Biscuit Baking Mix Day: Impossible Spinach Pie

When I was growing up, a box of Bisquick in my mom's pantry was as normal as salt or sugar. She didn't use it very often as I recall, mainly for pancakes and dumplings.  Eventually, she became involved in the health food movement and never bought Bisquick again, making her own version from scratch and storing it in the freezer.  It's been years since I bought Bisquick.  But, it still seems like an old friend somehow.  When Mimi at French Kitchen In America came up with a Biscuit Baking Mix Day, featuring recipes made with  Bisquick type baking mix, I was hooked.  My friend Nancy just happened to have an official Bisquick cookbook and I was fascinated with the recipes in it.  In particular, I liked the Impossible Pies. I remember when Bisquick commercials on TV featured these pies, and I wondered if they tasted any good. After some consideration--they have an Impossible Macaroni & Cheese Pie that was certainly tempting--I decided on Spinach Pie.  It looked rather pretty and claimed to be only 150 calories per serving. 

It was certainly easy to make. You simply combine sauteed green onions, garlic and frozen spinach and layer it in a pie pan. Then pour a thin batter made with eggs, Bisquick, lemon juice and pepper on top. Sprinkle with parmesan and nutmeg, then shove it into the oven to bake for around 30 minutes.

It emerged from the oven puffed and browned.  I thought it tasted pretty good, but could be improved by adding about 1/2 teaspoon salt, and additional parmesan cheese in the spinach mixture.   Frankly, I can't get that Impossible Macaroni & Cheese Pie out of my mind. Instead of crushed crackers on top, I would use crushed Cheetos instead. 

Kidding!  (Or am I?)

IMPOSSIBLE SPINACH PIE

Serves 4-6

1/2 cup green onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tbsp. butter or margarine
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped spinach, drained, thawed and squeezed dry
1/2 cup small curd cottage cheese
1 cup milk
1/2 cup Bisquick baking mix
3 eggs
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. pepper
3 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

Grease a 9 x 1 1/4 inch pie plate. Cook and stir onions and garlic in butter in a 10 inch skillet until onions are transparent (2-3 minutes). Stir in spinach. Layer spinach mixture and cottage cheese in pie plate. Beat milk, eggs, Bisquick, and lemon juice and pepper until smooth. Pour over spinach/cottage cheese mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and nutmeg. Bake 35 minutes at 350 degrees or until knife inserted comes out clean.

Comments

[Lydia]

Wow, this looks delicious! I remember that old Bisquick cookbook sitting on my mother's bookshelf. I wonder what happened to it....

[Mimi]

Beautiful! What a lovely photo!

I have made this - back in my student days - as it was a good way to stretch vegetables. I always added a green salad, unless it was a breakfast choice.

[Tanna]

There must be so many editions of these Bisquick recipe books and booklets. The one I found for the spinach pie had almost no seasoning in it. Yours looks super good!

[Kalyn]

I think it sounds delicious (and so not South Beach friendly.) I used to have that cookbook and used to make one of those pies, but I can't remember which one. I need to figure out how to make SB approved Biquick with whole wheat flour.

[Butta Buns]

I dare you to make the Impossible Macaroni pie with the Cheetos on top. I triple dog dare you! I can just picture it now, one paw shaped Cheeto (they still make those?) on top of a slice of the pie amongst orange crumblies.

Oh and the spinach pie looks fantastic.

[Mae]

That first photo is incredible! Spinach... i love spinach. I'm pretty sure i've said it here about a hundred times already. :)

The photo speaks for itself... delicious!

[s'kat]

Really, that photo is tempestuous!

So... will you be making this again?

[April]

Hmm, I'll have to try this. I've made the Impossible cheeseburger pie for the kiddos. It's pretty good.

[e]

You're totally NOT kidding about crushed cheetos on top!

I've made pancakes from scratch and had them at a hundred restaurants, but I don't like any of them. The only pancake I like is a Bisquick pancake.

[Alanna]

That looks way prettier than I remember this guy tasting, maybe 13*20 moons ago?

[sandeepa]

That's neat. I bought my fist pack of Bisquick a month or so ago and made some pancakes but that's it, never used them again. Didn't even know you could do so many things with it (am I dumb ?)
This would be a good try for the rest of the pack. Thanks Sher

[Callipygia]

Gosh I don't remember these impossible pies, but this looks delicious. I have definitely substituted the bisquick for my dry ingredients in quick breads every once in awhile. Please try the mac and cheese with cheetos. I think it sounds brilliant.

[Anh]

Sher, the pie looks soo good, and your photos are very pretty! I wanna try almost all of your recipes :D

[Jann]

This looks so delicious-glad you sent this in to Mimi........

[Lisa]

Oh, yum! I want to do the Bisquick Day event, too -- you've got me thinking I'll do the Impossible Mac & Cheese Pie! I was going to just do dumplings on beef stew, like my dad would make, but the mac and cheese may win out.

[Mimi]

I welcome more entrants for BBMD - just let me know and I will post a link. This could be a week-long event. . .

[Alisha]

I can't stand the taste of Bisquick .. yuck! However, with the photo you posted of the pie I might just have to look up how to make my own baking mix to give this one a try.

[sher]

Lydia,

Thank you. I hope you find the cookbook, it was a lot of fun to read--lots of pictures. :)

Mimi,

Yes, I think this would be a great recipe for someone on a budget. And it's low in calories and incredibly easy to fix. So glad you thought up this event. It has struck a cord with people.

Tanna,

Thanks. I think this pie would be even better with feta cheese in it. I suddenly realized that it's very similar to Greek pastries and pie.

Kalyn,

I would bet making it up with whole wheat would work fine. There wasn't much Bisquick in the recipe.

Butta Buns,

Oh no! I've been Triple Dog Dared!!! I will have to make it! And I have never seen Cheetos shaped like paws, so I feel very deprived!

Mae,

LOL!! Yes, I love spinach too. It's so versatile...and good for us, as our moms always told us!

s'kat,

I love when my photos are tempestuous! :) I will make this again, but I will doctor it up a bit, to bump up the flavor. My Mother-in-law would like this recipe very much, especially seeing how easy it is to make.

April,

Impossible Cheeseburger Pie sounds fabulous. Anything with the words "cheeseburger" works for me.

e,

I NEVER kid about Cheetos. We must have standards in life. :):)

Alanna,

LOL!! 20 moons! Well, I think the green onions make it look pretty.

Sandeepa,

I admit, I too never really investigated doing many things with baking mixes. I just thought of pancakes. I think kids would like many of the things that Bisquick has dreamed up.

Callipygia,

I think I have to make the mac & cheese with Cheetos. :):) There are quite a number of the Impossible Pies. I was surprised at the variety.

Anh,

Thank you--I feel the same way about your recipes. They always inspire me.

Alisha,

My mom made her own baking mix and it was great. Cheaper too!

[peabody]

We always had Bisquick growing up too...usually just for pancakes also. I think there is nothing wrong with it from time to time...I have a box sitting in my pantry since my Hubby who is from the south loves the sausage bites you make with it.

[Susan from Food "Blogga"]

When I lived in North Carolina, a friend gave me a recipe very similar to this but with zucchini instead of spinach. I had forgotten about it until seeing your delicious photo! I think I'd better have a little visit with Bisquick.

[Claire]

This looks SOOOO good. I never buy Bisquik, but if I ever do, this is FOR SURE going to be made.

[Bunty]

Yes, Bisquick was always on my shelf in Arlington Hts.,Ill. I tried a few combinations with Bisquick
and the boys and Bill seemed to like them. However, when it came to pancakes, Bill used pancake mixes, no bisquick for him.MANY A BRKFS HE MADE IN WISC. FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY BY BILL !!!!!
THEY STILL TALK ABOUT PANCAKES, BACON, AND SAUSAGES
MADE BY BILL.HE LOVED TO COOK AND I WAS HAPPY TO LET HIM. LOVE BUNTY

[Glenna]

I can't wait to try this--with the suggestions you make. Nothing better than creamy spinach.

[Ivonne]

You've made the impossible very possible! I think I've only ever had Bisquick once but you've actually made me want to try it again!

[Julie]

I need to make that without Bisquick! It looks delicious but I don't think I'll ever use an entire box of Bisquick.

[Willa]

I wonder if there is a way to do it without Bisquick. I used to make the Impossible Pies when the kids were little, but now I don't do the Bisquick thing. I did find a recipe for a light wheat biscuit mix on the Hillbilly Housewife site (http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/lightwheatbiscuitmix.htm) Might have to try it!

[torokilopz]

Hi

Definitely nice and neat site you got there.


Bye