Bacon & Leek Quiche

• pie shell↗1

  9 inch deep dish, unbaked and chilled

• bacon↗3

  slices

• leeks↗3

  cleaned and sliced thinly (I use the white and about 1 to 1-1/2 inch of the green)

• whole eggs↗3

  plus

• egg yolk↗1
• egg white1

  slightly beaten

• half-and-half↗1⁄2 cup
• heavy cream↗1⁄2 cup
• Italian cheese blend↗1 cup

  (I use Sargento's)

• herbes de provence↗1⁄4 tsp

  or 1/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

• fresh ground nutmeg↗1⁄8 tsp

  if you don't have fresh,skip it

• paprika↗

  optional

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Cook bacon until crisp, but do not over cook.

2. 2

   Set aside to drain.

3. 3

   Drain off fat from pan, leaving just a light coating in the pan.

4. 4

   Add the sliced leeks, and cook over medium until wilted and limp, but do not brown.

5. 5

   Set aside to cool.

6. 6

   Preheat oven to 350.

7. 7

   Brush pie crust with the beaten egg white.

8. 8

   Finely chop the bacon and sprinkle evenly over the bottom of the pie crust.

9. 9

   Sprinkle the leeks evenly over the bacon.

10. 10

    Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the leeks.

11. 11

    Beat the whole eggs, egg yolk, cream, half and half, herbs and nutmeg until well mixed, slightly thick and a lemon color.

12. 12

    Slowly pour over the bacon, leek and cheese mixture.

13. 13

    Smush down the cheese that floats to the top to coat with the egg mixture.

14. 14

    It will settle down while baking.

15. 15

    Sprinkle the top with paprika for a little extra color, if you like.

16. 16

    Bake at 350 for about 35 min, or until knife inserted off center comes out clean.

17. 17

    Let set 30 minutes before cutting.

18. 18

    This can be served warm, room temperature or cold.

19. 19

    I have made this for vegetarians without the bacon, and it is still quite good.