Country Manor Breakfast Tart

This one's from Allrecipes. Don't just think in terms of breakfast. This elegant tart would be divine for brunch, potluck, office event or a special dinner. The list looks long, but if served with coffee and juice, you're done. To save time, prepare crust ingredients, prep in the pie pan and freeze. The crust can be baked frozen. Bacon can be made days in advance and frozen. It has been suggest to omit the crust altogether.

• Ready In: 1 hr 55 mins
• Serves: 16

Ingredients

• Crust

• 4  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  tablespoon white sugar
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 2  teaspoons salt
• 1 3⁄4 cups shortening (chilled)
• 1⁄2 cup cold water
• 1  egg
• 1  tablespoon vinegar

• The Filling

• 8  slices bacon
• 1  tablespoon butter
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped onion
• 1⁄3 cup  finely diced smoked ham
• 3  cups heavy cream
• 8  eggs, beaten
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 3  tablespoons  finely chopped fresh basil
• 1  tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, diced small
• 1⁄2 cup  shredded cheddar cheese
• 1⁄2 cup  shredded monterey jack cheese
• 1  bunch green onion, chopped
• 1⁄3 cup  sliced almonds

Directions

1. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add water, egg, and vinegar. Mix together but do over work it. Divide pastry into two pieces, cover and chill for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Form each piece into a round and roll out crust on lightly floured surface. Carefully fit into two 10 inch tart pans.
3. Blind bake tart shells in preheated oven until golden brown; cool.
4. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble; set aside.
5. Saute onion in butter until translucent. Divide ham, bacon and onion into two equal portions and sprinkle over the bottom of tart shells.
6. Whisk together cream and beaten eggs. Add salt, pepper, nutmeg, basil and thyme; stir well. Pour egg mixture over bacon mixture. Sprinkle cream cheese cubes and grated Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses over the top of each filled tart. Sprinkle green onions over cheese, followed by sliced almonds.
7. Bake in preheated 350 degrees oven for 45-55 minutes or until set. Let cool slightly, cut and serve.