Quiche Lorraine

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place unwrapped frozen pie crust on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Remove and allow to cool slightly. (Keep crust on the baking sheet.) Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

Step 2

Meanwhile, cut bacon strips into small pieces and add to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until bacon is browned and then remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon to reserve as a garnish for the top.

Step 3

Drain off all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat. Add 1 tablespoon butter and the diced onion; cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic and stir for another 30 seconds to a minute. Add the cooked mixture to the plate of cooked bacon to drain and cool.

Step 4

Place the bacon and onion/garlic mixture right on top of the baked crust. Sprinkle Parmesan and Swiss cheese evenly on top.

Step 5

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until lightly beaten. Then whisk in the cream, nutmeg, and salt and pepper (to taste; I add 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper). Whisk until smooth.

Step 6

Pour cream/egg mixture into the crust (still on the baking sheet) and bake on the middle or lower oven rack (not the top one) for 35 to 45 minutes, or until quiche is set and very slightly jiggly in the center. (It will finish firming up outside of the oven.) Avoid overbaking the quiche -- if there is a slight jiggle, it's done.

Step 7

Serve warm with reserved bacon and fresh chopped chives.