I ride my bike like a stone-cold maniac. I tear through the streets, whip around corners, weave through cars, and am otherwise reckless. If I look cocky on my bike… that’s because I’m usually listening to Jay-Z rap me things about being super rich and super awesome… and it translates into my pedal. There comes a time in every bike ride when I have a decision to make. I’m probably tired. I’m probably thirsty. I’m definitely wanting french fries and/or wine. The decision is this: up the hill? or around the hill?
Take the hill or glide the easy way home?
I always take the hill. It’s just a thing. I can’t let myself slide home, not sweaty, and not out of breath. Always take the hill.
To be clear… I’m not friends with the hill. I hate the hill. The hill is totally not cool. But! I always have to tackle that thing.
I think I try to live my whole life by always taking the challenge. It’s hard, right? It feels totally nerve-wracking. It’s all kicking and screaming. Sometimes taking the challenge happens in front of a whole crowd of happy strangers. Sometimes it’s just you, alone in the kitchen, putting together a quiche with ingredients you’ve never used before. Whichever way it happens… always take the dang hill. It takes your breath away, in the best way possible.
As you know, I’m currently taking on the awesome challenge of a national book tour for the Joy the Baker Cookbook. No biggie…. um, total biggie! These past weeks have been the most nerve-wracking, exhilarating, and exciting times in my life. Truly. Meeting you… meeting YOU has been 100% incredible. More amazing than I ever could have imagined.
I want you to see this incredible journey! I’ve been up and down the west coast, and I made a very special stop at the French Laundry in Yountville, California. I made friends with their gardener, I chef-ed it up in their test kitchen, and I made a quiche using the new gluten-free flour called Cup4Cup. It’s awesome.
The book tour journey has blown my mind! And!! It’s not over! I’m so excited to see you in the midwest and east coast in the coming weeks.
Peep the video! You’re in it! It’s the real deal.
Thank you Chef Keller, Mimi, Lena, Tucker, Tracy, and of course… Michael.
Because I was so inspired by this last week of book touring, I came home for a few days and wanted to give Cup4Cup gluten-free flour a try in my own kitchen. I’m totally into it! This is not a sponsored post. This is me taking on the challenge of gluten-free baking, and being totally amazed by how easy it was. I’m excited and I want to share… plain and simple.
Bike riding, book touring, or baking… always take the hill!
We’re here because we’re making a quiche.
Let’s get down to it!
Gluten-free flour is whisked with sugar, salt, and cold cold butter, too!
Shaggy is good when it comes to pie dough.
I added an egg yolk to the cold buttermilk for this crust. The yolk helps the whole crust bind like a champ.
… we should always and forever be binding like champs.
Give this dough a good sprinkling of flour, and we’re in business. The business of pie dough… clearly.
Any cracks in the crust can easily be mended by pressing the area together with fingers.
It’s not heart surgery. Just get in there and mend.
So… even the dough scraps taste good to snack on.
Unless you’re the kind of person that totally freaks out at consuming raw eggs… then don’t snack. And don’t tell anyone that I snacked either. Cool?
The quiche filling is simple.
Asparagus to start. Small rounds are sauteed in just a bit of butter, and treated with salt and pepper.
Green onions… because I like to mimic the shape of the asparagus rounds. This quiche totally has a theme. Round.
Eggs, milk, and cream. If you’re a vegan this is probably really gross.
Sharp cheddar cheese.
Gruyere is also a dream come true.
Anticipation feels good.
Bake already!
Look how beautifully golden and flaky this crust is. Can you even believe it’s gluten-free? I can’t. I totally can’t. It’s everything I want it to be!
I love how creamy and fluffy this quiche is. It’s also studded with green Spring vegetables… and I’m just smitten. The crust holds its shape and maintains its alluringly crisp texture. I genuinely can’t tell that it’s gluten-free. Cup4Cup made the challenge of gluten-free baking a total breeze in this recipe. I don’t have a lot of gluten-free baking experience, an this It’s a win.
Oh.. also, kitten… just so you know: just because you’re sitting close to it, does not mean it’s yours. K?
Gluten-Free Asparagus Quiche
makes one 9-inch quiche
For the Crust:
1 1/2 cups Cup4Cup all-purpose gluten-free flour
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1 large egg yolk
1/4 cup buttermilk
For the Filling:
1 1/2 cups diced asparagus
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
salt and pepper to taste
6 large eggs
1 cup milk (I used 2 percent)
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
pinch of salt and coarse ground pepper
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese or Gruyere cheese
To Make the Crust:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Add cold, cubed butter and, using your fingers, work the butter into the flour mixture. Quickly break the butter down into the flour mixture, some butter pieces will be the size of oat flakes, some will be the size of peas. In a small bowl, stir together the egg yolk and buttermilk. Create a well in the butter and flour mixture and pour in the liquid mixture. Use a fork to bring to dough together. Try to moisten all of the flour bits. On a lightly floured work surface, dump out the dough mixture. It will be moist and shaggy. Sprinkle generously with flour. That’s perfect. Shape dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Allow dough to rest in the fridge while you assemble the filling. Dough is easiest to roll out when it’s cold and rested.
When you’re ready to roll out the crust, on a well-floured work surface, gently roll out the pie crust into about an 11-inch circle. Press together any spots that might tear. Carefully lift down and place into the 9-inch pie plate. Use a pairing knife to trim the edges of pie dough, leaving about 1/2 inch extra dough overhang. Fold the excess dough under and crimp with fingers.
To Make the Filling:
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter. Add the sliced vegetables and saute until bright green and slightly tender, about 4 minutes. Season with a bit of salt and pepper, remove from heat, and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, and a bit of salt and pepper. Whisk until well blended.
Add the cooked vegetables to the unbaked pie crust. Sprinkle half of the cheese over the vegetables. Pour egg mixture over vegetables and top with more cheese.
Carefully place quiche in oven and bake for 45-55 minutes, or until quiche puffs up and does not have a loose giggle when shaken lightly.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least an hour. Serve warm or cool. Quiche will last, well wrapped in the refrigerator, for up to three days.
Alex Funk
As someone who is a true long time lover of yours and a Celiac, I am so incredibly excited to see you experimenting in the gluten-free world!