Noodle Nests

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. 2
   Spray, butter, or in some way lubricate your mini-muffin (or reg muffin pans) WELL, otherwise there is a good chance you will be digging these out of the pan (even silicon pans need a good oiling) and end up with a delicious mountain of destroyed nests. And muffin liners (even the foil ones) don't work well either, trust me.
3. 3
   Cook pasta (or use left overs).
4. 4
   Chop meat, cheese and onion; mix together with pasta.
5. 5
   In a large measuring cup (2 cup works well), beat eggs slightly, stir in cream, milk, salt, pepper and nutmeg.
6. 6
   Evenly distribute the dry mixture among the mini-muffin pans, then evenly pour custard mixture into each muffin cup. There will be left over - there always is. These puff up, so you don't necessarily want to take the liquids all the way up to the top.
7. 7
   Bake for 35 minutes.
8. 8
   Remove from oven, run a knife around the edge of each nest to loosen from the sides of the muffin cups. Let cool 5-10 min before removing.
9. 9
   These are best warm, but usually consumed piping hot - be warned!
10. 10
    Check description for flavor substitutes and make ahead instructions.