it seems like the chore of trying to figure out what is for dinner each week is getting to me. i dont know if its because i’ve been sick lately (thanks daycare kiddos!), or because its the holidays and its a mad rush to try to get the infamous perfect gift (give up-it doesn’t exist), make the house pretty, bake for my peeps and still function in my day to day life as wife and daycare provider extraordinaire (back pat) , but man, by the time sunday rolls around i’m exhausted and have no kitchen creativity left to muster up. which unfortunately is the day that i am supposed to create a week of meals and go grocery shopping.

in times like these, i tend to make easy dinners that require no real thought or measuring. some sort of tacos or taco salad, a pasta dish with a quick garlic-olive oil- cheese sauce, homemade mac + cheese, roasted chicken breasts and a salad,  or frittatas.

for those of you not in the know, frittatas are similar to quiche but without the crust and with a lighter eggy texture. we always have a dozen  eggs on hand, cheese in the fridge and some sort of veggie or meat that can be thrown in. really, the sky is the limit here. we have had bacon + gruyere frittata, 3 cheese frittata, scallion and sausage frittata, broccoli+ sharp cheddar frittata, and last night- asparagus and goat cheese frittata. add a green salad and some toast and you have a quick and very respectable dinner. even kiddos like them, my daycare kiddos eat them up like nobody’s business. today, chloe said “yay, i love the friddadda! ” and did a little dance when i told her what was on the lunch menu. and she ate 3 slices. i shit you not.

the basic recipe goes like this…

basic frittata recipe

6-8 eggs, the more eggs you use the thicker it will be. if its just daniel and i i do 6 eggs, if we are feeding some friends, i do 8.

1T olive oil

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup half +half or heavy cream

1/2 small yellow onion, diced

1 cup some sort of cheese

heat olive oil in nonstick skillet over med heat. add diced onion and soften about 6 minutes.

while that is cooking, scramble up eggs in a large bowl, add milk + half and half, pinch of salt and pepper. add cheese and combine. add whatever else you want- cooked bacon, chicken, sausage, veggies, scallions, leeks, whatev.

when onions are done pour egg mixture over onions and stir slowly for about 3 minutes. cook over med heat until mostly set, about 7 minutes. the middle will still be runny and jiggly.

place in 375 degree oven and bake about 8 minutes until set, take out and sprinkle a little more cheese on top, turn oven to broil, return to oven on top rack and broil until top is a golden brown in spots.

do not leave the frittata unattended in the oven while broiling, it will burn baby burn. remove and set on stove top to cool at least 5 minutes. after it has cooled, invert onto a plate or cutting board.

important note***before you place skillet in oven make sure you remove the rubbery handle cover or it will melt in the oven and make your house smell incredibly unpleasant and toxic for 3 days. or so i’ve heard…