Preheat oven to 400°F.

Partially bake pie crust for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven.

Reduce oven temperature to 375°F.

Separate one egg, reserving the yolk and white.

In a large bowl, add 2 eggs and the reserved yolk, reserving the egg white.

Brush the pre-baked crust with the reserved egg white.

Add the remaining egg white to the other eggs and beat lightly.

Stir in milk, nutmeg, and red pepper. Whisk until well blended.

Sprinkle half of the grated cheese over the bottom of the pre-baked pie shell.

Top with crumbled bacon or diced ham.

Pour in the egg-milk mixture.

Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Place the pie on the bottom oven shelf.

Bake until lightly browned and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean but moist, about 30-35 minutes.

If the crust browns too quickly, cover with strips of aluminum foil.

Let quiche cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes before cutting into wedges.