Crust- Less Ham, Spinach and Feta Quiche

My mum gave me some delicious home made feta cheese, however since I am pregnant I couldn't eat it fresh as she made it from organic unpasteurized milk- so I decided to use it in a Quiche and here is the result :) 

Crust-less Ham, Spinach and Feta Quiche
Serves 4

Ingredients:

1/2 C plain flour

1/2 C dry bread crumbs

8 eggs

1/2 C milk

diced ham - to taste

diced feta - to taste (be generous- Greek works best)

1 onion grated

2 carrots grated

3 cloves of garlic crushed

3 frozen spinach cubes defrosted - (I used fresh out of my garden)

Salt and Ground pepper

Method:

Set oven to 180C

Beat eggs and milk in a good sized bowl, mix in flour, add carrots garlic and onions, softened spinach, ham and feta, add salt and pepper, and then mix in the bread crumbs.

Pour mix into a baking paper lined Quiche dish and cook until firm and golden brown on top :)

20 week ultrasound

Yesterday we got to see our baby kicking around inside my tummy- it was wonderful. We also found out that we are most likely expecting a boy!

Last of summer's harvest

Well, I am getting the last of our summer harvest, beans, pumpkins, strawberries and dwarf beans. 

I just started planting some silverbeet and I am already enjoying a leaf or two steamed on rye toast and a poached egg to top it off :) YUM. 


I have big plans for a massive garden in our back yard- going to need Shawn's help for that though- using a rotary hoe is not on my agenda while I am pregnant with this precious bundle :) 


I got given 6 strawberry plants for Christmas last year and I planted them in our tiny little veggie garden... so far I have got 25 new plants off those 6 plants and will get them planted in the little garden bed close to the house as soon as the beans are done.

Celebrating 20 weeks pregnant today!!!

Well today, I am 20 weeks pregnant- half way!!! 
The last time I attempted pregnancy, I had severe complications from 13 weeks, went into early labor at 25 weeks, and gave birth to a stillborn son Elijah John, at 27 weeks. After that I endured 10 years of infertility and in March last year I was told by doctors that I would never have children. 


I cannot tell you how much of an achievement this feels.... so far I have had no complications at all - apart from a lot of doom and gloom from doctors - however I have proved them wrong with every blood test and every examination ... ha ha!


Next Monday - I go for a morphology scan, I am hoping everything is going well with bubs, I have heard the heart beat (130-140bpm) and bubs is doing lots of kicking and cartwheels so that's encouraging, but I would just like to know everything is alright... I am also looking forward to finding out if bubs is boy or a girl :) 

Chicken, Sweet Potato and Caramelized Onion Frittata

My sister and niece were coming over for lunch, and I wasn't sure on what I might cook, so on perusal of my fridge and cupboards, I came up with this little recipe made from what I had at hand. It turned out beautifully and so I thought I might share it :)

Chicken, Sweet Potato and Caramelized Onion Frittata
Serves 6

Ingredients

10 Eggs

250g (½ pound) of chicken thigh fillet (boneless and skinless) cubed

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1cm (½ inch) cubes

1 large onion -chopped

4 cloves of garlic – finely chopped

2 Tbsp of olive oil

½ tsp brown sugar

A splash of milk

50g (2oz) cheddar cheese- grated

Salt and pepper

Water as required

Method

Pre heat your oven to 180°C. (355°F)

In a shallow, non stick frying pan, add oil, onions, garlic and sweet potato. Sweat onions, sweet potato and garlic over a medium heat, then add half a cup of water and slow cook until water is evaporated.  Check to see if sweet potato has softened, you may need to add more water and cook again until just tender.

Add ½ tsp brown sugar to the pan and continue to cook, stirring, over a medium heat.  Add chicken and another splash of oil (if required) and brown contents of the pan. You may need to raise the heat slightly in order to caramelize.

In a bowl, beat the eggs, milk, salt and pepper till frothy, pour into the caramelized sweet potato, onion, garlic and chicken mix in the pan.  Reduce heat to low and leave egg mixture to set.  Give the pan a shake after every 5 minutes or so to see if the base is setting – it should move around as a whole piece like an omelette.

When set through approximately half way, sprinkle with grated cheese and turn your oven setting to grill.  Place pan under the grill, but leave the oven door open so that the pan handle is outside.  Grill until egg mixture is fully set and cheese is brown bubbly and delicious.

Cut into wedges and serve with a Greek salad and garlic bread. J

Note:

Frittata can be made ahead of time, reheated, eaten cold or frozen for later use. 

My love affair with Chainmaille jewellery

For some time I have been taken by the beauty and elegance of chainmaille jewellery. If you have never heard of chainmaille jewellery before, its made from various patterns of individual wire rings woven is to beautiful jewellery with a liquid feel. I have used various materials to make my chainmaille jewellery including stirling silver, aluminium and more recently copper.
Here are some photos of just a few of the pieces I have created :)

Worm Farm

I have had a worm farm for just under a year, I got one on a whim one day while wandering in Bunnings. I needed somewhere to put all my green scraps, so I thought a worm farm was as good an idea as any. So far its been well worth the effort. I have harvested about 50 litres of worm tea ( the polite name for worm pee) which can be used as a potent liquid fertilizer for your garden. Just mix it 1:10 with water and away you go!

There are many different types of worm farm you can buy or make your self but this is the type I use.

I have since added another tier to my farm and am not far away from harvesting all the worm castings which are also amazing for your garden.

Wild Heather Shop

My little shop "Wild Heather" It's full of all kinds of treasures and treats - and a great way to display my creations and meet the locals ... call in one day 27 Corks Rd, Tikipunga :)

Heather goes WILD....

Well, I decided to post a blog about my new life as a wannabe self sufficientee, business woman, and general creative type. I recently resigned from my job as a Probation Officer, to pursue a more stress free life, in the lead up to the birth my baby in August 2012. I currently have a little business called Meltopia, I make scented soy melts, and lots of other cool bits and pieces and sell them in a little shop (which we christened Wild Heather) that I have put up on our property here in Whangarei. It's a lot of fun and great, stress free way for me to keep busy in the countdown till our bubs arrives. Leaving my job has meant we (we being myself, my awesome hubby Shawn and our dawg Mac) have had to tighten our belts a little, I've put in my first veggie garden, and we have enjoyed a decent crop of Potatoes, Green Beans, Silverbeet, Strawberries, Zucchini, Cucumbers and Pumpkins. I have also set up a worm farm and have harvested about 50 litres of Worm Tea which has come in handy for my garden. In the coming few months I hope to find ways to save and make money, using my wits, creativity and the resources at hand ( my hubby, our 1/4 acre section and various materials I find or get for free or very little. Can't wait to share my progress :)