Quiche Anybody?

Have to admit that I have been reading the "food" articles on Hubpages with great interest, and, coupled with the articles on how to live within a budget, but still live healthily, I thought I would add my two cents worth in the form of a fool proof recipe for quiche (which can be converted into pasta sauce or pie filling as the taste buds desire).

I bulk up my freezer with packets of frozen sweetcorn, frozen chopped spinach, mixed vegetables, frozen cauliflower and the like, and I find they come in handy and are a cheap and healthy option for a quick meal for supper. I try to chuck a handful of each into meals which I make, to add to the daily five fruits and veg requirement.  I bulk up my store cupboard with creamed sweetcorn, tins of beans (butter beans, chickpeas, beans in tomato sauce) and with packet soups (especially mushroom) which I use as a much cheaper alternative to packet sauces.

I have a basic quiche recipe which I use which can be used with a pie shell or simply in order to make a crustless quiche and, served with some potato wedges or a green salad, makes a simple but filling and healthy supper.

The basics are: 2 eggs, 2 heaped tablespoons of plain flour, 1 cup of milk, 3/4 cup of grated cheese (the cheese can be left out if you desire), and salt and pepper (and herbs to taste, if desired). In a shaker, mix the eggs, flour, milk, salt and pepper well.

Now, raid the fridge for the filling, anything from left over ham, tomato, butternet, chicken, asparagus, corn, peas, tuna, onion, mushrooms, whatever the taste buds desire - I find left overs are usually the tastiest option and it is great to make use of them. Sprinkle the cheese over, pour the milk/egg/flour mix over and pop it into the oven for about half an hour. One quiche, no fuss!

I use up all my leftovers in much the same way, cutting or breaking them all up into pieces in a if need be, into a small and then mixing two heaped teaspoons of a packet mushroom soup with milk into the pot, and stir until thick and creamy. It works like a charm and tastes delicious as a pasta sauce.

For a quick and easy pie filling chopped chicken or minced meat can be browned and then mixed up with lots of the frozen veg (spinach, mixed veg, corn and the like) and also thickened with a packet soup (chicken or beef or even a mushroom or tomato flavour), leave to cool slightly, roll out pastry, fill and into the oven until the pastry is cooked. I usually make my potato wedges while I am heating the oven up, because potatoes need a hot oven and it saves electricity to cook them while heating the oven to make your pie.

These are just some of the few ideas for cost effective meals which go a long way and are nutritious too. I'd love to hear of any suggestions from others or variations on the above if you have. Bon appetit!