Blueberry Pancakes with Cinnamon Pecan Streusel and Blueberry Syrup are one of our favorite summer breakfasts. Pancakes were hands down the favorite breakfast food at my house while my kids were in preschool and elementary school. I think I made pancakes every single morning for …
These Apricot Waffles with Almonds and Ricotta are one of our favorite summer breakfasts. Crisp waffles, filled with apricots, and topped with fresh, sweetened ricotta cheese, toasted almonds, and blackberry syrup, are my idea of a perfect June breakfast. With everyone being home all the …
Tomato and Bacon Cheese Quiche is one of our favorite summer dinners. Also, this quiche makes a terrific breakfast, brunch or lunch. It’s finally summer! I’ve been waiting a long time for all the great locally grown fruits and vegetables I can buy at our many farm stands here in the Hudson Valley. And, ripe and juicy tomatoes are at the top of my list of the best summer vegetables. This quiche is a really great way to highlight summer tomatoes, and it is so versatile. You can use other vegetables, or other cheeses. You could leave out the bacon entirely, or add in some ham instead. Also, if you don’t have creme fraiche, just heat up an extra half cup of milk. I love this dish for several reasons. First of all, I like that it is relatively inexpensive to prepare. Quiches in general, are a great way to use up odds and ends in the kitchen. Secondly, I like serving this to guests. It’s so great for a holiday breakfast or brunch. And, lastly, I love the rich flavor in this quiche.
The Ingredients Needed for Tomato and Bacon Quiche
Bacon- My favorite brand is the Niman Ranch bacon.
Cheese- I used Monterey Pepper Jack cheese, but cheddar would also be delicious.
Creme Fraiche- You can find this with the gourmet cheeses at some markets. It adds great flavor.
Milk- Use whole milk.
Butter- For the crust, use unsalted butter.
How I Made my Quiche
I always start my quiche by making the dough. Actually, I often double the recipe and store half the dough in the freezer. While the dough chills, I make the filling. Then, while the quiche bakes, I have time to make a salad and probably a second main course for my picky eaters.
If you like quiche, you need to try this rich and delicious Tomato and Bacon Cheese Quiche.
Leek and Bacon Cheddar Quiche
Tender leeks, smoky bacon, and extra sharp cheddar cheese all folded into a smooth custard encased in a buttery dough.
8tbsp.cold, unsalted butter, cut into ½ inch pieces
¼ to ½cupice water
For the quiche filling:
½poundchopped bacon
1cupsliced leeks, well washed
1cupwhole milk
½cupheavy cream
8ouncesextra sharp cheddar cheese, grated
3largebeaten eggs
1tsp.kosher salt
¼tsp.black pepper
Instructions
For the quiche crust:
In a food processor, pulse together the flour and salt.
Remove the lid and sprinkle on the butter, and then pulse until the butter is the size of small peas.
With the food processor running, pour just enough ice water in , just until the dough sticks together when you pinch it. You may not need the whole half cup of water.
Empty the dough onto a floured board and gently roll it into a ball and the refrigerate it for 30 minutes.
Roll the dough out on a floured board and then lay it in a pie pan. Refrigerate it until you are ready to fill it.
For the quiche filling:
Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large skillet, fry the bacon until it's cooked through, but not crispy. When the bacon is cooked remove it with a slotted spoon and let it drain on paper towels. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan and cook the leeks until softened.
In a 2- quart saucepan, heat the milk until it's almost boiling. Remove it from the heat and let it cool 5 minutes. Add the heavy cream and the cheese and stir until melted. Then, stir in the eggs, salt, and pepper.
Fill the pie crust with the bacon and leeks and spread them out in an even layer. Pour in the egg mixture.
Bake for 50 minutes, or until the middle of the quiche is not runny.
Chopped Coconut Chicken Salad with Lime Dressing is one of our favorite chicken dinners. Restaurants that specialize in chopped salads have increased in popularity. We all love chopped salads because they include interesting ingredients that are all chopped up in bite sized pieces. And they …
We all have cravings, and today I was craving something crunchy, cheesy, and spicy, so I just had to make these decadent nachos. Tomorrow we can eat salad, but tonight I am making these Hawaiian Pulled Pork Nachos with Grilled Pineapple Salsa. Normally I would …
I think of all the recipes I’ve posted so far, this may be my favorite. I’ve never been a huge oatmeal fan, but the blackberries and apricots gave this dish huge, fresh flavor. And, I think creme fraiche is my new favorite ingredient. If you’ve never tried it, it’s like sour cream’s richer, tarter cousin. I’ve been putting it into everything lately.
I start this recipe by caramelizing the apricots and walnuts in butter and brown sugar. Next I cooked the oatmeal and then stirred in the blackberries. I used frozen blackberries for this part of the recipe; I just defrosted them briefly in the microwave.
Lastly, I mixed the creme fraiche and honey, and put a bit on each bowl of oatmeal. It actually took my husband and I 3 days to finish all this oatmeal, but it reheated really well in the microwave. And, it also was quite tasty cold, as well.
Blackberry Oatmeal with Caramelized Apricots and Honey Creme Fraiche
Blackberry filled oatmeal topped with caramelized apricots, walnuts, and rich honey creme fraiche.
In a skillet, on medium heat, melt the butter and brown sugar together. Add the apricots and walnuts and cook about 5 minutes, or until the apricots are softened, but still firm.
Meanwhile, in a 3 quart saucepan, boil 4 cups of water and the salt. Stir in the oats and cinnamon, and simmer on low heat until the oats are tender and creamy, about 7 minutes. Stir in one cup of blackberries and two tablespoons of the honey.
In a small bowl, stir the creme fraiche and 1 tablespoon of honey together.
Divide the oatmeal into 4 bowls. Top with the peaches, the rest of the blackberries, and the honey creme fraiche.
With a third cup of garlic cloves, this Broccoli and Bowtie Pasta is a garlic lover’s dream. I expected complaints from some of the garlic haters in my house, but to my surprise everyone really loved it. Cooking the garlic with lots of butter seems …
Succulent shrimp, spicy garlic, and tart lemon all combine in this mouth-watering pasta dish. This is an especially great dish to serve on a hot summer day because you don’t need to use the oven at all, and your total time in the kitchen should …
Stuffed with melted cheese and spicy chicken, and topped with salsa and chimichurri, these quesadillas are perfect for a summer Tex-Mex dinner. These Pepper Jack Chicken Quesadillas are interesting enough to please adults, but easy to customize for picky kids. To serve these to children, I would fill their quesadillas with a mild cheddar cheese and the chicken, and serve them with the salsa and chimichurri on the side.
I start these quesadillas by roasting the chicken. While the chicken bakes, I make all the other components, and then as soon as the chicken finishes, the quesadillas only take a few minutes to fry up. If you have a long griddle, you can even fry multiple quesadillas at one time.
Pepper Jack Chicken Quesadillas with Cilantro Lime Chimichurri
Cheesy chicken quesadillas topped with a cilantro chimichurri and tomato salsa.
Preheat the oven to 350°. Place the chicken breast on a sheet pan, and sprinkle with the spices, plus a pinch of kosher salt, on both sides. Place on a sheet pan and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Bake for 50 minutes.
Remove skin and bones, and chop chicken into bite sized pieces. Put them in a bowl and add pan drippings.
While the chicken bakes, heat the other tablespoon of oil in a skillet and fry the pepper, onion and garlic until tender. Add the lime juice and season the vegetables with kosher salt and pepper.
Mix the chicken with the cheese. Divide the chicken and cheese between 4 tortillas. Top with 4 more tortillas, and fry each one in butter, on medium heat, until they're browned and the cheese has melted.
Top with chimichurri, salsa, and sour cream and serve.
For Cilantro Lime Chimichurri:
Blend all ingredients in a food processor. Season with kosher salt and pepper.
For the Salsa:
Mix all the ingredients together. Season with kosher salt and pepper.
Crispy on the outside, and creamy on the inside, these fried Parmesan Arancini with Garlic and Parsley are a family favorite. My mother-in-law makes them for every holiday and special family dinner, usually frying dozens of them, and serving them as a “light” appetizer before …