A quiche is a delicious egg dish that combines crispy pastry crust, velvety eggs and irresistible ingredients such as meats, cheeses and veggies. It works perfectly for breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch or dinner, and you can switch up the fillings easily for extra flair. Here are two of my favorite (read: simple and fast) quiche recipes to enjoy as a family or to entertain company.

My Absolute Fave: Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Quiche

The caramelized onions in this quiche give it a touch of smoky sweetness. If your kids aren't big fans of mushrooms, you can go with spinach instead.

Ingredients

• 1 can of breadstick dough
• 3 egg whites, large
• 2 eggs, large
• 1 cup skim or 1% milk
• 1 1/4 cups feta cheese
• 8 ounces sliced mushrooms (button, shiitake, cremini, etc.)
• 1 cup spinach, drained and dry (optional)
• 2 cups frozen hash browns (diced potatoes), thawed
• 3 cups onion, chopped
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tbs chopped garlic (optional)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar

Directions

1. In a large nonstick frying pan, add olive oil. If using mushrooms, start by sautéing them for about 8 minutes. Set aside.
2. Next, sauté onions, salt and sugar on medium heat. Keep cooking until almost caramelized, about 30 minutes. Stir periodically. Add garlic and potatoes near the end and cook for about five minutes.
3. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the crust. Unroll the breadstick dough into strips on a flat surface. Starting with one strip, create a spiral pattern. Keep going by adding the next strip and pinching the ends together. You should have a large, even circle. You can roll out more if needed. After letting the dough rest for 10 minutes, add it to a pie plate with cooking spray.
5. Add the sauteed onions, potatoes and mushrooms to the pie plate. Add spinach if using. Mix egg whites, eggs, milk and crumbled feta cheese, and pour over the other fillings.
6. Bake quiche at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Place foil on crust to prevent burning after 50 minutes. Serve and enjoy! I usually wait about 10 minutes before serving, so the custard is firm.

The Crustless Recipe: Smoked Turkey Quiche

To me, what makes a quiche special is the crust, which is why I listed the other recipe first. That said, there are times when you're too busy to fuss with crust.

With this recipe, follow the same overall directions, but use different fillings: 3/4 cup smoked turkey ham, 3/4 cup Swiss cheese, 1/4 cup cheddar cheese and 1 cup baby spinach.

To prevent sticking, coat the pie pan with cooking spray and add a layer of Swiss cheese (about 1/4 cup) before you add the other ingredients. This fast and phenomenal crustless quiche takes about an hour from prep to table. It's a favorite of kids, too.

The Secret to a Simple Yet Amazing Quiche

Some people feel a little intimidated by quiche. In reality, as long as you follow the recipe, you shouldn't run into any problems.

The secret to a fluffy, creamy quiche is to pay attention to the ratio of eggs to dairy in the mixture. Independently of the other ingredients, you always want in the vicinity of 1/2 cup dairy for every large egg you use.

If you're watching the calories, feel free to swap whole milk with 2% milk, half-and-half, or a mixture. What matters is the total amount of dairy versus egg amount. That way, your quiche stays silky smooth.