Thyme Infused Baked Beans with Chorizo & Twice Smoked Ham

I detest baked beans. Well at least, baked beans that come from a can. Yuk!  An even worse, canned spaghetti. Slimy, salty and detestable, i will not touch the stuff. And don't be fooled into thinking that this is just some food snobbery! I happily sit down to canned soups and even (gasp) canned Bolognese sauce (which i secretly adore shh!).

However, home made baked beans are a thing of fuzzy, comforting joy. Rich and satisfying, with smoky meats and perfectly tender beans, they are something everyone should make on a cold winter's day. This version is perhaps a little extravagant, but you could replace the meats with just ham or bacon and still have a delicious dinner.

Salade Aux Lardons

My mission for tonight was to eat something healthy, considering the recent spate of fatty foods i cooked (and an attempt today to bake a cake containing 20 egg yolks... did not work so well!). When one says healthy, one's mind immediately gravitates towards salad. Unfortunately, mine gravitated towards salade aux lardons.

Mission failed.

Lardons are slices of smoked pork belly, but you can use a good bacon like it did. 

Quiche Lorraine

Again, using ingredients i had lying around. And again, one of my favorite foods that my mum used to make for me! Of course, i took the lazy option which my mother never did; i went and picked up a premade flan base from the supermarket. At $3 each these things make life so easy!! But in a recipe soon i'll show you how to make one yourself.

After a very large, very filling christmas dinner, i came home toting a freezer full of leftovers, and two other ingredients: cream, and eggs, leftover from egg nog. This is the first dish that came to mind.

Ingredients (serves 6)

• 1 flan base (premade pie crust)
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1 cup grated tasty cheese
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 5 short rashers bacon, chopped
  
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Par-cook the flan base as per package instructions. Remove, set aside and leave oven preheated to 165 degrees.

Set a frying pan over medium heat, and throw in a touch of oil.

Add the chopped onions and saute for 5 minutes or until softened (try not to brown them)

Add the chopped bacon and saute for a further 10 minutes.

Set bacon and onion aside on paper towel to soak up extra grease.

In a large bowl, whisk together cream and eggs.

Add the parsley, cheese and nutmeg and season with salt and pepper.

Place the bacon and onion on the bottom of the flan base and pour over the cream/egg mixture.

Set into the oven and bake for approximately 25 minutes or until the centre of the quiche does not jiggle when you shake the tin.

Serve at room temperature with a light salad.