Real turtles DO eat quiche...

[Ka Honu]

… especially if they have a cheese grits crust plus lots of smoked cheese and homemade buckboard bacon.

The recipe (below) originally came from Southern Living and worked out pretty well although next time I’ll use less liquid in the custard (probably 2.5 cups rather than 3.5). Don’t know yet but I’m guessing the leftovers will be even better than the original.


Bacon and Cheddar Grits Quiche

Ingredients
6 thick bacon slices
2 1/4 cups milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup uncooked stone-ground grits
2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 teaspoon black pepper, divided
2 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided
6 large eggs
2 1/2 cups half-and-half
1 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup sliced green onions

Preparation
1. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon; drain and crumble. Transfer 2 tsp. bacon drippings to a saucepan.

2. Bring drippings, milk, and butter to a boil over medium heat. Gradually whisk in grits, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper; cook, whisking constantly, 15 minutes or until very thick. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in 1 cup cheese; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in 1 egg; spread in a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray.

3. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until set and browned. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups cheese over warm grits, spreading to edges. Spread cheese to the edge of the warm "crust" to prevent any custard from seeping out while the quiche bakes.  Let stand 15 minutes.

4. Reduce oven temperature to 325°. Combine half-and-half, cream, onions, and remaining 5 eggs, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Pour over grits; sprinkle with crumbled bacon. Place pan on a foil-lined baking sheet.

5. Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until lightly browned and just set. Let stand 20 minutes. Run a sharp knife around edges of quiche; remove sides of pan.

[deestafford]

Quichey.  Quichey. Coo.  Dee

[drholly]

Quichey.  Quichey. Coo.  Dee

 

[sliding_billy]

That's a good looking "pie."

[ACW3]

That looks fantastic!  No time to make one until the weekend.  BOOKMARKED!!

Art

[muebe]

Looks great Turtle!

[HighOnSmoke]

Looks fantastic Turtle!

[teesquare]

Ka-Mahalo!!!!!

THAT looks fantastic....

[TentHunteR]

Quiche with a cheesy grits crust?  I'm in!

[Pam Gould]

WOW..looks and sounds good to me.  Pam  GO BUCKS  .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ.

[TwoPockets]

That looks and sounds delicious. I bet Missus Turtle cooked that.

[Las Vegan Cajun]

WOW....That looks great, nicely done.

[Pappymn]

I like it

[SmokinKat]

That is one hearty quiche!   Love the idea of the cheese grit crust!!!

[Ka Honu]

.... I bet Missus Turtle cooked that.

SWMBO (aka Ms. Left Coast Girl) would like it known that she has never cooked grits in her life and isn't about to start now. She does, however, enjoy them in certain circumstances (and this was one of them).

Giving credit where it's due, she was the one who pointed the recipe out to me (although I have no idea how she got a subscription to Southern Living - mighta been a joke Christmas present from my ex a year or so ago).