Eileens Custom Quiche Food

QUICHE LORRAINE

Steps:

• For the dough: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch pie plate and set aside.
• Pulse the flour and salt in a food processor to blend. Pulse in the egg yolks and butter. (Do not overmix.) Add the ice water through the top and pulse until the dough comes together and forms a loose ball. Turn the dough onto a floured surface.
• Place the dough between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll into a round, about 10 inches in diameter. Press the dough gently into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared pie plate. Ideally, there should be about an inch of excess dough hanging over the edge. Pinch the dough up to create a crimped edge. Place one sheet of parchment over the dough and fill with pie weights. Bake until lightly brown, 16 to 18 minutes. Remove the parchment paper and pie weights and let cool.
• For the quiche custard: Cook the lardons in a skillet until crispy, 5 to 8 minutes. Set aside.
• Whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, milk, nutmeg, hot sauce, Worcestershire, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Stir in the cheeses.
• Place the pie shell on a rimmed baking sheet. Scatter three-quarters of the bacon over the shell, then pour the custard over the top. Bake until set and brown and bubbly on top, 25 to 30 minutes. Garnish with the remaining bacon and chives. Slice and serve.

EILEEN'S CUSTOM QUICHE

Steps:

• Layer cheese, meat and vegetables of your choice in pie shell.
• In a medium bowl combine eggs, half & half, salt and pepper. Beat until lightly foamy with hand mixer.
• Pour mixture into pie shell. Sprinkle with paprika.
• Bake in a 425° oven for 20 minutes.
• Decrease temperature to 350° for 40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

ULTIMATE QUICHE LORRAINE

Steps:

• For the pastry, put 175g plain flour, 100g cold butter, cut into pieces, 1 egg yolk and 4 tsp cold water into a food processor. Using the pulse button, process until the mix binds.
• Tip the pastry onto a lightly floured surface, gather into a smooth ball, then roll out as thinly as you can.
• Line a 23 x 2.5cm loose-bottomed, fluted flan tin, easing the pastry into the base.
• Trim the pastry edges with scissors (save any trimmings) so it sits slightly above the tin (if it shrinks, it shouldn't now go below the level of the tin). Press the pastry into the flutes, lightly prick the base with a fork, then chill for 10 mins.
• Put a baking sheet in the oven and heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Line pastry case with foil, shiny side down, fill with dry beans and bake on the hot sheet for 15 mins.
• Remove foil and beans and bake for 4-5 mins more until the pastry is pale golden. If you notice any small holes or cracks, patch up with pastry trimmings. You can make up to this point a day ahead.
• While the pastry cooks, prepare the filling. Heat a small frying pan, tip in 200g lardons and fry for a couple of mins. Drain off any liquid that comes out, then continue cooking until the lardons just start to colour, but aren't crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels.
• Cut three quarters of the 50g gruyère into small dice and finely grate the rest. Scatter the diced gruyère and fried lardons over the bottom of the pastry case.
• Using a spoon, beat 200ml crème fraîche to slacken it then slowly beat in 200ml double cream. Mix in 3 well beaten eggs. Season (you shouldn't need much salt) and add a pinch of ground nutmeg. Pour three quarters of the filling into the pastry case.
• Half-pull the oven shelf out and put the flan tin on the baking sheet. Quickly pour the rest of the filling into the pastry case - you get it right to the top this way. Scatter the grated cheese over the top, then carefully push the shelf back into the oven.
• Lower the oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Bake for about 25 mins, or until golden and softly set (the centre should not feel too firm).
• Let the quiche settle for 4-5 mins, then remove from the tin. Serve freshly baked, although it's also good cold.