French Friday episode 4

Spinach and Bacon Quiche.

The start:

The finish:

Couldn't find the card for my camera, so these pics are with the older mobile phone (it looked wayyyyy better than this).

As soon as the bacon and spinach went together i got really excited about this recipe.  Even the spouse commented on how nice it looked before it went in the oven.  My crust was not perfect, and I got a significant amount of leaking of the tart pan from one tiny hole in a corner.  But... not a big deal.

#winner.  it was good.  the grownups gobbled it down.  i will definitely make it again.

French Friday episode 3

It's French Friday and this weeks recipe is Tourteau de chevre

The start:

no, the wine is not in the recipe but was part of the experience, and yes that is my sewing machine in the background

The finish:

The boys liked this one.  I was a little less enthusiastic.  However, I bet I will love it for breakfast!  It was fairly easy to put together, and I was surprised how much the boys liked it as it isn't very sweet

Not sure if we will go for this one again.  BUT, it was worth a go.  and, hey!  now I own a springform pan.

French Friday episode 2

Bistrot Paul Bert Pepper Steak

The Start:

The Finish:

The verdict:

Well... here's the thing, my new French Friday friends will think I'm some sort of complainer that doesn't like anything!  It is definitely true that I have a very high bar when cooking for myself, and this one didn't quite do it.  It was ok, but I'm not sure I'd reach for this one again.  I made it last Sunday and have been thinking for awhile why our family didn't love it when we definitely should have, and here's what I've come up with: 

1.  I've been a vegetarian for over 2 years.  Yeah, that's probably a big reason why I didn't like it!  I eat fish, and use dairy.  And, I do have bacon once in awhile (I'm weak for it) and steak 1-2 times per year (because I also love it).  And there are times when I eat meat for politeness (i.e. eating turtle in Japan was necessary).  But, it (meat) just doesn't taste as good to me anymore.  except maybe bacon.

2.  When I do prepare meat I've become super picky about what I buy.  So, these are grassfed local steaks.  The kids were so *excited* about having steak for dinner!  But, then they didn't really like it.  And I think it was because it wasn't the cornfed stuff we've all become accustomed to.  I also think my family has gotten very used to grilled steak, me included, so the pan fried version was not the steak we know and love.

As a side note I also made potatoes from the book (essentially au gratin).

The start:

The finish:

I really liked the garlic flavor (huh, how did that not get in the photo!), if I made them again I would definitely lighten up on the cream.