A Basic Quiche Recipe Can Save The Day

Sometimes, in my cooking and looking for unique food ideas, I forget about the classics. Quiche is one of those classics. Knowing how to make a great quiche means you have a Go-To recipe for a great all-in-one breakfast, Lunch, Snack or Light Dinner.

This week I'm spending time out of town, in a rented condo with my sister-in-law while she heals and recovers from surgery. My mother-in-law has been here for a few days already, taking care of her daughter and cooking all the meals. The surgery went great, we're all feeling positive and honestly a little time to sit, chat and laugh with some of the people we love in life is a good thing. Cooking when you're away from home is a challenge, though. It's not your kitchen, you try not to spend too much money or buy things you can't use completely, and learning new equipment can be frustrating.

When I arrived, after a tiring day of winter airplane travel, I was so hungry. This plate of savory custard pie with chucks of honey ham, sauteed onions and cheese, warmed up til the home-made pastry returned to a flaky melt-in-your-mouth finish was exactly what I needed. Outside the windows of the upstairs condo were dripping in windy cold rain while I sat in warmth, savoring every fork of this thick french style quiche and catching up with stories of the past few days.
My mother-in-law had not planned this meal. She said she opened the refrigerator, thought how much she didn't want to go out in the rain for lunch and tried to come up with something that used whatever she already had there. Knowing the basics for making a good quiche were so handy.

I didn't plan on writing a post while I was here, but I thought this was worth sharing. There are a few everyday recipe basics that can really pay off; Quiche is one of them.

Recipe: Basic Quiche-

8 ounces Egg (4 eggs)
16 ounces Heavy Cream or Half-and-Half
8 ounces cheese
4 ounces ham, bacon, or vegetables (chopped)
1/2 onion chopped (raw or sauteed)
Pinch of ground red pepper or paprika
salt/pepper to taste
Pre-Baked 8-9 inch Pie Shell

1) In a bowl, beat the eggs and cream together. Add the seasonings (red pepper, salt, pepper)
2) In a pre-baked pie shell, spread the cheese, onions and chopped meat or vegetables.
3) Pour over the egg/cream mixture and bake in a 325F oven for about 45-50 minutes just til the eggs are set.

Let the Quiche set for a few minutes, then slice and serve warm, or chill for later to serve cold, room temperature or reheated.

Wishing you good food, good family times and good news.