Magnolia Springs gives Southern cooking a healthy twist

Think all Southern cooking is steeped in fatty, heavy ingredients? Think you can't replicate the flavor with lighter choices?

David Worthington, owner of Magnolia Springs Bed and Breakfast in Baldwin County, Alabama, says no one Magnolia Springs B&Bneeds to start the day loaded down with fat." A good chef can play around with a recipe without destroying the original intent."

Worthington shuns oil, butter and salt and still creates beautiful dishes that embody the comforting flavors of the South.

"Most quiche recipes start with two cups of heavy whipping cream but I use cottage cheese instead," Worthington says. "The ‘real men don't eat quiche' attitude is still prevalent here, so going low fat cancels out the quiche cliché and everyone enjoys a delicious, nutritious meal."

Worthington served me his quiche on the wrap-aroundMagnolia's Beautiful Breakfast verandah of his century-old mansion. While I'd like to say the quiche held me captive, I have to admit the surroundings helped an awful lot. It just didn't taste the same when I made it at home a few weeks later.

If you're big on healthy but don't want to sacrifice flavor (and can't get to Magnolia Springs), give his recipe a try. Even if you don't have the verandah, I'm betting it'll be a keeper.

David's Crustless Spinach Pie

1 package (10oz) frozen spinach, thawed and well drained (or use fresh spinach cooked, well drained and chopped). David says you can use broccoli as well.

Mix the eggs with the water, flour, salt & pepper. Add in this order: feta cheese, cottage cheese and then the spinach.

Place the mixture in a lightly oiled or nonstick-sprayed pie pan, and bake at 350F for approx 55-60 minutes. Do you look for recipes when you travel? What's the best one you've found so far?

Want to learn more about Magnolia Springs? Visit them online at MagnoliaSprings.com orread their reviews on TripAvisor. They'v also got a blog where you'll find information on what to do and see while you're visitng the Gulf Shores of Alabama.

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