.

You may or may not know that when I graduated from high school I weighed about 40 pounds more than I do now.  I was sluggish, had little energy and quite honestly was uncomfortable in my own skin.  And the teasing didn't help... why are girls so mean to each other?

But, I started to make better choices after graduation and slowly but surely I lost the extra weight.  No real "diet", just eating well and getting my tail off of the couch.  It took more than a year, but it's been gone (and stayed gone!) for almost a decade.  One of my greatest fears is that it will come back.

My strategy?  Moderation.  Balance indulgence with smart choices.  Starting with breakfast!  This is one of my favorite high-protein ways to start the day.  The recipe is an adaptation of "Vegetable Quiche Cups To Go" in The South Beach Diet: Supercharged.

Quick, easy, and perfect to freeze!  Just pop two in the microwave and you've got a hot breakfast.

Crustless Breakfast Quiche

One box (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach
3/4 reduced-fat shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3/4 cup garden vegetable flavor egg substitute (such as Egg Beaters)
1/2 cup finely diced onion
1/2 cup finely chopped cooked turkey sausage
Hot sauce to taste (5 drops recommended)

• Preheat oven to 350*.
• Grease a muffin pan with cooking spray.
• In a microwave safe container, cook spinach on high for 2.5 minutes.  Drain well.  (Too much liquid will make for watery quiche!)
• Combine spinach and all other ingredients in a large bowl.  Mix well.

• Spoon mixture into muffin pan and bake for 20 minutes or until well set.
• Run a thin metal spatula or knife around the edge of each indentation to loosen quiche.
• Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
• Freeze or refrigerate to store.  Serve warm.

Here's to happy and healthy 2012!