Recipe: Petite Sausage Quiches (baked in mini muffin cups)

PETITE SAUSAGE QUICHES

FOR THE DOUGH:
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
2 cups all-purpose flour

FOR THE FILLING:
6 ounces bulk Italian sausage
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese
1 tablespoon minced chives

FOR THE EGG MIXTURE:
2 eggs
1 cup half-and-half cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
Dash cayenne pepper

In a mixing bowl, beat butter, cream cheese and flour until smooth. Shape tablespoonfuls of dough into balls; press onto bottom and up sides of greased miniature muffin cups.

In a skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink, drain. Sprinkle sausage, Swiss cheese and chives into muffin cups.

In a bowl, beat eggs, cream, salt and pepper. Pour into shells.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 28-30 minutes or until browned. Serve warm.

Makes 3 dozen
Source: Country Woman Christmas Cookbook, 2002