All Good Things Came from Hardware Stores
Hardware stores used to be the epicenter for all cultural and social activity in our small South Texas community. Brides registered for wedding gifts, ranchers searched for nails to repair fences, pet owners upgraded their leashes, homeowners bought toilet parts, and the kids pressed their noses against chilled displays of fine chocolates. We were too modern to call them general stores, but they had everything you could ever want, and should ever need.
When quiche became the subject matter of pop songs about poodles, bumper stickers and stand-up comedy in the 1980’s, learning to make it became vital. I’m not sure who picked up the slim edition of Quiches and Pies by Irena Chalmers, and I am not sure which hardware store it came from, but Quiches and Pies became my first cookbook that I read cover to cover. The recipes were simple, detailed, and vaguely European (what, no grocery store products? From scratch? Wha?) At the ranch, I became the Queen of Quiche. I made scores of them.
Quiche Lorraine is a Cornerstone Recipe
Now that we have our own chicken yard, and Kiko is curing his own bacon, I thought I would revisit this recipe, so I pulled out my old copy of Quiches and Pies. I have had the privilege of attending a few panel discussions of Irena Chalmers at IACP conventions, and seeing this stained, well used book makes me chuckle.
Writing is like beaming transmissions into outer space, or inserting a small scroll into a bottle. You never know who is going to read it, or how your information will weave itself into the daily life, or career of another. Thank you Ms. Chalmers. The book was small, but the recipes were gobbled up, and memorized by a 12 year old. And, they are the foundation of my mental recipe rolodex. I hope someday my blog posts will be part of a future food writers experience.
I have Irena Chalmers little pie and quiche book somewhere in storage and was so grateful to find your recipe..so similar! It turned out very well and I give you 5 stars. Yet..check this recipe direction because in the mixing of the custard you left out the instruction to add the eggs!! I read over it twice and yes..no eggs. mentioned when you said ” In a separate large bowl, whisk together the cream, milk, butter, flour, nutmeg, salt and pepper. When it is mixed pour into the pie crust over the bacon and cheese”…..
I corrected in my quiche and did add the eggs. Result..delicious!
OH, thank you so much for catching that!! I will fix today. I must have gotten distracted by the food on the table. 😉 many hugs, and thanks for the heads up!
mg