Zucchini Quiche

1 9- inch partially baked pastry dough (recipe follows)

1/4 lb sliced bacon, coarsely chopped

2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/8-inch thick slices

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup heavy cream

3/4 cup whole milk

Coasley ground black pepper to taste

3 large eggs

1 cup Gruyere cheese, coarsely grated

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook bacon in a 12-inch skillet over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until just crisp. Transfer bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper-towel-lined plate, reserving the fat in the skillet. Add the zucchini and 1/4 teaspoon salt and saute over moderately high heat, stirring frequently, until zucchini is tender and starting to brown, about 5 minutes, then transfer with slotted spoon to a plate.

In a large bowl, whisk together the beaten eggs, cream, milk, pepper and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir in the bacon, zucchini, and cheese and pour into prepared piecrust. Bake until filling is just set, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer quiche in pan to rack to cool slightly and serve.

PERFECT PIE CRUST (Ina Garten)

Makes 2 10-inch crusts

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) very cold unsalted butter

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/3 cup very cold vegetable shortening (Crisco)

6 to 8 tablespoons (about 1/2 cup) ice water

Dice the butter and return it to the refrigerator while you prepare the flour mixture. Place the flour, salt,and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and shortening. Pulse 8 to 12 times, until the butter is the size of peas. With the machine running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse the machine until the dough begins to form a ball. Dump out on a floured board and roll into a ball. Divide the dough in half and flatten each ball into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. At this point you could freeze one or both of the discs.

If using immediately, generously flour a board and roll one of the discs into a circle, rolling from the center to the edge, turning and flouring the dough to make sure it doesn’t stick to the board. Fold the dough in half, place in a pie pan, and unfold to fit the pan. Crimp edges. Repeat with second dough round. Can be frozen, well wrapped, at this point.

If using for quiche immediately, return dough in its pan to refrigerator for 30 minutes. Remove from fridge and line with parchment paper. Dump enough dried beans into parchment paper lining to fill the pan 3/4 full. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Carefully remove parchment paper and beans from pie plate and continue to bake for 5 more minutes until pastry is just starting to brown. Remove from oven. Proceed with quiche recipe.