The quiche originated in Alsace-Lorraine, in northeastern France. It’s a pastry shell filled with a savory custard of eggs, cream, and other ingredients. Quiche Lorraine always includes crisp bacon with optional cheese. Of course, there are many ways to vary this basic recipe and a few ideas follow. In the convection oven, the temperature is reduced by 25 to 50 degrees and the baking time is reduced as well.

　　

Ingredients

makes 6 to 8 servings

　　Half recipe Flaky Pastry (page 37)

　　10 slices bacon, cooked crisp, drained well, and crumbled

　　1 1/4 cups (6 ounces) diced or shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese

　　4 eggs

　　1 3/4 cups light cream or undiluted evaporated milk (not condensed)

　　Freshly grated nutmeg

　　

Step 1

Position the oven racks so that they are evenly spaced, with one rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to convection bake at 400°F.

　　

Step 2

Line a 9-inch pie or tart pan with the pastry, pinch the edges of the pastry to flute, line the bottom with foil, and weight down with pie weights (uncooked dried beans work well). Bake on the center rack for 15 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Remove from the oven; remove the pie weights (you can do this by simply lifting them in the foil out of the pan). Cool on a wire rack.

　　

Step 3

Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F. Evenly distribute the bacon and Gruyère on the bottom of the pastry shell. Beat the eggs and cream together until blended and pour over the Gruyère. Grate the nutmeg over the filling.

　　

Step 4

Bake the quiche on the center rack for 30 to 35 minutes, until the custard is set (a knife inserted just off center will come out clean). Cool on a wire rack. Cut into wedges to serve.

　　From Cooking with Convection by Beatrice Ojankangas. Copyright (c) 2005 by Beatrice Ojankangas. Published by Broadway Books.Beatrice Ojakangas has written more than a dozen cookbooks, including Beatrice Ojakangas' Great Holiday Baking Book, Beatrice Ojakangas' Light and Easy Baking, Pot Pies, Quick Breads, Light Desserts, The Finnish Cookbook, and The Great Scandinavian Baking Book. Beatrice works as a consultant for Pillsbury and other major food companies, teaches cooking classes, and writes for various food magazines. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota.