Broccoli Cheddar Quiche

I was tempted to call this "quick quiche" because I made it with frozen pie crust (gasp). Am I embarrassed to call myself a food blogger? Maybe my inner pastry chef is just a little, but my outer working mom is just trying to get by and makes no apologies. Yes, in a perfect world everything would be organic and made from scratch (and I'd be 5 inches taller and wear a size 8). But I don't live in that world, I live in Jersey.

Getting back to the quiche itself...this recipe is extremely versatile; you can fill it with anything you want. I went with broccoli and cheddar so it would appeal to the younger taste buds at my house. But you can elevate it by choosing fancier fillings (like smoked salmon and asparagus), for when guests with more sophisticated palates stop by.

BROCCOLI QUICHE

Makes 1 (9-inch) quiche

1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)

2 eggs

2 pinches salt

a few pinches freshly grated nutmeg

1 frozen 9-inch pie crust

filling:

1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 medium shallots, finely chopped

1 yellow pepper, chopped

2-3 cups steamed broccoli florets

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1.      Preheat oven to 350º F.

2.      Heat the olive oil in a small skillet. Add the shallots and cook for 1 minute. Add the yellow pepper and cook until a fork pierces easily, about 5 minutes.

3.      In a medium bowl, combine the cream (or half-and-half) and the eggs. Whisk until combined thoroughly. Add the salt and the nutmeg. Whisk to combine.

4.      Evenly distribute the cooked shallots, pepper and broccoli in the pie crust. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top. Pour the cream mixture over the filling (leave a little room; the eggs will puff up during baking).

5.      Bake until firm to the touch (like set jell-o), about 45 minutes. Cool the pie for at least 15 minutes before slicing.

More suggested fillings:

• cooked spinach, cheddar cheese, cubed cooked ham
• bacon, sauteed leeks, and gruyere cheese
• cooked spinach, canned artichoke hearts, and parmesan cheese
• roasted chicken, goat cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes

adapted from “Refrigerator Pie” by Alton Brown

shallots and yellow pepper cooking

steamed broccoli florets

vegetables in pie crust

cheese sprinkled on top

cream and egg mixture whisked
I whisk it right in the measuring cup, that way it's easy to pour out the spout.

pouring in the cream-egg mixture

ready to bake
I did use a deep dish pie crust, so I had a little extra room.

baked

cross section

Good thing I snapped a photo early because there weren't
any leftovers (always a good sign). Even my daughter liked it.

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