Ham and Cheese Pie

I bought 2 dozens of pasture eggs the other day at the farmers market and thought of  making quiche, but I was too lazy to make the pie crust. This recipe is great for a lazy me with using Parmesan cheese as the crust. It was very delicious and great brunch food to make for a brunch pot luck!

Ingredients

* 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened plus 2 tablespoons melted

* 3 tablespoons finely grated parmesan cheese

* 8 ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded (2 cups)

* 4 ounces thickly sliced deli ham, chopped

* 4 scallions, minced

*  ½ cup (2½ ounces) all-purpose flour

*  ¾ teaspoon baking powder

*  ½ teaspoon pepper

*  ¼ teaspoon salt

*  1 cup half-and-half

*  4 large eggs, lightly beaten

*  2 teaspoons dijon mustard

*  1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

1. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-inch pie plate with softened butter, then coat plate evenly with Parmesan.

2. Combine Gruyère, ham, and scallions in bowl. Sprinkle cheese-and-ham mixture evenly in bottom of prepared pie dish. Combine flour, baking powder, pepper, and salt in now-empty bowl. Whisk in half-and-half, eggs, melted butter, mustard, and nutmeg until smooth. Slowly pour batter over cheese-and-ham mixture in pie dish.

3. Bake until pie is light golden brown and filling is set, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool on wire rack for 15 minutes. Slice into wedges. Serve warm.