Meals for People in a Hurry
With the arrival of the holidays comes the need for attractive meals which can be put together quickly; frequently for unexpected visitors. Julia Child has recently made a case for the return of the quiche, and rightfully so. Quiche fell out of favor a number of years ago for several reasons. As Ms. Child points out, "Quiche was everywhere, and cheap careless versions eventually ruined the appeal. The passion and the fashion dissipated." To that was added the ban on eggs as a primary cause of high cholesterol. As with many food-related studies over the years (the margarine/butter controversy for one), these findings have been reversed to some extent and eggs have returned to the list of things we can enjoy; "in moderation", as the "experts" always say. With that blessing, we decided to include a traditional quiche recipe, as well as a broccoli and tomato tart. Although local tomatoes are gone now, the tart recipe works well with the Roma tomatoes currently available in local grocery stores. Another fast meal that makes a wonderful presentation is the chicken in parchment paper. A solid-fleshed fish can be substituted for the chicken with a slight reduction in the cooking time.
