Individual Quiches

For Q day I wanted to make quiche. My friend Nicole posted this recipe on her blog after she tried it because it was versatile and really yummy. She saw it on the Rachael Ray Show. The recipe originally calls for puff pastry as the base, but I wanted to make it lighter and phyllo was less expensive, so I went for phyllo. I also doubled the recipe and made half of them crustless. The original recipe called for normal bacon, but I always substitute turkey bacon and also called for Gruyere cheese. I am convinced you could use whatever cheese you have on hand and also substitute another cooked meat or veggie. These were quick and easy and the kids loved them!

Individual Quiches adapted from Rachael Ray Show
4 slices of turkey bacon, cut into medium dice
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 large eggs
1/2 cup egg substitute
1 tablespoon thyme leaves, chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Cooking spray
7-8 sheets phyllo dough
1/2 cup hickory smoked gouda cheese, grated
1/2 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped

Preheat oven to 4oo degrees F.
In a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until brown and crispy, 6-8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
In a large bowl, combine the half-and-half, egg, egg substitute, thyme, salt, pepper and nutmeg in a medium-size bowl.

Generously spray the muffin tins with cooking spray. Carefully get one sheet of phyllo dough and lay in on a cutting board. Spray it with cooking spray or brush with melted butter and layer another sheet on top. Continue layering until you have used all your phyllo sheets, making sure to spray the top layer as well. Cut layered phyllo into 6 equal squares with a pizza cutter. Carefully place each square into the each muffin round so that the dough extends slightly over the top of the muffin tin.

Divide the Gouda, spinach and bacon between each of the cups and fill them with the egg custard just to the top of the cup line.

Pop the quiches into the oven and bake about 20 minutes, until the filling is puffed and the crust is golden brown.
Serve with your favorite salad alongside.