Egg sales are the highest during Easter time. But as the weeks go by, sales aren’t all that stable. Perhaps that’s why the powers that be chose to celebrate National Egg Month in May – to declare and remind people that eggs aren’t just an Easter thing, but a nutritional food that can be enjoyed all year long.
As long as you’re thinking about the “incredible, edible egg,” why not whip up the dreamy concoction of eggs, cheese, bacon and shortcrust for National Quiche Lorraine Day? The Quiche Lorraine has a history almost as rich as its crumbly crust and is enjoyed worldwide, especially during the warm summer months. So it’s no surprise that fans of the meal have made May 20th a day to celebrate everything that’s great about this delicious, nutritious treat.
The humble quiche – essentially an egg and cheese open-topped pie – is one of the tastiest dishes you can get your mitts on, composed of a case of shortcrust pastry filled with savory egg custard and a choice of veggies and meats. Served either warm or cold, and packed with ham or veggies, this is a super versatile meal that goes with all sorts of sides. And what’s more, they are pretty simple to cook!
The quiche is often regarded as being birthed from French cuisine, but it may actually have started life in medieval Germany. The Quiche Lorraine however, named after the Lorraine region of France, was created as an open pie filled up with savory custard and cubes of pork fat. Today, you’re more likely to find it made with bacon cubes rather than fat, but it’s just as tasty. A Quiche Lorraine was originally made without cheese (perish the thought!), but today you’ll probably find most recipes call for this dairy addition. Usually, recipes call for cheddar cheese, but you can use all sorts if you wish, and many purists insist that it’s Gruyere or nothing.
Fun fact: traditionally, a Lorraine doesn’t include onions, so if you do pop onions in your quiche Lorraine mixture, you’re making a quiche Alsacienne.
Feeling hungry? That’s nothing that a slice or two of Quiche Lorraine can’t solve. If you’re feeling a bit artistic in the kitchen, this would be a great excuse to try your hand at making a Quiche Lorraine yourself! You’ll need bacon, eggs, cream, milk, and cheese. And if you’re going to go the whole hog and be super authentic, you’ll need the ingredients to make a shortcrust pastry from fresh. It always tastes better than store-bought pastry cases! Here’s a recipe for “Classic Quiche Lorraine” to try from thekitchn.com
Since quiche is best served at picnics with a side salad, why not get your friends together and have a social-distancing picnic? Serve up slices of Quiche Lorraine with other picnic foods, and make an afternoon of it. Make sure there’s plenty of quiches, as it’s a very moreish dish! Remember to bring some meatless quiche for any vegetarians!
Have a great Quiche Lorraine Day!
—
Photo Credit: Slawomir Fajer / Shutterstock.com