It's almost that time of year ... again. It's time to say goodbye to this past year while we continue to ask ourselves where the heck it went. Time to make resolutions that we all swear we're going to keep. And time to think of how we're going to celebrate the coming New Year. But most importantly, at least for my family, is what we're going to eat New Year's Day.

You see, we're a huge sports family, so naturally we are going to hang out in front of the television all day and watch football. What goes better with yelling at the TV and cheering for your favorite team than good food? So here's an easy quiche recipe that would be great for breakfast or brunch.

With the hearty dose of meat in this dish, it's something that even the man of the house will enjoy. I know this because I made it Christmas morning and my husband, Andy, not only had seconds, but he kept saying he would eat more if he wasn't so full.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank so many of you for the positive and rewarding compliments you have given me. I truly appreciate it, and would like you all to know that it encourages my creativity, which is so important for any cook.

I wish you all a very safe and Happy New Year. ... Enjoy!

Meat and Spinach New Year's Quiche

6-8 slices of thick cut bacon -- cut into small pieces

8 oz. rolled breakfast sausage (recommend Jimmy Dean, any flavor)

1 cup diced onion

1 9-inch pie crust

8 large eggs

¼ cup sour cream

1 cup heavy cream or half & half

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 10 oz package frozen spinach -- defrosted and all excess liquid squeezed out

1 cup grated cheese (recommend Colby jack, cheddar, gruyere or Swiss)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon and sausage (break up the sausage with a wooden spoon) and cook until sausage has browned and bacon starts to crisp. Drain excess oil from pan, return to stove, add onion and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

Unroll pie crust and place in a deep 9-inch pie dish. Press crust firmly against sides and bottom of dish then set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs, heavy cream, sour cream and pepper together until well combined. Stir in spinach, grated cheese and cooled bacon and sausage mixture. Combine well, and then pour mixture into the pie dish. Place on the center rack of the oven and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, until the center has set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving.

Cooks note: You can prepare this recipe in advance, up to the night before. Go ahead and cook the bacon, sausage and onion mixture, cool and store in an airtight container. Also store the egg, cream, sour cream, pepper, spinach and cheese mixture in a container. Keep in the fridge until ready to combine.

Mariela Petroski is a self-taught cook and loves cooking for her husband and four children. Mariela credits her mother, Maria, for allowing her to help and watch in the kitchen when she was little. In November 2005, Mariela was a national semi-finalist for the Food Network Channel's 'Next Food Network Star.'