Step 1

Mix the flour and salt together in a bowl. Add the shortening and butter and rub both into the flour using your hands until the mixture is coarse and sandy with some larger bits of butter. Place the bowl in the freezer for 30 minutes.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Remove the bowl from the freezer. Add the ice water to the bowl by the teaspoon, mixing well between each addition with a fork. Once the dough can hold itself together in a rough ball when pressed with the fork, it's ready.

Step 3

Dust a work surface lightly with flour and turn out the dough. Lightly flour the top of the dough then gently roll it out with a rolling pin. Roll the dough slightly larger than the circumference of a 9-inch (23-cm) pie plate.

Step 4

Once rolled, gently turn the pie plate upside down on top of the dough. Use a paring knife to trim around the pie plate, leaving a 1-inch (2 ½-cm) border around the edge of the dish. Starting at one edge of the dough, carefully roll it around the rolling pin all the way to the other side. Lift the rolling pin up and then over onto the pie plate. Unroll the dough so it drapes over the entire top of the plate. Carefully adjust the dough to center it in the pie plate if necessary.

Step 5

Use your hands to gently and quickly pat the dough down and into the bottom of the pie plate, as well as up and over the edges of the plate. Press your fork around the edges of dough around the entire plate to crimp. Use a pair of scissors to trim any excess dough, leaving a small perimeter of dough hanging over the plate to account for shrinkage in the oven. Lightly prick the bottom of the dough evenly all over with the fork to make steam vents.

Step 6

Place the pie plate in the preheated oven and par bake it for 18-20 minutes. While the dough is in the oven check it periodically for puffing. You may need to poke a few extra holes, or gently press down any puffed up air bubbles with the fork as it bakes.

Step 7

Once baked, remove the plate from the oven and set the crust on a wire rack to cool.

Step 8

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the buttermilk, eggs, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper together until smooth.

Step 9

Scatter half of the cheddar over the the bottom of the pre-baked crust. The crust can be warm or cooled. Top the cheese with the ham, onion, and chives. Pour the egg custard over everything and finish the top with the remaining grated cheese.

Step 10

Dip a pastry brush into the egg filling and brush the outer crust edges around the entire pie plate. Carefully place the quiche in the oven and bake it for 30 to 33 minutes. Transfer the quiche to a wire rack and let it cool for a minimum of 30 minutes before slicing. Serve the quiche warm or at room temperature, alone or with a simple green salad.