Maple Gold

It just seems fitting, breakfast for champions. Congrats to Hockey Canada.

Maple Gold, pure natural syrup is tapped from maple trees in Quebec, Canada. Maple Gold is part of the CITADELLE Producers' Cooperative housing other familiar and coveted Canadian brands such as Camp, Citadella, Cleary's and O'Canada. Did you know Canada is responsible for nearly 70% of global supply of this golden maple nectar?

Well I hope this inspires you to have a side of My Steamy Belguim Waffles with that thick and rich syrup. This post brings back great memories of summers in Canada with my family and we would always return from Canada with a tin maple syrup. 

Maple Gold, Product of Canada

Real Men Don’t Eat Küche

Contrary to what you might believe, the tart quiche originated on German soil and not French. The widely popular classic of French cuisine heralds from an area of the medieval German kingdom Lothringen, aka Lorraine, France.

Years ago the pie was made with just eggs, cream, smoked bacon and bread dough. The word Küche or Küchen is German for cake; believed to be the origin of the word Quiche. 

Keep in mind, the Lorraine region has influence from Germany as well as France; so depending on who you ask or where you sampling your Quiche from - you may receive a slight variation of the recipe. Today a Quiche Lorraine is expected to contain cheese and onions, as well. The use of Gruyère cheese is a relatively new addition to quiche in France. Oh and don't expect to taste any Gruyère in your quiche in Lorraine; they are purists - sans the cheese. Too bad, it's a really good modification to the French recipe. In Germany expect onions and no cheese; and it's called Zwiebelkuchen.

I find it interesting to know the classical origin of a dish, but what is more important when making a quiche or any dish for that matter is - what influences the taste and texture of a dish. So for me the appeal is not to stick to its classical roots, but how the melding of cultures and the additions of flavorful savory ingredients, in this case, like onions and cheese have improved on this dish. 

As for Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche, the best selling book by Bruce Feirstein, which satirized stereotypes of masculinity; I can assure you based upon all the quiches I have made - real men DO eat quiche! 

Tips: 

Add 1 Tablespoon flour mixed into filling prior to adding egg/ milk mixture to help set a filling that is too moist, example: tomatoes, mushrooms, etc..  

To prevent a raw bottom of quiche, pre-bake pastry dough Blind (8-12 minutes with no color) before filling.

Bake directly on an oven rack. Baking quiche on a cookie or sheet pan will cause the tart or pie bottom to be raw. 

Feel free to improvise with flavors, seasonings, vegetables, meats and seafood. Just keep in mind that adding very moist fillings such as mushrooms, tomatoes, etc will affect the custard of eggs and milk or cream.

Better than Quiche Lorraine 

recipe by George Hirsch | Makes one 9-inch tart

For George's Pastry Crust:

Prepare George’s piecrust the night prior or at least 1 hour ahead; or use store bought piecrust. Roll out pastry into a 9-inch tart or pie pan. Pre-bake pastry dough Blind (8-12 minutes with no color) before filling.

For the Filling:

1 cup (approximately 6 slices) thick cut or slab bacon, cut into thin strips-'lardons'
1/2 cup sweet white onion, sliced thin
2 green onions, chopped
3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups half-half or milk
Pinch of sea salt and fresh grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon each hot sauce, fresh grated black pepper
1 cup Gruyere or good Swiss cheese, shredded

Optional: 

2 Tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped 
2 Tablespoons Arugula, chopped

Preheat oven to 375F.

Pre heat a sauté pan to medium heat, cook bacon until brown and crisp. Remove bacon pieces and drain on a paper towel. Drain bacon fat from pan; add both onions to pan and cook for 2-3 minutes to slightly soften. Allow bacon and onions to cool. 

Place bacon, onion, parsley, Arugula, and Swiss cheese on top of blind baked pastry crust. 

In a bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, nutmeg, hot sauce and pepper and pour the mixture over onion and bacon tart. 

Bake for 20 minutes, lower temperature to 350F; total baking time is 30 minutes or until egg custard is set. Allow to cool slightly and serve warm or at room temperature.  

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Punxsutawney Cakes

Happy Groundhog Day. Those of you that know me, know it's my favorite holiday tradition of the year. I love the excitement of the anticipated sign of spring from the Seer of Seers, Punxsutawney Phil on February 2nd each year. Who would believe the little weather predicting rodent would be 75-90 percent accurate. How about that! I'd say that's more predictable than any certified meteorologist.

However, I really feel Groundhog Day took on an all new meaning years back after watching Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, the movie. Imagine being able to eat all the pancakes and donuts you like and repeat it again the next day, and the next?     

So in honor of Punxsutawney Phil and Bill Murray here's my Punxsutawney Pancakes Recipe. Hearing the alarm clock at 6AM on Groundhog Day just isn't the same without a tall stack of pancakes and carafe of good coffee to wake up to.

Punxsutawney Pancakes Recipe

Happy Groundhog Day to you all.

View Original Groundhog Day Movie Trailer on TCM.

Pick of the Crop

What are you having for breakfast? It's cold outside and you need something that sticks to your ribs to power you up for the day. Eat oatmeal. For 150 years John McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal product hasn't changed a bit. The packaging is virtually the same too. Well, they have added a few quick cook versions, for those that can't wait 30 minutes for the traditional Irish porridge way. I prefer mine topped with 2% milk and a little Turbinado Sugar.

Words from McCann's...

"Steel-Cut Oats are whole grain groats (the inner portion of the oat kernel) which have been cut into two or three pieces using steel discs. Golden in colour and resembling mini rice particles, they are as nature intended – nothing added and nothing taken out.

Grains are essential to a healthy lifestyle and form the foundation of the food pyramid. Steel-Cut oats are inherently full of nutritional value and are high in B-Vitamins, calcium, protein and fiber while low in salt and unsaturated fat. One cup of Steel-Cut oatmeal contains more fiber than a bran muffin and twice as much fibre as Cream of Wheat. The quality of Irish Oats and the distinctive crunchy texture make McCann's Steel-Cuts a gourmet delight."

 Did I mention- it's good for you?