Lenten Cooking: Spinach Egg Cups

I borrowed this recipe from Stacey and I made it my own.

1 Dozen Eggs
1 Cup of Heavy Cream (milk, half & Half are all fine)
I left out the salt because some of the other seasonings I used had
Frozen Chopped Spinach (3 or 4 balls thawed, drained and squeezed dry)
1/4 Cup Grated Cheese (I used what I had pepper-jack and cheddar mix)
a combo of seasonings that I like

I didn't turn on the oven to pre-heat until there was about 5 minutes more to go i.e before I started filling the muffin tins but after I had added all the ingredients.

Make sure that your spinach is squeezed of all it's water ( I often see Rachael Ray using a tea towel although I just used my hands). Add it to the eggs in a large bowl and the cream, seasons and cheese mix well, you want the cheese and spinach as distributed as possible.

I used cupcake paper in my tins and a 1/4 measure to fill the cups with the egg mixture. I got 18 cups. Bake for 25-30 minutes in a 325 oven, if you are using a convection oven you will of course reduce the time a little. They are done when the top are no longer wet and a knife or toothpick inserted comes out clean.

These things are delicious, I had 5 right our of the oven, it started with three (one from each tin to test for quality control and all that) and then I decided it made good sense to finish off the other 2 from the tin with 3 so they would feel odd.

 The 3 were baked in the convection oven, forgot to reduce the time. Tasted just great, we're actually burnt.

They freeze well just ensure they cool properly before putting them in ziplock bags and into the freezer. I've had a few reheated, just as great.

Great Lenten snack, or even breakfast for dinner with some waffles or pancakes as well as for a quick breakfast.

Valentine's Day Is Not A S.A.D Day

In recent years I have noticed Valentine's Day being referred to as Singles Awareness Day aka a SAD day.

As a single woman I do not need a holiday to make me aware that I am single. But most importantly Valentine's Day isn't a day to celebrate coupledom it is a day to celebrate love and I don't need to be in a romantic relationship to have love in my life. In fact if my life lacked love because I was not in a romantic relationship then not just the day but my life would be SAD.

Even if you live on a remote island all alone you are in at least one relationship, the relationship you have with God. God is love, He made us to love Him, He loves us. Hello we're in Lent, a time in the Liturgical Calendar that embodies love, a time that culminates in the greatest act of love just for you. So you're single and probably won't get candy this year, Jesus gave you an even better gift, He suffered and died on a Cross just for you. He thinks you're pretty special.

You're relationship with God isn't so hot, that's okay, as I said we're in Lent a great time for strengthening and building that relationship. Try praying daily, God wants to hear from you, he's been waiting to hear from you, just like the father in the prodigal son he's already racing to greet you. Confession, this is the best time of the year to get to confession, there really is no sin that the priest has not heard before it doesn't matter how long it's been since you've gone.  I had a period of years before I started going monthly

Once again I mention that it's Lent, The Church has a wide array of activities and events to help you build and strengthen your relationship with the Lord. Day retreats, Friday Stations of the Cross, Adoration, bible studies, Friday fish fries, check your local parish for what else is available, check your neighbouring parish to see what they have available, invite a friend to go with you.

So if you are single like me this Valentine don't be S.A.D, focus on the relationships that you do have especially the one with Our Lord.

Happy St. Valentine's Day.