French Friday: Quiche Lorraine

Bonjour mes amis!
Bienvenue a vendredei francaises!
Aujourd’hui, nous allons faire un plat traditionel francais
quiche Lorraine
I’ve mentioned before that my husband’s aunt was born and raised in Cannes. 
She married her husband in the 60’s when he came to France with the US Navy, 
 followed him back to the States and made a home for him and their two children. 
Sadly, she passed away last year but was a joy to be around the whole time I knew her. 
We all miss her and think of her often.
She was tres French and retained a strong accent to the end. 
She had been taught all the homekeeping techniques as girls were then and 
she taught me many things when I was younger. 
How to properly iron, how to make a skirt without a pattern, how to roast a chicken 
and how to make this fabulous quiche I’m sharing with you today.

The French philosophy of caring for possessions was strong and when her daughter passed along Tante Jeanne’s bedroom furniture to my daughter last year, 
it looked like it had just been delivered from the store. 
Jeanne’s mother was a lacemaker and she kept her treasured pieces of lace 
wrapped in tissue in a drawer. 
She took them out one day years ago when we first moved here to Va and showed them to me. 
Being a seamstress and, at the time, being involved in French handsewing 
and hand smocking dresses for my girls……I just drooled.

Here’s the recipe we’ll be using today….I just scanned my recipe card…..


 
Here’s my disclaimer. 
There are so many varieties of potato salad, baked beans, chocolate cake, 
sugar cookies, egg salad, etc, etc in this country. 
Which one is the RIGHT recipe? The answer is “none”. 
It is no different with this recipe. 
Cooks vary across a country, no matter which country you are in. 
So, this recipe may not be the REAL recipe you have or some chef has written 
but I can tell you that Tante Jeanne made this here in the US 
just as she grew up making it at home. 
So, it’s real to me and it’s delicious and easy!

Start with the pie shell.

You can make this in a pie dish but I strongly recommend one of these.

They are not very expensive and will result in a nice, flat, evenly cooked quiche.


When the ring is removed, it is pretty to display and easy to slice.
 
I am not sharing a piecrust recipe here…there are so many and you may have a favorite.
Of course this is a pate brisee…or a short crust, meaning a crust made with lard, butter or shortening which results in a crisp, shortbread consistency.
Pate sucree would be a sweet crust suitable for a dessert tart.
 It ends up being a bit more chewy because of the addition of sugar.

Fit your crust into the tin. Let the edge hang over and lightly press it into the grooves along the side. Then, just lay your rolling pin across the tin and pressing lightly, roll it across. 

You’ll slice the excess crust off neatly and quickly!

Stick that into the fridge…..put it on a flat cookie sheet first….
remember, that bottom is loose!

Slice the bacon crosswise into “lardons”. 

Fry until crisp, drain and place in pie shell.
I’m sure you can fry bacon, but don’t rush it. It will fry evenly if you don’t have the heat too high. Stir it with a fork to break up all the little slices and help it cook evenly. 

Drain it on some paper towels.
Now, I was born in the midwest (Illinois) and grew up mostly in the south (Florida). 
I’ve lived here in Va for 30 + years. 
Lots of good cooks all over the place including family and friends. 
I save my bacon grease in the fridge. There is NOTHING better for fried potatoes. 
Try it….you’ll never go back!

Get your shell out of the fridge, sprinkle the bacon over the bottom 
and top it with the grated Gruyere.


Mix up the eggs, cream and seasonings and pour over the cheese and bacon.

Into the oven

Done!

 Let cool and then place your hand flat under the tart and let the ring drop away.

 

The French will pack a quiche up and take it for lunch or a picnic and eat it cold.  

When we were first married we often came here to Va to visit Jeanne and family. 
She always made a quiche Lorraine for me because she knew I loved it.
It was cold when we arrived in  the evening and it tasted every bit as good.

 

 

Delicieux! 
if you use a refrigerated pie crust….NOT a premade crust but the kind in the refrigerated section where the eggs and butter are….you can have this in the oven in 15 minutes.
It makes a great quick dinner .


A bientot!


Sharing with
My Romantic Home
French Country Cottage
Simply Klassic Home
Rattlebridge Farm

Comments

  1. How nice to have a quiche named after you. I have no Gruyere so I think Sunday I might make quiche Bliss and use whatever cheese I have in the fridge. Unless I can get my hands on some Gruyere.

    ~Bliss~

  2. Handwriting lessons were mandatory when I was in school. I do agree with you as to the importance of handwriting skills! I can’t wait to try the recipe.

  3. Looks delicieuse (I’m assuming it must be feminine!)

  4. I LOVE quiche…am going to definitely try this…I think I’ll love the combo of nutmeg and cayenne. 🙂

  5. Looks delish! What wonderful memories of your husband’s aunt.

  6. This looks fabulous (and have the hand written recipe is such a great memory!) We’d love for you to share it (and anything else you’d like) at our Beautify It Monday Link party going on now at BringingBeauty.blogpsot.com!

  7. Yes please to Quiche and and an easy to follow recipe!
    Danni@SiloHillFarm recently posted…STRANGE THINGS ARE HAPPENINGMy Profile

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