Isn’t it amazing what can be birthed from an empty pie pan? And just because it’s called a “pie” pan doesn’t mean that it’s limited to such.

Today, we’re going to step away from the common expectation of the sugary, fattening dessert typically provided by such a container, and actually produce a healthier, much more beneficial result: a delicious, nutritious frittata!

Spinach, Pepper and Havarti Frittata
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
8 large eggs
1 teaspoon of Kosher salt and several grinds of freshly ground black pepper
2 cups loosely packed baby spinach leaves, roughly chopped
1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)
2 green onions, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 cup grated Havarti (about 4 ounces)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Directions:
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8-inch round pie pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the Kosher salt and several grinds of pepper.  Add the spinach, red pepper, green onions, basil and parsley and stir to combine. Fold in the Havarti and Parmesan.

Pour the mixture into the pie pan and bake for 35 minutes or until frittata is slightly puffed, deep golden, and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let the frittata cool in the pan for 10 minutes before cutting and serving. Excellent accompanied by roasted potato wedges!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

In a similar way to a “pie” pan, the world places labels on us and has expectations based on how we look and what we do. Have you ever thought about all of the defining characteristics our society uses to categorize, label or evaluate the people on this planet . . . and how easy it is to get caught up in identifying ourselves in the same way? 

Single or married, female or male,
my level of education, the clothes that I wear,
how much I weigh,  the shape that I’m in,
the length of my hair, the color of my skin,
youthful and vibrant or slow and aged,
my occupational title, my level of pay,
my recreational toys, where I vacation,
the number of people who call me a friend,
the make/model/year of the car that I drive,
the achievements of my children whether adult or child,
my religion, my church, my spirituality,
my language, my genetics, my nationality –
all characteristics that should define me
if I lived by the standards of a shallow society,
but I’m a Christian and I am living for an audience of One
and, thank God, He doesn’t identify me by any of the above.
worldly labels have no value in my walk with Jesus Christ  . . .
I’m a Child of the King because of Jesus’ sacrifice.

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel: 16:7b-8

And as such, we need to keep from pigeonholing ourselves into categories the world has established. Yes, we’re housed in a body of flesh like every other person on this planet, but as Followers of Jesus Christ, there is much more to us than that. We’re not an “empty pie pan”! The Holy Spirit of the Living God resides within us, this world is not our home, and He has a plan and a purpose for us that is not defined by the expectations of men. Being those devoted to Jesus Christ, we’re living for an Audience of One and we march to the beat of a different drummer, the Divine Drummer. The world looks upon us and expects us to deliver a sugar-filled, fattening, unhealthy pie, but we offer something much more nutritious if they want it, don’t we? The desire to share with them the truth of eternal life through Jesus Christ! 

–Cheri Henderson