Crunch Time

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/3 cup best-quality Gruyere cheese, grated

1/4 cup best-quality Parmesan cheese, grated

Preheat the oven to 350?F. Butter a 9-inch glass pie pan. Prepare the rice crust and press it into the pie pan; set aside.

Cook the spinach according to package directions. Drain thoroughly, pressing all the liquid out through a strainer. Place the drained spinach in a bowl and add the butter; set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs until frothy. Stir in the cottage cheese, cream, mustard, seasonings, and grated cheeses. Stir until well mixed. Add the buttered spinach and stir again until well mixed. Pour the spinach mixture into the rice crust.

Bake about 40 minutes, until puffed, golden brown, and set in center. (Check the center with a spoon to be sure it is no longer liquid.) Allow to cool 5 minutes. Slice and serve. This dish goes well with sliced fresh fruit and hot rolls.

Makes 8 servings

Rice Crust

1 large egg

2 cups cooked rice, at room temperature

2/3 cup best-quality Gruyere, grated

Beat the egg until frothy. Add the rice and cheese and stir well. Spread this mixture in the buttered pie pan.

About the Author

DIANE MOTT DAVIDSON is the author of fifteen bestselling novels. She divides her time between Colorado and Florida.

www.dianemottdavidson.com

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Also by Diane Mott Davidson

Catering to Nobody

Dying for Chocolate

The Cereal Murders

The Last Suppers

Killer Pancake

The Main Corpse

The Grilling Season

Prime Cut

Tough Cookie

Sticks & Scones

Chopping Spree

Double Shot

Dark Tort

Sweet Revenge

Fatally Flaky

Credits

Cover photograph collage © by Monalyn Gracia/Corbisand Ian O’Leary/Getty Images

Copyright

This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

CRUNCH TIME. Copyright © 2011 by Diane Mott Davidson. All rights reserved under International and Pan- American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non- transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen.