We're going old school - Quiche

Sooooo tired today, lacking in brain cells for food thoughts, so remembered still have half a ham to use up, but what to do with some of it????!

Quiche!

So quickly dashed in the kitchen before the brain shut down and the will to care ceased!!!  Pastry made and then chilled:-

4 oz (I said I was going old school) plain flour

2oz Lard

Water

Salt

Mix, but not too much, enough water to bind and then bang it in the fridge to rest for half an hour.

My filling mix was 

Chopped leftover ham

3 eggs mixed with some Greek yoghurt (bout 2 tbsp), dash or two milk and seasoned then I added some grated cheese (handful).

Roll pastry out and blind bake.

Then add the mixture and cook until set.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Well today has been one of those non-stop kind of days. I work from home, so in the school hols I'm mother and worker and amusement entertainer, chef ... 

Yesterday I planned ahead and cooked a ham, boiled it up in lemonade and then glazed and put it in the over to roast up the top. I served it for dinner tonight cold with homemade wedges, now I served the males of the house with baked beans and fried egg; for me, I fancied roasted veg of beetroot, tomatoes and courgettes.

I also in the madness made and proved a loaf of sourdough for tomorrow's brekkie and sarnies.  The ham will probably star in our dinner tomorrow, just not sure what with, watch this space ...

Parsnip soup and Banana and Choc Chip Loaf oh and a white Loaf on proving!

So for lunch today we are using up yesterday's soup, which was a curried parsnip and apple soup:

Recipe

8 parsnips (no need to peel) roughly chopped

2 onions - your choice on what kind - I had a red one and a shallot hanging about

Garlic cloves - think I used about two

Olive oil

Curry powder - mild

Salt and pepper

500 ml chicken stock

I apple chopped and cored

Chop and throw all in the pan with a glug of olive oil and enough curry powder to coat, fry it off for a few mins. Add chicken stock, should be enough to cover, if not add some water.  Cook until veg and frit are soft, then blitz. Voil soup is ready.

Banana loaf is:

8 oz Self Raising flour

4 oz Butter

5 oz sugar

1 lb mashed soft bananas (who hasn't always got a bowl of soft bananas???)

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

Chocolate chips - I used a pot of Belgian choc drops from Tesco I got reduced 71 g), usually though I make this loaf with sultanas and use 6 oz.

Mix all of the ingredients (apart from fruit or choc chips) in your mixer (I bung all mine in my kitchen aid, you could though do it by hand with a wooden spoon). Once all combined add your fruit/ choc chips.

Put in 180 c pre heated oven.

Cook until skewer comes out clean between 1 hour to 1 hour and half dependant on your oven.

White loaf on proving also - prob for tomorrow's breakfast.

Chinese Pork

We've the lurgy in the house so I'm making something that will look after itself and I can look after the sick/ the ironing and the vacuuming!!!

Here is the recipe I'm following (kind of), also found some rice already made in the freezer, so I shall stir fry in egg and have egg fried rice.

http://mortgagefreeinthree.com/2014/02/chinese-braised-pork-with-greens/

Beef Madras

Well I'm being organised as Thursdays are always busy. So tonight I have prepped the following dinner:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2146635/slow-cooked-beef-madras

I have as usual tweaked as I've added carrots and celery to give the family some veg. I also didn't have any madras powder so swapped for tikka.  I'll add the beef in the morn and put in slow cooker for it to be ready for 5.30 pm.  I may do rice and peas as an accompaniment.  If I have time I may make some nanas or flat breads.

Bread

Today has been cold and wintery and awful, so before rushing out into the snow I prepped dinner and threw into the slow cooker.  Today's dinner is homemade tomato sauce with some beef meatballs, I'll be serving with spaghetti.

Also before running off to an appointment (day off today and for a change did something nice for myself, reflexology, very relaxing and just what the doctor ordered!!!) I made a white loaf for tomorrow's breakfasts and lunches:

I just used my kitchenaid, I just guess with my recipes, I know that's supposed to be bad for bread!!!

500 g (approx cos I threw in end of the bag)

Knob of butter

Salt (to your taste, didn't measure, few grinds)

Sugar - about 2 tsps

About but maybe a little over 300 ml water

7g sachet of yeast

Mixed in KA

Proved then

Kneaded again lightly as I didn't have lots of time

Left to prove in tin

Sliced top with knife and then shoved in a hot 210 c oven for about 30-40 mins. Halfway through I checked loaf, knocked it out of tin and put loaf back in to crisp up its bottom.

Henry (6 year old son and number 1 critic) tasted and said it was stupendous, extraordinary and incredible - all the wow words according to him!!!!  It did taste lovely, not quite sure it was as amazing as he said, but if he's happy, then so am I!

Here it is, in all it's glory before it was nibbled a bit!