Be Queen For A Day With This Coronation Quiche

Be Queen For A Day With This Coronation Quiche

Face Your Foodie Fears

Prepare a deliciously easy and savory Coronation Quiche for brunch or your next party luncheon! Grab the recipe and treat your guests like royalty with a dish that’s sure to please their palates.

On my recent milestone birthday, I experienced an extraordinary event that made me feel like a queen. It was a surprise!

A grand celebration that exceeded my expectations, orchestrated by none other than my loving husband. 

The festivities were characterized by a 30-piece band, a sumptuous feast, and most importantly a guest list brimming with my incredible family and dearest friends who have been there for me in the past and will continue to be in the future.

They traveled far and wide and I just was shocked at every turn and with every face that I saw. Oh… and there were presents. Well-thought-out presents that touched my heart. It was overwhelming.

The night was perfect, and I was treated like royalty! I never could have imagined the love and downright fun in the room. I felt like the queen of queens. 

And while we’re on the topic of queens, there’s a coronation on the horizon, and I’ve heard that the menu includes a dish called Coronation Quiche.

I’ve crafted my own variation of the dish that is perfect for indulging in while watching the grand crowning ceremony of the new king and queen.

You know what else? It also makes a for a yummy brunch dish on the morning after an unforgettable birthday celebration.

Spinach, Bacon and Caramelized Onion Tart

Is it a quiche or is it a tart?  By definition, a tart is a sweet pastry dish with an open top.  A quiche is made from pastry too and looks like a finished pie; it gets its texture from an egg and milk based custard. We break a few barriers here and prepare a savory tart with a layer of custard.  It’s the perfect dish for a brunch or outdoor luncheon, because you can bake it in advance and serve it the next day at room temperature.

Servings

6-8

Ready In:

60 Minutes
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 30 to 40 minutes
  

 

Good For:

Brunch
Luncheon
Party Appetizer

Ingredients:

1 (9-inch) refrigerated pie crust
½ pound bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and finely diced, about 1 cup
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 pound fresh spinach leaves, about 4 cups (or substitute with 10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed)
1 teaspoon dried Herbs de Provence
8 ounces smoked Fontina cheese, grated, about 1 cup
4 extra large eggs
½ cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon coarse black pepper
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preheat the oven to 400°.  Unroll the pie crust and press it into a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom.  Pierce the bottom of the pie crust with a fork.  Bake until the pie crust is golden, about 9 to 12 minutes.  Set the baked pie crust aside.

Cook the bacon in a skillet, over medium-high heat, until crisp.  Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.  Carefully pour off the fat left in the pan.

Heat the olive oil and butter in the same pan, over medium-high heat.  Cook the onion in the pan until soft, about 5 minutes.  Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and cook for 4 to 5 minutes more.  The diced onion should be golden and slightly syrupy.

Cook the spinach in the pan until just wilted, about 5 minutes.  Sprinkle with Herbs de Provence and set the cooked spinach aside.

Carefully slide the baked tart shell onto a baking sheet.  Sprinkle the bacon onto the bottom of the baked tart shell.  Cover the bacon with grated cheese.  Cover the cheese with the caramelized onion.  Spread the spinach over the top.  Whisk together the eggs and cream and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.  Carefully pour this mixture over the ingredients in the tart.  Place the baking sheet holding the tart into the oven.  Bake until the egg mixture puffs and is golden about 30 minutes.  

At this point, you can cool the tart to room temperature.  Carefully wrap the tart in plastic wrap and refrigerate.  Two hours before you are ready to serve, remove the tart from the fridge and bring it to room temperature.  For a warm tart, you can place it into a warming drawer (or oven set on lowest temperature)on the medium-low setting for 1 hour.  

Remove the side portion of the tart pan.  Cut the tart into wedges and serve.

Sources and Substitutions
You can purchase smoked Fontina cheese from the deli counter of your grocery store.

If it is not available, substitute with grated aged English cheddar or Gruyere cheese.

Of course, in place of refrigerated pastry dough, you can make your own pastry for this tart.

In case you need a recipe, this is one of my favorites:

 

Jorj’s Home Made Pastry Dough

1 ¼ cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
7 tablespoons organic unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
1 to 2 tablespoons ice water, or more as needed

Place the flour, salt, and butter into the bowl of a food processor. Process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about 10 seconds. With the machine running, add the ice water through the feed tube until the dough comes together and starts to pull away from the sides of the container, no more than 10 pulses. Gather the dough into a ball, flatten it into a disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

 

Tried it? Tag it!

I would love to see what you did with this recipe.  Share your creation by tagging #inthekitchenwithjorj and with Scrumptious Possibilities With Jorj, my free private home cooking group.

Chicken Curry Jorj’s Way Featuring Kitchens of Africa

Chicken Curry Jorj’s Way Featuring Kitchens of Africa

Face Your Foodie Fears

Spice up your dinner tonight with this extraordinary chicken and cauliflower recipe, featuring North Carolina’s Kitchens of Africa. Treat yourself to a taste of adventure by indulging in fried chickpeas and light yet creamy lime-avocado yogurt!

Hubby and I are embarked on an African adventure!

Besides the shots, mosquito repellent, neutral-colored clothing, and hats, the one thing I’m happy to pre-plan is the food!

Although springing up in several cities, African fare is still a unique meal to find.

It just so happens that when reading several of the MUST-HAVE holiday gift guides, I came across Kitchens of Africa, a company with a mission to bring the diverse and exotic cuisine of Africa to the rest of the world. 

Originating in Raleigh, North Carolina, Kitchens of Africa offers a variety of sauces that we can use to bring the flavors of Africa to our home kitchens. 

Of course, I bought a box from Kitchens of Africa and received four different jars with recipes to go along with each. 

 

I decided to start with the Zanzibari Curry Simmer Sauce. I chopped some veggies and chicken and simmered them in the sauce. It was delish! 

If you have a craving for curry, and you haven’t placed your order from Kitchens of Africa, do not worry. 

I’ve included a recipe from Canvas and Cuisine that will hold you over until you do!

Chicken and Cauliflower Curry
With Lime-Avocado Yogurt and Fried Chickpeas

Servings

Serves 4 as a Main or 6 as a Side

 

Ready In:

60 Minutes

Good For:

Dinner

Ingredients:

2 tablespoon olive oil
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 2-inch pieces
1 medium onion, peeled and diced, about 1 cup
4 garlic cloves, peeled and diced, about 2 tablespoons
2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated, about 2 tablespoons
1 medium jalapeno pepper, seeded, veins and stem removed, finely diced, about 1 tablespoon
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons curry powder
2 tablespoons garam masala
1 cinnamon stick
2 cups homemade chicken stock or prepared low sodium broth
1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets
1 (15-ounce) can of diced tomatoes
½ cup coconut milk
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon coarse black pepper

For yogurt:
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 ripe avocado, peeled, seed removed
2 small green onions, thinly sliced
Juice of 1 lime, about 1 tablespoon
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

For chickpeas:
1 (15-ounce can) chickpeas
½ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Zest 1 lime, about 1 teaspoon

Heat olive oil in a skillet with deep sides over medium-high heat. Place the chicken pieces into the skillet and cook until golden brown on all sides. Season with some salt and pepper. Transfer the chicken to a platter.

Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion, garlic, ginger, jalapeno, tomato paste, curry powder, garam masala, and cinnamon stick to the skillet. Stir and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

Your kitchen should begin to smell like curry! Stir in the chicken broth. Add the cauliflower to the skillet and cook until tender, about 6 minutes. Add the tomatoes, sautéed chicken, and coconut milk. Cook for 5 minutes more. Reduce the heat and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the cauliflower tender but not mushy, about 15 to 20 minutes more. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Use a hand mixer, blender, or immersion blender to blend the yogurt and avocado until smooth. Stir in the green onions, lime juice, and cilantro. Taste and season with salt.

Rinse, drain and pat dry chickpeas. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chickpeas into the oil and fry until golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. If your pan is not very large you can do this in batches. Remove the chickpeas to a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with paprika, salt, and lime zest. Toss to coat.

Serve the cauliflower and chicken curry in a bowl garnished with a spoonful of lime–avocado yogurt and sprinkled with fried chickpeas.

Tried it? Tag it!

I would love to see what you did with this recipe.  Share your creation by tagging #inthekitchenwithjorj and with Scrumptious Possibilities With Jorj, my free private home cooking group.

Countdown to Good Taste! Best 2022 Recipes

Countdown to Good Taste! Best 2022 Recipes

Can you believe 2023 is almost here?!

Check out my top recipes of 2022 and discover why these dishes were all the rage in home kitchens across the country (and for good reason!).

These recipes are delicious, easy to make, and perfect for any occasion.

If you’re looking for some new recipe ideas to add to your repertoire, or just curious about what all the fuss was about, check out my best recipes from 2022.

Happy cooking and Happy New Year!

Cooking With Mushrooms and Spinach

Spinach Au Gratin With Sauteed Mushrooms

I LOVE cooking mushrooms. This humble fungi inspire my dishes with their complex flavors and many uses.

Spinach Au Gratin With Sauteed Mushrooms is one of my favorite recipes that is easy to make and will make you feel like a celebrity chef!

Southern Style Charcuterie with This Cocktail Pairing…

Southern Style Charcuterie

My Southern-Style Charcuterie board is really something to behold, and your guests won’t believe the spread when you set out this showstopper.

My board is PACKED with deviled eggs, spiced crackers, pimento spread, pickled okra, millionaire’s bacon, cilantro shrimp, and an assortment of turkey and ham roll-ups!

Wash it down with my prickly pear cocktail, inspired by strolls at the Farmer’s Market.

I Did It My Way! Veal Sinatra Inspired By Locanda Rustica

Veal Sinatra Recipe Inspired By Locanda Rustica

A cast-iron skillet. Thick slices of eggplant. A ladleful of marinara sauce and a double-topping of cheese. 

Take advantage of your favorite variety of eggplant using this simple frying technique to create a super Italian-inspired dish and make eggplant parm magic tonight!

how to make easy grilled veggies for memorial day

Schnitzel Parmesan & Schnitzel Milanese

Make pork two ways with this freezer-friendly meal, perfect for remixing your dinner ingredients without getting bored!

how to make easy grilled veggies for memorial day

Spring Dinner Party Menu Featuring Fresh Dinner Salads

Steal my very best springtime entertaining ideas that will guarantee you have just as much fun as your guests with these main course salad ideas!

  • Grilled Flank Steak With Roasted Onions, Sliced Tomatoes, Blue Cheese and Poblano Pepper Vinaigrette
  • Poached Chicken In Tuna Sauce
  • Roasted Salmon In the Grass With Cucumber Mint Sauce
  • Farmer’s Market Orzo Salad 
  • Sunshine Cake from Sunday Best Dishes
how to make easy grilled veggies for memorial day

The Only Fruit Chutney Recipe You’ll Ever Need 

If you’re looking for the easiest chutney recipe, look no further.

This is the best peach chutney recipe that can be used with a variety of fruits and is great on crackers, sandwiches, or even cheese plates.

Learn how to make fancy chutney with the only chutney recipe you’ll ever need from Jorj’s kitchen!

 

how to make easy grilled veggies for memorial day

Party Dip Recipe Ideas

I have made my fair share of chips and dips over the years, every which way and for just about every occasion.

From appetizers to party take-along to afternoon snacks, the versatile chips and dip dish strikes a satisfying balance of keeping us just the right amount of being full before a big meal (or in-between them)!