Ham And Gruyere Mini Quiches Adapted From Williams Sonoma Recipes

HAM & GRUYERE MINI QUICHES

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.

HAM AND GRUYERE MINI QUICHES (ADAPTED FROM WILLIAMS-SONOMA)

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.