Baked Eggs with Proscuitto, Brie and Truffle Oil

Sleep in. Take it easy. Make a special breakfast. Ah, so lovely Saturday mornings.

I found this recipe in the newspaper (Times Colonist) and adapted it a little. It's easy to put together and while it bakes, cut up some fruit, make coffee or tea, and set the table properly.

Here's the recipe:

Baked Eggs with Prosciutto, Brie and Truffle oil (for 2)

4 slices prosciutto
4 slices Brie cheese (cut from a 4 oz wheel)
4 large eggs (I used 3, because I only wanted 1 egg)
1/4 cup shredded white Cheddar or Gouda cheese
4 Tablespoons cream
1 teaspoon white truffle oil

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
Line 2 ramekins or individual oven-proof dishes with prosciutto.
Place Brie on top of prosciutto. Crack eggs and nestle alongside the Brie. Sprinkle the grated cheese over the eggs. Whisk together the cream and truffle oil and pour gently over the eggs, ensuring that the yolks are coated. 

Put the baking dishes into a larger pan and pour about 1/4-1/2 inch of boiling water around the dishes. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until eggs are done to your liking.

Sprinkle with parsley, and/or a good twist of freshly ground black pepper.

Enjoy with toast, croissants, and fruit. 

Crustless Leek, Spinach and Feta Quiche

I love quiche. In a crust or without. This quiche is crustless and makes a wonderful lunch, paired with sliced tomatoes and avocados. I assembled the quiche in the morning before running out to do some errands, then baked it just before my daughter came for lunch. 

Other vegetables could easily be substituted - onions for leeks, or cooked broccoli or zucchini for spinach. Add some leftover ham or chicken for a heartier meal.

Crustless Leek, Spinach and Feta Quiche

1 Tablespoon olive or grapeseed oil

2 leeks, sliced (use the white and pale green sections), and well rinsed, then drained

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 cups fresh chopped spinach (or use about 1/2 box of frozen spinach)

4 eggs

1/4 cup cream

1/4 cup sour cream

1 cup milk

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

a handful of pitted Kalamata olives, if desired

salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a skillet. Add the sliced leeks and sauté gently until almost tender. Add the garlic and stir for 1-2 minutes. Add the spinach and sauté until wilted down and all the liquid has evaporated. Add salt and pepper, but take into account the saltiness of the cheese. Let cool.

Whisk the eggs together, add the cream, sour cream and milk. Stir in the cooled vegetables and the feta cheese.

Pour into a lightly greased 10" diameter baking dish. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese, and arrange the olives over, if using. 

Quiche may be prepared to this point, covered and refrigerated for several hours before baking.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until mixture is mostly set and lightly browned on top. Let sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes before serving to let it finish cooking.

 

Double-Baked Zucchini Soufflés

I'm feeling a little under the weather today - achy, a bit of a sore throat, and a stuffy nose. Not bad enough to make me want to lie around all day, just a bit frail and wanting to be pampered. Souffles are good comfort food, with their light fluffy interiors and cheesy goodness, just perfect for making me feel better mentally, if not physically. 


This recipe is based on one from Laura Calder's French Food at Home. I think Laura Calder is my favourite cooking show host. She sashays around the kitchen in her pretty dresses and makes everything she cooks look simultaneously simple and marvelous. 


A double-baked soufflé is a way to salvage a soufflé that may have fallen. But even if it rises perfectly high and golden the way these did today, a little extra cream and cheese makes them even more wonderful. 


Double-baked Zucchini Soufflés


1 cup milk
1 bay leaf
3 Tablespoons butter
5 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 eggs, separated
1 cup pureed cooked zucchini (you could use leftovers, but I simmered one in a little water with two cloves of garlic, peeled, then drained the water off and mashed the zucchini - it wasn't perfectly smooth)
1 cup grated Havarti cheese
salt and pepper


1/4 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese


Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter 6 - 3/4 cup ramekins and dust with flour. Bring the milk to a simmer with the bay leaf. Let sit to infuse for 10 minutes or so.


Melt the butter in a saucepan, whisk in the flour and cook, while whisking for 1 minute. Remove the bay leaf from the milk and add the milk to the mixture, whisking until smooth over medium heat until it's thick. It won't take long because of the heated milk. 


Whisk the egg yolks together and add a bit of the flour-milk mixture to it, then pour the two mixtures together and whisk until smooth. Add the zucchini and cheese and stir together. Season with salt and pepper. You'll want it quite highly seasoned.


Beat the egg whites until stiff. Fold them into the vegetable mixture. Fill the ramekins. Set in a baking dish and carefully pour around boiling water to come 2/3 up the sides. Bake until puffed up and golden brown on top. The center will still be slightly soft. It should take about 15 - 20 minutes. 


Remove the soufflés from the water. Let cool for a few minutes. They will fall slightly. Gently remove them from the ramekins and place, golden side up, in a baking dish. Pour the cream gently around the soufflés, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.


This can be done ahead and when ready to serve, place in a hot oven (400 F) until the cream is bubbly and the soufflés are hot.