Ultimate Cheese Quiche Food

BASIC CHEESE QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°; prick the crust all over with a fork.
• Line it with tin foil and weight the bottom with a pile of dried beans, rice, or other weights that will sit flat on the surface.
• Bake 12 minutes; remove from the oven and carefully remove the weight and foil; turn the oven to 325°.
• In a bowl, combine the eggs, cheese, cream, and seasonings; beat until well blended.
• Place the baked crust on a baking sheet; pour the egg mixture into the crust, right to the top.
• Carefully transfer the baking sheet to the oven; bake 30-40 minutes, until the mixture is set but still moist; it should still jiggle just a little in the middle (cover pie crust edges with foil if getting too brown).
• Cool on a rack; serve warm or at room temperature.

ULTIMATE CHEESE QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Grease an oven-proof dish. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface, and line the dish with the pastry.
• Beat the eggs and milk together in a medium-sized bowl, and season to taste. Pour the mixture into the pastry.
• Grate the cheese and add it to the mixture, being sure to spread the cheese evenly.
• Cook on the middle shelf of the oven for 30 minutes or until the cheese on top is golden brown. Serve.

MEAT LOVER'S QUICHE

Steps:

• Pulse together the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add about a third of the chilled butter cubes and process until the butter is absorbed. Add the remaining butter and pulse until the butter is the size of peas, 5 or 6 pulses. Add the vinegar. Then, pulsing quickly a few times as you do it, add the ice water through the tube. Squeeze some dough between your fingers, it should just hold its shape without feeling wet. If it is crumbly, add more ice water a tablespoon at a time. Pulse quickly and take care not to overwork or the dough will be tough. Wrap the dough loosely in a large piece of plastic wrap, then firmly press and flatten the dough into a thin round. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Lightly flour a work surface, then roll the dough into an 11- to 12-inch round, about 1/8 inch thick. Center the dough in a 9-inch pie plate, with an even overhang all around. Fold the edges and flute or crimp. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Press a piece of foil over the chilled crust, then fill with pie weights, raw beans or rice. Bake to set the crust, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and weights and bake until the crust is light brown, 5 to 10 minutes more. Let cool slightly before adding the filling.
• Combine the bacon, sausage, salami, and ham with the Monterey Jack and sprinkle it in an even layer in the crust.
• Whisk together the half-and-half, eggs, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a bowl. Stir in the parsley.
• Pour the custard over the filling. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake until set, 35 to 50 minutes. Let cool at least 30 minutes before serving warm or at room temperature.

QUICHE SUPREME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and pre-bake crusts for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool on racks.
• In a large skillet, saute green pepper, onion and mushrooms until onions are soft and translucent. Remove from heat and set aside.
• In a large bowl, mix eggs and cream together. Stir in the shredded Jack and Swiss cheese, chopped ham and sauteed vegetables. Stir in vinegar and season with tarragon, garlic powder, nutmeg, parsley, salt and pepper. Divide filling into the 2 baked pie crusts.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 55 to 60 minutes, or until filling is set and crusts are golden brown.

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.