Onion Quiche Or Gratin Adapted From Julia Child Food

ONION QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Over medium-low heat melt butter in a large saucepan. Add onions and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft.
• In a small bowl, beat together eggs and cream. Stir in cheese. Spread onions in bottom of pastry shell. Pour egg mixture over onions.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until eggs have set.

ONION QUICHE

Steps:

• Make the tart dough: In a food processor, pulse flour, salt and sugar to combine. Add butter, then pulse until lima-bean-size pieces form. Gradually drizzle water into mixture and pulse just to combine, adding more water by the tablespoon if dough doesn't come together. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface. Press it together into a ball, flatten into a disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days. (If you don't have a food processor, see Tip below.)
• While dough chills, cook the onions for the filling: In a 12-inch skillet over medium heat, melt 3 tablespoons butter and oil. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until pale golden and liquid has been cooked off, about 1 hour. (If the onions start to get too dark, reduce the heat to low.) Stir in flour and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Butter a 9-inch tart pan. Take chilled dough out of plastic wrap and place on a floured surface. Roll dough into an 11-inch circle, drape over it over tart pan and press into bottom edges and down sides. Use a knife or rolling pin to cut off excess dough, then use your fingers to push dough 1/4-inch up past the edge of pan. Use a fork to poke evenly spaced holes in the bottom and sides of the dough and chill for 30 minutes.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place chilled tart on a baking sheet. Line with foil, fill with pie weights and bake for 15 minutes. Remove tart from oven and carefully remove foil and pie weights. Return tart to oven to continue baking, uncovered, until dough is just baked through and barely turning golden on the edges, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees.
• Prepare lardons: Heat a medium, dry skillet over medium heat, then add lardons and cook until they start to brown, about 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel.
• In a large bowl, whisk to combine eggs, cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Fold in onions, then half the Gruyère. Cube remaining 1 tablespoon butter into pea-size pieces.
• Scatter cooked lardons over parbaked tart shell. Scrape egg and onion mixture into shell, smoothing top, and then scatter remaining Gruyère on top. Dot with butter pieces, then bake in a 375-degree oven until puffed and browned, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly, then remove tart ring from pan and slide quiche onto a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SPINACH QUICHE OR GRATIN - ADAPTED FROM JULIA CHILD

Steps:

• To partly bake the pastry shell: Bake in middle of oven at 400 degrees F. for 8-9 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place oven rack in upper third of oven.
• Saute onions briefly in butter; set aside.
• Beat together salt, eggs, nutmeg and pepper. Gradually stir in spinach mixture. Check seasoning.
• Pour into pastry shell. Sprinkle cheese on top. Place on baking sheet.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until puffed and browned.

ONION QUICHE OR GRATIN (ADAPTED FROM JULIA CHILD)

Steps:

• Place oven rack in upper third of oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook onions in butter over very low heat til tender and golden, stirring occasionally (about 1 hour). Remove from heat and let cool somewhat.
• Add flour; cook over low heat for 2 or 3 minutes.
• In a bowl, combine eggs, milk or cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Beat til well blended.
• Gradually add onions and half cheese. Check seasoning.
• Pour into pastry shell or baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Place on baking sheet.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until puffed and browned.
• NOTE: To partly bake the pastry shell: Bake in middle of oven at 400 degrees F. for 8-9 minutes.

MUSHROOM QUICHE OR GRATIN - ADAPTED FROM JULIA CHILD

Steps:

• To partly bake the pastry shell: Bake in middle of oven at 400 degrees F. for 8-9 minutes.
• To make the mushroom filling:.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place oven rack in upper third of oven.
• Saute mushrooms in butter until they exude their juices, the liquid evaporates and the mushrooms are starting to brown slightly.
• Mix together mushrooms, onion, salt and lemon juice; set aside.
• Beat together eggs, milk, nutmeg and pepper. Gradually stir in mushroom mixture. Check seasoning.
• Pour into pastry shell. Sprinkle cheese on top. Place on baking sheet.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until puffed and browned.

CANADIAN BACON ONION QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, mix flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cut in 1/2 cup butter until crumbly. Gradually add cottage cheese, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Shape into a disk., On a floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge., In large skillet, heat remaining butter over medium heat. Add onions; cook and stir until golden brown. Stir in Canadian bacon, pepper and remaining salt. Remove from heat; add eggs and cheddar cheese. Pour into crust., Bake on a lower oven rack 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

SALMON GRATIN (ADAPTED FROM JULIA CHILD)

Steps:

• Cook onion in butter over low heat about 5 min or so - do not brown. Add flour, cook 2 minutes without coloring.
• Off heat, beat in boiling milk, wine (if using), salmon juice (if using), and seasoning. Boil several minutes to thicken. Thin to medium consistency with 4-6 T. additional milk. Taste for seasoning. Fold salmon (and mushrooms, if using) into sauce, check seasoning.
• Spread in 8" shallow baking dish or cooked pastry shell. Sprinkle on the cheese.
• Bake at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes, or til top is nicely browned.
• Note: You can also add extra ingredients such as peas, diced hard boiled eggs, etc. to the casserole.

GRATIN DAUPHINOIS - INSPIRED BY JULIA CHILD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and adjust oven rack to top third of oven.
• Rub the baking dish with cut garlic to impart a hint of flavor. (I use a large, shallow corningware dish that I can place both on the stovetop and in the oven.).
• Grease the baking dish with a bit of vegetable oil.
• Slice the potatoes about 1/8 inch thick and spread half of the slices in the bottom of the dish.
• Top with half of the salt, pepper, cheese and dots of butter.
• Repeat with the remaining slices and topping.
• Pour on the boiling milk. The amount of milk depends on the size of the baking dish and how full of potatoes it is. You just want to almost cover the potatoes with the milk.
• Set the baking dish over heat (on the stove is OK if you're using Corningware or the equivalent).
• When the milk starts to simmer, transfer the baking dish to the oven.
• Bake 20-30 minutes until potatoes are tender, milk has been absorbed, and top is brown.

SWISS CHEESE QUICHE (JULIA CHILD)

Steps:

• To partly bake the pastry shell:.
• Bake in middle of oven at 400 degrees F. for 8-9 minutes.
• For filling:.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place oven rack in upper third of oven.
• Beat eggs.
• Add enough cream (or milk or cream-milk combination) so that eggs and cream measure 1 1/2 cups total.
• Add salt, nutmeg and pepper; mix through.
• Stir in cheese. Check seasoning.
• Pour into pastry shell and distribute butter pieces on top. Place on baking sheet.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or til puffed and browned.
• Slide quiche onto a hot platter and serve.