BRIE AND ARTICHOKE CUSTARD PIE

Steps:

• Prepare the artichoke bottoms, and let them stand in their cooking liquid until ready to use. Drain and scoop away the fuzzy choke from each. Cut the artichoke bottoms into 1/4-inch-thick slices. There should be about 1 cup. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Use a springform pan, 10 by 2 inches, with a removable bottom. Line the bottom and sides of the pan with wide aluminum foil, and brush all over with melted butter. Set aside.
• Rinse the spinach well. Pull or cut off and discard any tough stems; discard blemished leaves. Drain the spinach well. There should be about 3 cups loosely packed.
• In a saucepan, bring to a boil enough water to cover the spinach when it is added. Add the spinach, stirring it into the water. Cook about 1 minute or until wilted. Drain well. Squeeze to extract excess liquid. There should be about 1/2 cup. Chop the spinach, and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a skillet, and add the onion and garlic. Add the spinach and toss to blend.
• Break the eggs into a mixing bowl, and beat well. Beat in the cream and milk. Add the nutmeg, salt and pepper. Add the spinach mixture and blend.
• If a whole cooked potato is used, peel it and put it through a food mill or potato ricer. There should be about 1/2 cup. Add the mashed potato to the custard, and blend evenly. Pour the custard into the prepared pan, and place it in the oven. Bake 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, trim off and discard the tough outer coating from the Brie. Cut the cheese lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick wedges.
• Remove the pan from the oven, and sprinkle the artichoke pieces evenly over the top. Lay the strips of Brie flat in a circle like the spokes of a wheel around the top of the custard. Sprinkle the top with parsley, and return the pan to the oven. Bake 45 minutes or until a cake tester or thin skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the pie stand for 10 minutes before unmolding.
• To unmold, remove the circle of metal from around the pie. Pull down the foil. You may cut the pie into 8 wedges and serve it on plates directly from the kitchen. Or if you wish to display it, place a round plate over the top of the pie. Invert the pie onto this plate, remove the foil, and then place a serving plate over the bottom of the pie. Repeat the procedure, turning the pie right-side-up. Serve cut into 8 wedges with the tomato sauce on the side.