Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Quiche with Bacon

"Food is good," says Michelle Trachtenberg, who co-stars on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" as Buffy's half-sister, Dawn. Yet while a fast food joint – Hollywood hot spot In-N-Out Burger – is the first place the teen thinks of when pondering good eats, she still enjoys time in the kitchen, especially when it's with her mom. "My mom is a great cook," Trachtenberg says. "She is amazing, everything she cooks is great." Especially the broccoli quiche. "We call it broccoli pie and I just love it," Trachtenberg gushes. "And if you add just a little bit of ketchup, it's perfect."

1 prebaked 9-in. (23 cm) pie shell 1
1/4 lb lean bacon (about 4 slices) 125 g
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped 125 mL
1 cup broccoli, chopped 250 mL
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese, divided 375 mL
3 eggs 3
1 1/2 cups light cream or half-and-half 375 mL
1/2 tsp salt 2 mL
pepper to taste

Cut bacon into pieces and fry until cooked but not crisp. Remove bacon and any excess fat, if necessary, from skillet and set aside. Add onion; cook over medium heat until soft. Remove from skillet and add to bacon pieces; set aside.

In saucepan of boiling water, cook broccoli pieces until tender-crisp; drain well, then pat dry with paper towel. Mix together the bacon, onions, broccoli and 1 cup (250 mL) cheese; sprinkle evenly over the base of the cooked pie shell.


In mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, cream, salt and pepper to taste. Pour into shell and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup (125 mL) grated cheese. Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until filling is browned and puffed in the centre. Filling is set when a knife inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Makes 6 servings.
 

Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms

"I love mushrooms," says Trachtenberg. "And my mom stuffs them with things like bacon and cheese ... and secret things that even I don't know about."

12 large mushrooms 12
1 tbsp butter 15 mL
1/4 cup green onions, chopped 50 mL
1 can (170g) crab meat, drained 1 can (170g)
1/2 cup grated Emmenthal or Gruyère cheese, divided 125 mL
2 tbsp cracker or bread crumbs, divided 25 mL
1 tbsp mayonnaise 15 mL
salt and pepper

Wipe mushrooms; remove stems for stuffing and set caps aside. Trim and finely chop stems.

In saucepan, melt butter; add onion and chopped mushroom stems; cook until mushrooms are tender and moisture has evaporated. Stir in drained crab meat, 1/4 cup (50 mL) cheese, 1 tbsp (15 mL) cracker crumbs, mayonnaise, salt and pepper to taste; mix well.


Spoon stuffing into reserved mushroom caps and place in greased baking dish. Combine remaining 1/4 cup (50 mL) cheese and 1 tbsp (15 mL) cracker crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over stuffed mushrooms. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Bake in 400°F (200°C) oven for 10 to 12 minutes; serve hot.

Makes 12 appetizers.

Expanding Marshmallows

In the Buffy episode Conversations with Dead People, Michelle's character Dawn experiments with Marshmallows in the microwave. Thanks to Microwave Experiments for this.


Time Lapse of Experiment

Dawn reaches in to the marshmallow bag and takes out a marshmallow.

The Marshmallow starts expanding in the microwave oven.

Dawn chuckles and says "cool" as she observes the marshmallow expanding in the microwave oven.

 
Later after a demon attacks the house, the microwave explodes with Dawn nearby.

Michelle and Foods

Likes

• Nutella, the chocolate hazelnut spread
• Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms
• Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Quiche with Bacon
• Tomato Sandwiches
• Doritos
• In-N-Out restaurants (especially the cheeseburgers)
• The Coffee Bean (she drinks Vanilla Ice Blended)
• Potatoes
• Cheese (had fried cheese in Prague.. 'imagine a mozzarella stick but in a big square')
• Macaroni and Cheese

Dislikes

• Bratwurst
• Cream of Wheat