Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Mmmm.... Quiche


They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach... So, I'm trying to increase my repertoire. Yesterday, after a day at the beach I cooked this awesome quiche which is already almost gone! Cooking for one is pretty boring, but cooking for the one you love is one of the best things ever! Try this recipe... it's delicious!

Bacon, Parmesan & Zucchini Quiche
  • 100g bacon, cut into small pieces
  • 100g baby spinach leaves
  • 1 small zucchini sliced thinly
  • 50 g butter
  • 4 eggs
  • 3/4 cup (185ml) cream
  • 1/2 cup (125ml) milk
  • 1/3 cup (30g) shredded parmesan

Pastry:
2 cups plain flour
  • 150g butter, chilled, cubed
  • Pinch salt
  • 1 egg


  1. For pastry, mix flour, butter and salt in a food processor until mixture forms crumbs. Process with egg and 1-2 tbs cold water. Knead until smooth. Refrigerate covered for 10 minutes.

  2. Roll pastry out between 2 sheets of lightly floured non-stick baking paper and place in 25cm (base), 3cm deep fluted loose-bottomed flan. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

  3. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add onion and bacon. Cook 8-10 minutes or until soft. Drain on a paper towel. Place half the butter in the pan and place over medium heat until melted. Add the spinach until wilted, remove from the pan and set aside. Place the remaining butter in the pan and place on a medium heat until melted. Add zucchini and cook until soft. Remove from pan and set aside.

  4. Preheat oven to 190°C. Place a tray in the oven. Line pastry with baking paper. Cover base with rice. Bake on the hot tray for 10 minutes. Remove paper and rice. Spread over spinach, bacon and onion. Whisk eggs, cream and milk together. Pour over the filling. Sprinkle over the parmesan and arrange zucchini over the top. Bake 30 minutes and serve with salad.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

I love shoes?

Some close friends got married the other day. It was a beautiful ceremony and I was very honoured to be a part of their wonderful day. It got me thinking though... we live in such a fickle world. One where the word 'love' is thrown around and thrown away just as easily and carelessly. And it made me realise how afraid of the word I have come to be.

I love pork. I love eating. I love chocolates. I love food. I love the beach. I love cocktails. Easy... I

I love you? Not so easy...

No matter how much I want to say it, it scares the shit out of me. It overwhelms me. It makes me feel vulnerable. When did I become so afraid of it? I am an idealist... a romantic... hell, I am a believer. But all of a sudden I am goddamn scared. Not of love... more than anything in the world, I am ready to give it, and feel it and believe in it. But saying it... do the words really matter if every part of your being feels it? I want to be courageous like my friends, and be able to say 'I love you'... because that's the honest truth. My heart knows it, my head knows it, it is written over my whole being and across my soul. But the words are stuck in my throat... they haven't quite managed to make it much further than that. I'm afraid that I might not hear the same back. I'm afraid of getting hurt. I'm scared that I might have a big piece of spinach in my teeth or a booger hanging out of my nose and I will look like a total idiot.

Help me cyber world! How can I proclaim my love to all who take their time to read my blog, but not to the one whom I really love?