Ham And Gruyere Mini Quiches Adapted From Williams Sonoma Recipes

Steps:

• To make pastry: Use pastry blender or fork to cut butter and vegetable shortening into 3/4 inch (2 cm) pieces.
• In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar (optional), and salt adn stir to mix. Scatter butter and shortening pieces over the flour mixture. Using a fork, toss to coat with the flour. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in the butter and shortening until the mixture forms large, coarse crumbs the size of large peas. Drizzle ice water over the mixture and toss with a fork until the dough is evenly moist and begins to come together in a mass, but does not yet form a ball.
• Transfer dough to a work surface. Divide dough in half and form each half into a 6 inch (15 cm) disk. Wrap each disk tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour or overnight.
• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400 F (200 C).
• Remove 1 dough disk from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out into a round about 13 inches (33 cm) in diameter and 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick.
• Using a 2 inch (5 cm) biscuit or cookie cutter, cut out circles of dough and fit into 24 mini-muffin-pan cups. If needed, also use second disk and reroll and cut scraps as needed. Place a small ball of crumpled aluminum foil in each cup.
• Bake in preheated oven 4 minutes; remove foil and set it aside. Prick bottom of each pastry with a fork and continue baking until golden, 2-3 minutes longer. Let cool on a wire rack and set aside. This may be completed up to 2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container.
• Reduce oven heat to 350 F (180 C) or preheat oven if shells were prepared in advance.
• In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and ham. Whisk to combine. This may be completed up to 1 day in advance and stored, covered, in the refrigerator.
• Spoon egg mixture into pastry shells, filling them to the brim.
• Bake the quiches until filling is puffed and lightly golden, 10-12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool in the pan. Garnish with chives if desired; serve warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Set a baking sheet on the middle oven rack; preheat to 425 degrees F. Scatter the ham and cheese in the pie crust. Whisk the eggs, half-and-half, chives, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl; pour into the crust. Transfer to the hot baking sheet and bake until the eggs are set and the top is lightly browned, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the vinegar and mustard in a large bowl. Gradually whisk in the olive oil until smooth. Add the greens and mushrooms; toss well to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Cut the quiche into wedges and serve with the salad.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients; fold in Gruyere cheese, ham and onions. Fill 10 greased muffin cups three-fourths full., Bake 18-22 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Freeze option: Bake and cool quiches. Place quiches between layers of waxed paper in an airtight container; freeze up to 3 months. To use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Preheat oven to 350°. Transfer quiches to a greased baking sheet; bake 10-14 minutes or until heated through.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray a 9-inch quiche or pie pan with cooking spray.
• Place thawed, shredded hash browns on paper towels and lightly press with another paper towel, to remove excess moisture.
• Pour hash browns in the prepared pan, and press on the bottom and up the sides of the pan to form a crust. Brush the sides and bottom of the hash brown crust with melted butter. Use a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap to press the potatoes firmly on the bottom and sides of the pan again, making sure there are no gaps.
• Bake crust in the preheated oven until crust is lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes, adding 5-minute increments if needed. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• While the crust is baking, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small skillet and cook the chopped red bell pepper, chopped fresh mushrooms, and chopped scallions, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Add chopped spinach and cook until spinach is just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Set cooked vegetables aside and allow to cool.
• Beat eggs, cream, and remaining salt and pepper together in a medium mixing bowl. Stir in cooked vegetables and 1/2 cup shredded Gruyere cheese.
• Place sliced Gruyere cheese on the bottom of the baked crust, cutting to fit. Sprinkle diced ham on top of the sliced Gruyere, and pour egg mixture over all. Sprinkle remaining shredded Gruyere on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the center of the quiche is set, and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool on a rack for about 15 minutes. Slice and serve warm, or at room temperature.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the ham, cheddar cheese and olives; divide among 12 greased muffin cups. In another bowl, combine the remaining ingredients just until blended. , Pour over ham mixture. Bake at 375° until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Divide croutons, cheese and ham among 12 greased muffin cups. In a large bowl, whisk remaining ingredients until blended. Divide egg mixture among prepared muffin cups., Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 15-20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before removing from pan. Serve warm.