Smoky Tomato Soup with Maple Candied Bacon

Sometimes, normal tomato basil soup can get a little boring.

And kids, this tomato soup recipe is anything but boring.

The recipe is from Naomi Pomeroy, award-winning chef and proprietor of Beast in Portland, Oregon. She prepared the hands-down best piece of lamb I've ever eaten, with a polenta pudding on the side, in a savory plum and balsamic vinegar sauce. I feel like Homer Simpson when I describe this dish. Cue uncouth drooling here.

The soup has bright citrus notes from freshly-squeezed orange juice, smokiness from the smoked paprika, and a spicy kick from the pimente d'Espelette (available at some speciality grocers . . . if not available, I would substitute cayenne, but less if you are squeamish about spice). I have made the soup both with and without the maple candied bacon if I'm trying to avoid killing myself with saturated fat. We had a bit of trouble with the bacon last time as our oven just doesn't seem to get hot enough for it to cook in any reasonable timeframe.

Just make it and enjoy.

Spinach and Bacon Quiche

This was my breakfast quiche for last year's festivities. It keeps well in the fridge and freezes well in individual slices. It's definitely a special occasion quiche, since it has enough cholesterol to stop Lipitor in its tracks.

Ingredients:

6 large eggs, beaten

1 1/2 c. heavy cream

Salt and pepper

2 c. chopped baby fresh spinach, packed (frozen spinach works, too)

1 lb. thick-sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 1/2 c. shredded Gruyere

1 (9-in) refrigerated pie crust, fitted to a 9-in glass pie plate (I don't bother with my own pie crust for this)

Directions:

1) Preheat the over to 375 degrees.

2) Combine the eggs, cream, salt, and pepper in a food processor or blender.

3) Layer the spinach, bacon, and cheese in the bottom of the pie crust.

4) Pour egg mixture on top.

5) As pie plate will be very full, place on top of a jelly-roll pan to catch spills.

6) Bake for 35-45 minutes, until the egg mixture is set.

7) Makes 8 big servings.