The Quiche As Nanny (Goat) Food

Spring is a time for celebrations--showers, weddings, graduations--and this menu is perfect for that kind of entertaining. Not only is everything delicious, but it can all be prepared in advance without loss of quality.

Once you have these selections in place, you can add sliced tenderloin or ham, a salad of mixed greens and a bowlful of raspberries to serve with the cake.

The recipe comes from Steve Sherman’s Chicago takeout shop Bread With Appeal.

GOAT CHEESE QUICHE

Quiche is the perfect dish to serve at a party, which may be the reason for its renewed popularity. Here, the amount of goat cheese is minimal (about 2 1/2 ounces) but the taste is there because it’s right on top of the quiche.

3/4 cup whipping cream

2 eggs

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

3/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese

3/4 cup shredded jalapeno jack cheese

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup soft goat cheese

1/4 cup cream cheese

1/8 teaspoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon chives

Pre-baked pastry for (9-inch) tart

Whisk together whipping cream, eggs and dash each salt and pepper.

Combine shredded Swiss, jalapeno jack and mozzarella cheeses in small bowl. In another bowl, beat goat cheese, cream cheese, garlic, chives, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste until smooth.

Scatter shredded cheeses over bottom of pastry. Spoon goat cheese mixture in small dollops over top. Slowly pour egg mixture over all. Place tart pan on baking sheet to make handling easier and catch any overflow.

Bake at 375 degrees until top is lightly browned, about 35 to 40 minutes. Set aside 10 minutes before cutting. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Can be made a day ahead and refrigerated. Let come to room temperature before reheating. Bake at 300 degrees until warm, not hot, about 15 minutes.

Makes 8 to 12 servings.

Each serving contains about:

413 calories; 411 mg sodium; 115 mg cholesterol; 33 grams fat; 18 grams carbohydrates; 13 grams protein; 0.08 gram fiber.