Spinach Squares

1 box (11 oz) pie crust mix
1/3 cup cold water
1 ½ cups frozen, chopped spinach (bag type not box)
1 ½ cups French Fried Onions
½ cup of crumbled, cooked bacon (about ½ lb.)
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1 cup sour cream
5 eggs
1 cup milk
1 Tbsp. Spicy Brown Mustard
½ tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Line a 13x9x2” baking pan with foil; spray with nonstick cooking spray.  Combine pie crust mix and water in large bowl until moistened and crumbly.  Using a floured bottom measuring cup, press mixture firmly onto bottom of prepared pan.  Prick with fork.  Bake 20 minutes or until golden.  Reduce oven heat to 350 degrees.

Layer spinach, French Fried Onions, bacon and cheese over crust.  Combine sour cream, eggs, milk, mustard, salt and pepper in medium bowl.  Mix until well blended.  Pour over spinach layer.  Bake 30 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.  Let stand 10 minutes.  Cut into squares to serve.  Serves 8.

Comments:  This is actually a combination of two recipes that I found in a cookbook called Favorite Brand Name 3 Books in 1 – One-Dish; Slow Cooker; Casseroles.  It’s a wonderful cookbook.  The changes I made was to use a frozen pie crust.  I baked it in the hot oven until browned.  I then added the layers (bacon from another recipe).  Cut the eggs down to 4 and the milk down to ¾ cup, since the pie crust was smaller.  I baked it the same.  This dish was so good that I could have eaten the whole thing myself, but I didn’t and shared it with some of my friends.  Using the pie crust it cuts the servings down to 6.  This is a must try dish!

Cheese Straws

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups shredded cheese, room temperature
1 Tbsp. spicy brown mustard
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl combine butter, cheese and mustard.  Add flour and mix until the mixture is completely blended and forms a large ball.  Pinch off pieces and roll into a ball about the size of walnuts.  Roll these balls into strings.  Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.  Makes about 3 dozen.

Comments:  The original recipe for this called for 1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese.  I have about 1/2 cup of Parmesian and about 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheeses that needed to be used.  I combined these with 1 cup of cheddar for my cheese.  The original also called for a tsp. of pepper.  This I eliminated but did add a Tbsp. of a herb blend that included Rosemary to half of my mix.  This gave me 2 flavors and also helped me use up some leftover cheese.  So for this dish Think With Your Taste Buds!