Leftover Ham, Broccoli, and Cheddar Quiche

I luvvv quiche.  Love, love, love.  Not only is it easy to make if you have a premade pie crust, but it is hearty, filling, and packed with protein!  It's also packed with calories, which has led me in the past to try and make a "healthy" or healthier quiche.  Many people use heavy cream in their quiches, but I prefer the texture and taste of half and half, which is slightly less dense, but still tastes rich.  And the half and half it saves you a few calories.  Just be careful when making a quiche sans half and half or heavy cream because when you mess with the dairy component, you mess with not only the taste, but the texture.  And no one wants a loose quiche.

This recipe is great if you have leftover ham and want to make something other than a split pea soup (it reminds me too much of baby poop these days).  And don't worry about if your ham is sweet.  I used leftover Honey Baked ham and this was a hit. 

You can serve quiche warm or room temperature.  I like to make quiche for dinner served warm with a nice side salad dressed in olive oil and vinegar and eat the leftovers for breakfast.  Today I paired the quiche with a side of bacon. 

Today IS National Bacon Day after all...

Yes there is a "holiday" for everything.  

Feel free to substitute the meet, veggies, and cheese to suit your favorite flavor profiles and let me know how it comes out.

Leftover Ham, Broccoli, and Cheddar Quiche

 Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 onion, white or yellow, diced
• 1.5 cups leftover ham, diced
• 1.5 cups broccoli, florets only, diced
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup half and half
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• 7 ounces mild cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
• Frozen pie crust

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Melt butter in medium saute pan over medium - high heat and saute onions until caramelized, about 5 minutes.
3. Meanwhile heat broccoli until just cooked, but still crisp.  I microwave for 30 seconds - 1 minute.
4. In a large bowl combine cooked broccoli, onions, and ham.  Set aside.
5. Beat eggs, half and half, salt and pepper until incorporated.  Set aside.
6. Fold in 6 ounces of cheese into ham and broccoli mixture and add mixture to pie crust.  Top with egg mixture and sprinkle remaining 1 ounce of cheese over everything. 
7. Cook for 45 minutes or until eggs are set and cheese is browned.

8. Let quiche rest for at least 10-20 minutes before serving.