Mini Ham and Swiss Quiches

The best thing about miniature sized versions of regular food (besides the fact that they're cuter, of course) is that you can eat ten in one sitting and get away with it.  I'm pretty sure that one piece of chocolate cake equals about 17 two-bite brownies.  They're so tiny, just one more couldn't possibly hurt, right?  And they're so cute!  Wait, did I have five or six?  I think it was three.  Better make it an even number.  Eh, there's only one left.  I really don't want to put it away.  And it's so cute!

Just to be clear, I have never eaten a whole batch of anything in one sitting (I don't think...).  I don't really make mini food that much anyway--I'm lazy, and it's a lot easier to dump batter into a cake pan than to ladle it into individual muffin cups (which are a pain to clean).  Sometimes, though, a special occasion calls for pretty little parfaits or bite-sized cakes, and it's all worth it.  They really are cute.

These individual quiches are great for brunches, showers, and lazy Saturday mornings.  I know a lot of the ingredients aren't usually available in the co-op, but most of them are pretty basic items and you can also try using different types of cheese, meat, and vegetables based on what you have on hand.

Mini Ham and Swiss Quiches
Makes 12
Time:  30 minutes

2 cups shredded Swiss cheese (or try cheddar)
1/2 cup half-and-half OR 2% milk
1/2 cup mayonnaise (I use the kind with olive oil)
2 eggs
2 T. flour
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1 cup diced cooked ham (or try cooked bacon or shrimp)
1/4 cup diced mushrooms
1/4 cup finely chopped onion

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Thoroughly grease 12 standard-size muffin cups.

Combine cheese, half-and-half, mayo, eggs, flour, salt, and pepper in a blender.  Process until well blended.  (You can also combine the ingredients in a large bowl with a hand mixer.)  Stir in remaining ingredients.

Equally fill muffin cups with egg mixture.  Bake 22 minutes, or until quiches are lightly golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.