First, I want to thank Amy Green of Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free for sharing her post today!  It was a call to action to get involved with the Giving Table, and join so many other bloggers helping to bring awareness and attention to the issue of hunger and the growing rates of families struggling to put food on the table.  With the economic climate our country has been in the last six plus years, there are so many families living off $3-$6 through the Snap Program/Food Stamps.  You never know, your neighbors may be fighting to feed their children every day.

Nicole Gulotta of The Giving Table has pulled together over 200 bloggers today to dedicate their posts to stamping out hunger.  No one should go hungry and so we’ve banded together to write posts addressing hunger and sharing recipes that families can make at home that are low-cost and healthy.  The movement has also brought light to the recent film A Place at the Table, by Chef Tom Colicchio and the team that made Food, Inc.

Last year I had volunteered my time through the Austin Food Blogger Alliance at the Capital Area Food Bank here in Austin, to learn more about the Snap Program.  I’m astonished the paperwork families have to complete to get accepted into the Snap Program here in Texas.  I wouldn’t want to fill out the paperwork simply based on how complicated and long the form is.  If I recall correctly its 5-6 pages long.  But the staff at the Capital Area Food Bank are there to support those that need to put food on their tables and educate children how to prepare healthy meals.

How can you get involved?

• Check out The Giving Table Website
• Check out A Place at the Table Website (includes additional resources)
• Contact your local Representative
• Sign the Petition on A Place at the Table’s Website
• Additional Resources & Info

Do you need food help?  A Place at the Table’s Website provides a link to get you help !  You can also get involved locally here in Austin through the Capital Area Food Bank, as well as contact them for help.

Here is a low-cost recipe for Gluten-Free Quiche that makes 8-10 servings and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Ingredients List (cost figures to about $6-8 depending on ingredients used – see notes below in list):

• Eggs (six to eight depending on size)
• Milk (Non-Fat): use 1/4 cup for six (6) egg mixture & 1/2 cup for eight (8) egg mixture
• 1/4 cup Cream Cheese (goat milk)
• 1/4 cup grated Cheddar Cheese 1/4 cup grated (can be left out to keep cost down)
• 1 cup of Frozen Spinach (you can substitute bacon and/or another other meat you choose)
• Gluten-Free Pie Crust (you can use a regular pie crust if you’re not gluten-free)

How to start:

Take one (1) crust and slightly defrost, taking a fork and poking holes into the bottom/sides of crust.  Bake off at 325 Degrees until crust is slightly golden.  Remove from oven and let cool.

In a bowl you can soften cream cheese if you don’t have a mixer.  Add in spinach and slowly blend into the cream cheese, adding in shredded cheddar cheese (you can keep cost down and only use cream cheese).  Next whip eggs and milk, adding into cream cheese and spinach mixture.

Add Meat & Herbs:

If you have any extra meat in your refrigerator such as bacon or ham, you can cook these up, chop up and add into Quiche mixture.  I would use about 1/2 cup of cooked meat.  You can also add vegetables such as onions or tomatoes (approx. 1/2 onion chopped / 1 whole tomato).

Easy to Bake:

Place the crust on a cookie sheet and pour mixture in to crust and bake at 325 degrees for 45-50 minutes.  Test center of Quiche with a toothpick to make sure cooked through completely (toothpick should come out clean).  Allow to cool before refrigerating if you’re not going to eat right away. . . otherwise dig in & enjoy!

Don’t forget to watch the film A Place at the Table! You can also volunteer your time at your local food bank, as well as give canned goods.  Why not hold a canned good drive at your and donate to your local food bank to help others put food on their table.

Photo Credit:  The Giving Table & Carla Crownover