DESIGNER QUICHE

DESIGNER QUICHE

SERVES: 6-8

INGREDIENTS:

1              Pie crust (Pillsbury All-Ready)

1 TBSP      Butter

4-5            Mushrooms – wipe clean and slice thin

3                 Green onions – wash and pat dry – slice thin, tops too
1-2 TBSP    Fresh herbs – basil is my preference

5 large       Eggs

1 tsp.         Salt

1/2 tsp.      Fresh ground black pepper

1/4 tsp.      Cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper

3/4 C         Heavy cream

2 C            Grated sharp cheddar cheese***

2 C            Grated Swiss cheese***
                  Fresh herbs

OPTIONAL: 

Cooked meat – about 3/4 C : Crumbled cooked bacon (6-8 strips), cooked and crumbled sausage, cooked chopped shrimp, baby canned clams (drained and chopped), canned smoked oysters (drained and chopped), chopped cooked ham, chopped country ham (yum), lump crabmeat – use your imagination – just NOT poultry, as it’s tasteless!

Veggies:  Chopped fresh spinach , sautéed squash or zucchini, sautéed bell pepper, steamed broccoli, chopped red pepper etc. 

Alternate Herbs: Fresh parsley, chives, thyme

***Cheeses: Replace cheddar and swiss with dollops of goat cheese, mascarpone cheese and shaved parm

CAUTION - just don't over do - 3-4 add-ins max (onions, 'shrooms + two others) plus an herb

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400°

Melt butter in wok or heavy pan until bubbly – add onions and mushrooms and sauté until tender – about 4 minutes.  Drain on a paper towel.

Line 9” pie plate with a single pastry crust – crimp edges and spread onion/mushroom sauté evenly in the bottom; add meats or other veggies if desired

Sprinkle cheeses evenly over the onions/mushrooms/meat

Combine eggs and next 4 ingredients and whisk until blended – pour over cheeses

Bake 45-50 minutes until golden and a knife inserted an inch from the center comes out clean.  Let sit 5 minutes before serving.  Wonderful with a fruit salad and a croissant drizzled with honey - and a good Riesling, of course!  Also great in the early morning with link sausages and toasted, buttery English muffins.