Kipling House Quiche

   

This summer we all went to Lee's hometown of Escanaba, Michigan.  He hadn't been back since his college days. He met cousins that he had last seen when they were children and now they are grandparents!  Lee found a really great Bed and Breakfast in the nearby town of Kipling on the Internet and we all stayed there.  It was the Kipling House

The breakfasts were wonderful and I particularly liked the quiche we had there.  It was taller and silkier than any quiche I have ever had.  Meghan, the innkeeper  ( www.kiplinghouse.com ), was gracious enough to share her recipe.  Mine didn't turn out as fabulous as hers, even though it was wonderful.  The top got a little too brown.  Next time I make it I will lower the temperature a bit.  My oven is kind of wonky, that is a technical term, and the temperature can vary by a LOT.  So I will suggest 335 for the temperature, particularly if you have a wonky oven..

Kipling House Quiche

1 Pre-made Pie Crust
8 to 10 pieces pre-cooked bacon
5 oz. Swiss cheese, grated
10 eggs
4 - 5 cups of half and half  It seems like a lot, but this serves a lot!
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

You will need a spring form pan.  This CANNOT fit in a regular pie pan!!!

 

    

 

Take the pie crust out of the box and let it rest and warm up a bit on the counter while you get out all the ingredients.  Pre-heat the oven to 335.  Spray the tightly closed pan with Pam.  Set aside.

Put the pre-cooked bacon on a plate and microwave for about 2 minutes to get it crispy.  Drain on a paper towel.

I used a rolling pin to make the crust a wee bit bigger.  Don't go crazy or it will tear.  I folded mine into fourths and then placed it with the point in the center.  Or you can just take the crust from the package and center it in the pan.  Use your fingers to smooth the wrinkles and make the whole thing fit tight to the inside of the pan.

   

Place the bacon strips to cover the bottom of the pan and cover them with the Swiss cheese.

   

I used a blender to mix the rest of the ingredients.

   

 Here is a hint for you.  I sometimes lose track of how many eggs I have put in things...phone ringing, cats bothering....  So I suggest putting the egg shells in the sink.  You can always come back and count them.  It is easier than trying to figure how many broken yolks make one egg!

   

I could only fit in 4 cups of half and half in my blender. 

   
   
After blending I poured a bit more half and half into the blender and then poured the whole thing, carefully, over the Swiss cheese.
   
   

Bake for 1 hour in the oven.  I put mine in at 350 but the top got a little too cooked so that is why I am telling you 335 for the temperature.  Don't blame Meghan, she suggested 335 to 350 and I should have gone with the lower temperature.  After 1 hour, turn off the oven and open the door for about 10 minutes.  Then put the quiche on the counter to cool for about 20 more minutes.  It needs time to set up.

   

Use a plastic knife or spatula to loosen the edges from the pan.  Gently release the spring and lift it off.  I cut the quiche right on the bottom of the pan and lifted the generous slices to the plates.

I made this for a dinner so it was served with a salad.  It was creamy and delicious, but Meghan's was better!

 

 

   

 

Wishful Thinking

We just got back from a week long trip to Michigan. Lee was born in Escanaba in the Upper Peninsula, so that makes him a Yooper ( U.P. equals Yoo Pea, therefore Yooper.)!  He hadn't seen his relatives there since his college days and it was great fun to meet everyone.  I didn't write about it while we were there because I had heard stories about people posting their status on Facebook and coming back to a ransacked home!  So now I can tell you.

It takes two looong days of driving to get there, but we all had fun together.  Our two daughters came with us to meet their aunts and cousins and made everything fun.  They got to dip their toes in two of the Great Lakes and swim in Lake Michigan.

                         

Lee's aunt has a farm on the outskirts of Escanaba.  She had tents up and games for the kids. 

                       

His family is wonderful and we loved them all.  I don't know why we never went to meet them before now, but I am glad we finally rectified that.  Like any good family reunion, there was more food than people and we all ate plenty.  It was Lee's birthday, so we had cake and embarrassed him as little as possible.

                        

The downtown of Escanaba was a fun place.  It is lots bigger than our wee town of Buchanan.  We parked and walked, notwithstanding the heat.  Lee pointed out places he had worked and shopped or ate and homes in which he and his grandparents had lived. 

                       

Along the way we passed a gift shop called Wishful Thinking.  They had some things set up outside to draw us in and I found a small metal ant.  I have started to collect dragonflies to put in the memorial we built for my sister, Roz.  It struck me that Roz was the aunt to my children and given that we in America pronounce "aunt" as "ant" it would be fun to add an ant to the garden.  I picked up the ant and showed it to the girls.  Just then a small dragonfly flew past me and landed on the window next to us.  We were so excited.  I decided it was a sign from Roz and had to buy the ant.

Upon our return I took the ant to the garden and I am going to try her in various places to find the best spot.  I don't want someone to smash it or trip over it!  Perhaps I will glue it to a post.  While I was out there I had my own wishful thinking.  I wish I had spent more time with Roz.  I wish I had called her every day and told her how much I loved her.  I wish she was still here so I could do it now.