April 3, 2012

Caramelized Onion Pie for Easter Brunch {Powernap}

Onion Pie

This is the latest installment of my Powernap column. The series where I share quick, easy food that can be made for all kinds of situations. Powernaps are short and sweet, and so are these recipes. These are the things I make in a jiffy when I need a quick snack, am in the mood for a recipe experiment, or simply need to clean out the pantry.

When were cleaning out the fridge before our trip to Charleston I found a large bag of onions. This was not a surprise in the least, I always stock up on onions since I cook with them all the time. To use some up I decided to caramelize them and make a fresh version of our favorite vegetable pie. It seemed like the perfect thing to have on hand for the last few days before vacation. There is nothing easier to heat up in a pinch between loads of laundry and packing suitcases! I whipped up this easy pie while my daughter napped, then kept it in the fridge for a few days while we nibbled on a slice here and there until there was nothing left.

Recipe

Anytime Vegetable Pie

Ingredients

pie crust (in this case I used a Whole Foods frozen pie crust, but feel free to make your own if you have the time)
red pepper, chopped (or any other vegetable you feel like!
2 onions, roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
4 eggs
1 c. half & half
2 c. Monterey Jack, shredded
1/3 c. Parmesan, grated, plus more for sprinkling
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350. Prepare pie crust in a 9″ pie dish according to directions.
    2. Saute the onions and garlic in olive oil for about 20 minutes, or until the onions are completely caramelized.
    3. In a bowl mix eggs, half & half, monterey jack and parmesan.
    4. Add the caramelized onions to the egg mixture and combine.
    5. At this point I recommend adding salt & pepper to taste and perhaps seasoning it with any other herb that might be fresh at the time your making it.
    6. Pour mixture into prepared pie crust and sprinkle the thop lightly with parmesan cheese.
    7. Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes.
    8. You can tell when the pie is done by making sure the center is set when you lightly jiggle the pan.

    Naptime Notes

    Naptime Recipe Serving ideas

    This recipe is a fast, easy brunch recipe that always delivers. Have fun making it with different vegetables!

    Naptime Stopwatch

    This recipe takes about 30 minutes to prepare, which includes pre-baking the pie crust. Once you pop it in the oven you only need to check on it one or two times, so you have plenty of time to do other things.

    Naptime Reviews

    A terrific pie for breakfast or dinner!

    More Naptime Recipes

    3 Responses to “Caramelized Onion Pie for Easter Brunch {Powernap}”

    1. […] Brunch is a great time of day to entertain when you have kids. Mid-morning most kids are, generally speaking, in a good mood, parents are pleased to get out of the house so early, and the food is always fun. Since my daughter is really into pancakes these days I recently decided to entertain friends with a big Chai-spiced Dutch baby pancake. It is infinitely easier to make than standing over the stovetop flipping the silver dollar kind. Plus, it can be sliced and served like a pie, keeping the brunch buffet neat and tidy. […]

    2. […] Read the instructions here […]