For any of my readers who’ve wondered, I’m still cooking meals for Studly Doright. There were many years during our marriage when my culinary efforts were sporadic at best and non-existent, at worst. The truth is, I’m not very good in the kitchen.
But Studly and I made a deal wherein I could retire from working in exchange for becoming his scullery maid, er, cook. For the most part, I’m enjoying my end of the bargain, and occasionally I even make a great meal.
Now a new issue has arisen in my cooking experiment–Studly and I are trying to be more health conscious. My first suggestion was a diet of all salads. That got vetoed pretty quickly, but you can’t blame a girl for trying. So I’m to figure out how to make things he likes in a healthier manner.
One of his favorite entrees is a dish I’ve made successfully since discovering it in a Beta Sigma Phi cookbook published in 1981.
You can tell the book has seen its share of use, and I’d like to say I’ve tried every single recipe in it, but that would be a lie.
Golden Beef Quiche is the only recipe I’ve succesfully produced from the cookbook, and I’d sincerely like to thank Ms. Judith Essenpreis of Centralia, Illinois, for submitting it to the cookbook committee back in the day.
Studly loves this dish, even though he’s a real man and supposedly real men don’t eat quiche. It is one of the few dishes that he will eat as leftovers. I love it because it’s foolproof, and in the kitchen I am something of a fool.
Now that he’s decided to eat healthier I’ve been using extra lean ground beef, but I would also like to replace the cheddar cheese soup with something less processed. I simply do not know how to do that. If anyone reading this could give me a suggestion that would be lovely.
I want a scullery maid!
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I have failed miserably in that role.
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I wish I knew what to suggest as a replacement, but my culinary skills are, er… not quite of cordon bleu standard. The recipe does sound delicious, though.
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It is one of his all time favorites. And the kids always liked it.
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Sounds delicious! 😀
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My suggestions for making it healthier: First, ditch the margerine. It is transfat. Butter is better. Or Smart Balance, if you prefer. Second, for less processed, you can try making your own cheese béchamel sauce to replace the cheese soup. It’s an extra step and another pan, but hey. At least you know what is in it. You also use this sauce for a homemade mac and cheese. And cheese souflée, if you need a little extra drama in your life.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/white-sauce-or-bechamel-sauce-40046
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Thanks Jim. I’d already switched to butter, but had no idea how to replace the cheese soup. Many thanks.
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I am at a loss when it comes to food. Nothing is healthy anymore. Vegetables have pesticides, dairy makes my kids break out, wheat has gluten. I give up. There is nothing left…so no more food served here, just black coffee.
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And wine!
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Yes wine!!
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Try replacing the soup like this. Increase the milk to one cup total low-fat, use one heeping cup shredded cheddar or low-fat cheddar or a blend. Here’s a recipe using Mayonaise for part of the milk http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/beef-and-cheddar-quiche
You could always try sneaking in some chip dip spinach or kale too
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Great suggestion!
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I like the suggestion for the home made bechamel (just pretend that I know how to add the accent, but I don’t) and ditching the margerine.
Now, this next suggest might be waaaay beyond all that is right in Studly’s frame of reference, but you could, just possibly, reduce the amount of beef. Possibly go to 1/2 pound and substitute an equal amount of cooked red lentils? You would still have texture and protien, but less fat and more fibre.
Adding some chopped frozen (thawed and squeezed) spinach is another great idea – is that what “chip dip spinach” is, Sansielife?
Good luck, Scullery Made of Doright Manor!
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Replacing part of the meat with lentils is a great idea ! Don’t even tell Studly. He might not notice.
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Oh, he’d notice.
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Sounds interesting….I might try that. FYI to add the accent hold down on the key and you’ll be given choices. Àáâä, etc.
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Not on my stupid Microsoft Surface. Good in many ways, but it does not have a fantastic, multilingual keyboard!
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Oh pooh.
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Love the recipe and will try it, can’t help with the soup though,,,the mac and cheese sauce seems like a good idea, maybe I’ll try that too,, 🙂
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Sub butter for the margarine. I meant to mention that.
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Thanks, just yesterday we saw something on TV with a quiche and I promised to make some kind of quiche soon 🙂
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This one is super easy, otherwise I’d never have attempted it in the first place.
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I have this same exact cookbook! Were you in Beta Sigma Phi?
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I was! For many years.
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Me too!
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When we moved away from Great Bend, KS, I didn’t try to find a chapter. I miss it sometimes.
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I was involved when we lived in Texas and still have one of those friends today. It was a wonderful thing for me at that time. When we moved I did not try to find another chapter either, but have such very fond memories of those days!
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I first joined in Texas, as well.
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I sometimes miss it too. I lived in Beaumont and I even miss that sweet little town!
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I lived in Dumas—opposite ends of the state.
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