Quiche Lorraine Au Fromage Food

QUICHE LORRAINE AU FROMAGE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425ºF.
• Mix flour and salt in medium bowl. Cut in butter and shortening with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add ice water, 1 Tbsp. at a time, mixing lightly with fork until dry ingredients are evenly moistened and mixture clings together when pressed into ball. (If necessary, stir in more ice water, 1 tsp. at a time, until dough sticks together.) Flatten dough to 1/2-inch-thick round on large sheet of plastic wrap; wrap securely. Refrigerate 20 to 25 min. or until well chilled.
• Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 13-inch round. Place in 9-inch pie plate; fold under and flute edge. Sprinkle bacon and cheese onto bottom of crust. Whisk eggs and half-and-half until blended; pour into crust.
• Bake 15 min. Reduce oven temperature to 350ºF. Bake 35 to 40 min. or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 min. before serving.

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.

MADAME QUICHE'S QUICHE AU FROMAGE

Steps:

• Bake pastry at 425°F until golden brown. Then whisk together all ingredients and add to your cooled pastry. Bake quiche at 425°F for 30-35 minutes. Watch it at around 25 minutes to make sure you don't over cook.
• To check for doneness by inserting a knife into the center. If it comes out clean it is done.