Growing up in Somerset, one of our family friends was farmer and I remember one of his notable crops being asparagus. We were lucky that in the countryside we were able to run wild, and do pretty much as we pleased, (when not forced to go to school!) We were surrounded by beautiful landscapes and the county is famous its produce – apples for cider and strawberries spring to mind. Things always taste better when eaten in season and it’s a joy to pull them up or pick them yourself, I should imagine because they are at their peak and bursting with nutrients and flavour.
This recipe was nabbed from the internet and uses a food processor to make the pastry, not really a cheat but it definitely helps whip through the baking process and gives you more time to eat the left-over asparagus spears…
Ingredients
200g Plain Flour
100g Butter
2-3 tbsp Water
4 Eggs
300ml Milk
50g Cheddar Cheese
5 Florets of Tender Stem Broccoli, or normal if its easier
A bunch of Asparagus Spears. Some kept long for decoration
Method
1. Set the oven to 200C / 180C fan
2. Put the flour and butter into the food processor and whizz together to form a breadcrumb-like mix
3. Add the water and pulse until it came together in a dough - easy, see?
4. Roll out the pastry and line the quiche tin. I have a guide on my rolling pin that roles to about 4mm and they seem to work nicely
5. Blind bake for 10 minutes having lined the pastry with baking paper and baking beans. I use old pebbles from the beach, washed of course. Remove from the oven, remove the paper and beans and give it another 5 minutes to brown the base
6. Meanwhile, chop the broccoli florets into chunks and chop half of the asparagus into 1-2cm pieces, keeping the over half full length. Boil all the vegetables for 5 minutes then drain
7. Spread the vegetables across the bottom of the pastry case, ensuring an even covering
8. In a jug, beat together the eggs and milk together with the cheese and pour over the vegetables - you can be arty and place the long spears carefully around. I had a collision on the way into the oven with the one in the picture but I like the abstract arrangement. Happy accidents!
9. Bake in oven at for 30-45 min until its golden and delicious looking
10. Eat warm from the oven and enjoy!
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