Who Doesn’t Eat Quiche?

Sometimes I wonder how our culture arbitrarily assigns gender stereotypes to food, of all things. Obviously I’m guilty of categorizing girly food and manly food too. But “real men eat quiche”? I really don’t see how quiche deserves this unjust stereotype implying it is not masculine enough. Is it because it’s fussy? It’s no more fussy than a wedge of pie which apparently is the way to capture a man’s heart. Is it because it’s French? Last time I checked, French food is very well-liked in North America. Is it because of its ingredients? Egg, cheese, and cream are hallmarks of hearty breakfasts. Seriously, unless you’re a fake man made of plastic and graces store windows as your reason of existence, you really ought to eat quiche.

After that little rant, you would think I devoured my Apple Goat Cheese Quiche with Leeks for this week’s French Fridays with Dorie. Actually, not a single bite. Who doesn’t eat quiche? Athlete with aspiration to go to World Masters Championship in exactly 100 days. Yes, an opportunity landed at my doorstep to represent Canada as a masters (35+) inline speed skater. Of course I want to do everything I can to prepare for the race and that includes getting back to my race season peak shape. A treat made of tender buttery pastry, rich custardy filling, savoury goat cheese, and tart apple dices has no place on my plate.

What made the cut to my plate is a Beet Salad with Walnut Sherry Vinaigrette that I packed with the quiches as an impromptu picnic. A nice bottle of iced apple cider came along in the hamper to complete the meal. Our recent warm spell had me dreaming of al fresco dining and awaken the picnic fanatic in me.

The individual 3” quiches were made not for the cute factor. Actually, I do not enjoy the tedious task of lining all seven tart tins with pastry dough at all. However, the buttery crust did provide protection to the custardy filling for ease of transportation. My choice of filling also departed from Greenspan’s recipe in Around My French Table. Gorgonzola dolce was replaced by the even milder young goat cheese. Onion was substituted by butter sautéed leeks for a more delicate allium hit.

If you ask me, I would absolutely stick with the original recipe for the choice of cheese at least. I adore blue cheese. But since the quiches were not meant for me, I had to make more crowd-pleasing decisions. Blue cheese as an ingredient is just too polarizing. The quiches were quickly enjoyed by all so I can only assume that they were good.

The beet salad was right up my alley. Beets were scrubbed, boiled, and peeled. I tossed them with a vinaigrette made with walnut oil, sherry vinegar, Dijon mustard, and shallots. A few leaves of parsley added freshness and colour in that sea of red. Of course a pretty canning jar was just the right container since it is leak-proof.

If you would like to find out other blogger’s rendition of this week’s quiche, come check out French Fridays with Dorie!

Comments

[mardi@eatlivetravelwrite]

Woot - congrats on the opportunity!! I love that you made these anyway and I actually think I might try out that combo. But the blue cheese and apple is killer - consider yourself warned ;) Love the minis - wish I had had the patience to do that myself!

[Cher]

First of all, congratulatons & best wishes on your skating opportunity.
Secondly, the individual serving sizes are a great idea and who doesn't love leeks? Yum.

[patty]

Love your picnic! The tarts are so sweet and the beet salad the perfect compliment! Congratulations on your race and for being so good, I'm very impressed with your accomplishments;-)

[Rose]

Congratulations and best of luck. I am very impressed that you made this week's recipe knowing that you would not be able to eat any. They look perfect so I can only imagine that they were very tasty.

[marcella]

Congratulations on representing Canada in speed skating! Definitely worth adjusting diet and schedule for. Your quiches look beautiful.

[Lola]

Beautiful picnic and beautiful pics! Best of luck making it to World Masters!!

[Krissy]

I, too, send my congratulations! And how fun to turn this into individual picnic sizes and to make adjustments that would be tasty for all. You've got willpower to stay away from your picnic main course. Beautifully done and lovely post.

[Eileen]

GOOD LUCK! That's such an exciting opportunity! Very cool. I'm impressed by your will power. I am physically incapable of baking something and then not eating it.

[Nana]

Congratulations and good luck. Such a wonderful opportunity.
I love your individual quiches, everything looks wonderful. This
was a winner with Tricia and i as well.

[Robin]

WOW, congrats on your opportunity! Your little quiches look perfect :). Bookmark them for something to try once your diet permits.

[JK Tasty Mayhem]

Good luck in the training and upcoming race! I admire your restraint. The beet salad also looks fabulous! I love sherry vinegar and shallots together.

[Betsy]

Your picnic looks amazing. I think the apple is surprise in Dorie's recipe, and changing up the cheese and alliums yields lots of interesting variations. The leeks and goat cheese sound like something I'd like. The original was good too. I'm wondering what about pears for the apples. Was that Dorie's beets salad recipe? I do love beets as well. Best of luck to you in the Championship, Candy!

[Sanya]

I too admire your willpower and restraint! But what great motivation you have! Congratulations!
Your quiches look great and while I'm glad I tried the recipe as Dorie suggested, I would have prefered your choice of cheese is so much better!

[Adriana]

Good luck, Candy! I'm so happy for you and I'm rooting for you to make it all the way. We should try to vote in some clean recipes for March to help you out!

[Tsimmisthyme]

Your picnic display is to die for as my teen would say. Absolutely gorgeous. We too have had unseasonably warm weather that makes us think of spring activities. I had daffodils blooming on Feb. 1. Your beet salad looks so inviting. Congratulations on your athletic opportunity and best of luck.

[Confessions of a Culinary Diva]

Congratulations Candy! How exciting, we will be rooting for you! The beet salad looks really yummy! I have some beets that need a home so maybe the salad will make it to the table tonight. Your picnics are always so creative and beautiful. Congratulations again!

[Kathy]

Congrats on being picked to participate in the World Masters Championship! Your mini quiches look wonderful as does you beet salad! I love beets! Have a great weekend! Good Luck!

[Elaine]

Congratulations on going to the World Masters! That is just too bad that you didn't get to taste even one of those little quiches, but I am glad someone got to enjoy them. Your picnic basket preparation is perfection.

[michelle]

Congratulations on the opportunity! Good luck! And beautiful quiches :)

[DessertByCandy]

Oh you guys and girls are the sweetest! Thank you so much for your well wishes. There is quite a bit of tough work ahead of me and I really hope my body will be ready for the big race (in Germany no less!).