Real Man Quiche and Bistro Pasta, easy quiche recipe, impress your lady

Real Man Quiche and Bistro Pasta

Recreation Channel / Bullz-Eye Home

This one is for you guys who have a female companion sleep over for one (or two) nights, or for you guys who are married and want to do something special for Mother’s Day or your anniversary. Let’s face it -- women love men who cook, and these two recipes will impress her. Trust me, I tested them both recently to rave reviews in my house. But first, if you’re like me, the thought of making quiche makes you feel like less of a man. But if you stay away from things like shallots and rosemary, and focus on bacon and cheese, I say your manhood is intact. Here we go.

Real Man Quiche

1 frozen 9-inch pie crust
4 large eggs, beaten
1/4 cup chopped Canadian bacon (you can substitute cooked and crumbled bacon or sausage)
1 Tbsp. olive oil or vegetable oil
1 medium onion, sliced thin
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
salt and pepper

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and take the pie crust out of the freezer. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and then sauté the onion and garlic for about 4 minutes; stir in the Italian seasoning and remove from heat. Let cool for a few minutes, and then combine the onion mixture, eggs and the cheeses, and salt and pepper to taste. Pour this into the crust and bake for about 35 to 45 minutes, or until browned on top. Serves 4 (or 2 extremely hungry people).

Bistro Pasta with Tomato and Basil

8 oz. cooked linguine (preferably the fresh kind, like Buitoni)
1/3 cup olive oil
1 large tomato, chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup minced basil leaves
1/3 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese (if you’ve come this far, you’re not really going to serve her that stuff in the green jar, are you?)
salt and pepper to taste

After cooking the pasta, set it aside to drain. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add the garlic and tomato, and fry for 3 to 4 minutes. (Yes, it’s a lot of oil, but it will be absorbed by the pasta and cheese, and olive oil is supposedly good for your arteries.) Add the basil leaves, then the pasta, then the cheese. Heat for a minute or two or until warmed through, add the salt and pepper to taste, and serve. A good idea would be to have a decent bottle of red wine on hand and a Sinatra CD. Serves 2.