Irish Cheddar Quiche with Guinness Caramelized Onions

 
Last year my St. Patty's day breakfast didn't go so well.  I woke up early to make my husband green eggs.  Yes, super cheesy, I know.  While I was cooking breakfast I accidentally knocked over the bottle of green food coloring which I cleaned up with the closest kitchen towel.  I sat it aside happy that I saved the counter-tops from an uncertain greenish future.   When my husband was showered and dressed, I excitedly "surprised" him with the green eggs.  He was over the moon.  Not so much.  But regardless, I made him smile with my quirky enthusiasm for St. Patrick's Day.

Here comes the bad part.  Just as he was walking out the door he washed his hands and grabbed a kitchen towel to dry them off with - the same towel fully saturated with green food coloring.  This resulted in dark green hands that wouldn't wash off!!  To top it off, he had an important early meeting he couldn't be late to, and certainty not have green hands at.  He called me at lunch time and told me the green dye still hadn't washed off.  He said he had to explain all morning why he had green hands - mind you, to a group of conservative big clients.  I felt SO bad.  Apparently they didn't have a sense of humor and an "I wrestled with a leprechaun" excuse wasn't going to fly.  (I thought that excuse was hilarious though).

So this quiche is food coloring free, yet still celebrates St. Patrick's Day!  This crustless quiche uses delicious Irish Cheddar (the Irish know cheddar, that's for sure), Irish potatoes, and a secret ingredient - Guinness caramelized onions.   And to still incorporate the color green, I added in fresh spinach and kale.  I highly recommend using healthy good-for-you greens, instead of the green food coloring. Lesson learned! :)

Ingredients

Don't these ingredients just scream Irish to you?

1 cup Irish cheddar, grated
1/2 large onion, sliced
1/3 cup Guinness
1/2 cup spinach, chopped
1/2 cup kale, chopped
1 small potato, diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 eggs
4 egg whites
1/4 cup non-fat milk
parsley to garnish
extra virgin olive oil or cooking spray to coat pans

Guinness caramelized onions adapted from Closet Cooking

Method

Coat a large sauce pan with a little bit of olive oil or cooking spray.  Add onions over medium heat and cook until tender, about 5-7 minutes.  Add the Guinness to the pan, stir and cover.  Let cook for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed.  While those are cooking, add diced potatoes to another greased pan, and cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes.  Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a mixing bowl add eggs and egg whites and milk.  Whisk together.  Next, add in the cheese, onions, potatoes, kale and spinach.  Stir together and pour into a greased baking dish (I used a round pie dish).  Bake uncovered for 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.  Garnish with parsley.  Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!