Monday 3 January 2011

And is there honey still for tea?

Been sorting through more of the stuff in our cellar, now the extension's done - and I found one box of my honey pots.  I used to collect honey pots at our old house (we moved just over a year ago). Previous place was a beautiful Grade 11 listed cottage -


(You'd have liked it Susy!!) - but we sold and downsized / moved to the edge of town - it's brilliant, as we can easily walk into town, but our garden overlooks meadows


Anyway, I had dozens of honey pots!  Found just some of them -

Cute, aren't they?


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Made a very tasty quiche the other day - looks a bit flat in the pic, but it was very nice! -

Recipe? -

Leek, Stilton and walnut flan  (serves 8)
Pastry:
175g plain flour
50g finely chopped walnuts
100g chilled butter, cubed
Filling:
225g leeks, washed and sliced
25g butter
4 eggs, lightly beaten
300ml single cream
150ml semi-skimmed milk
225g Stilton cheese, crumbled (or ½ and ½ Stilton and cheddar)

1.     Place flour and walnuts in a processor with a pinch of salt. Add butter and blend until mixture forms crumbs. Stir in 3 tablespoons ice-cold water and blend until mix forms a dough. Wrap and chill for about 15 mins.
2.     On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry and use to line a greased and floured 10in / 25 cm flan tin. Prick pastry base with a fork and line with greaseproof paper and baking beans. Chill while pre-heating oven to 400F, 200C, gas 6. Bake flan case for 10 mins, remove paper and beans and cook for 5 more mins.
3.     Gently fry leeks in butter til softened (about 5 mins). Mix together eggs, cream and milk / season.
4.     Put leeks into pastry case and sprinkle Stilton on top. Pour over the egg mix and cook for 40-45 mins, until filling is set and turning brown.

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Feels good to be slowly getting back to normal now, after Christmas :)
And Ruby agrees :)

23 comments:

  1. What lovely honey pots and a very yummy flan recipe ... :0)

    I, too, am glad to be getting back to everyday stuff. What with all the snow and then Christmas, I do feel a little out of sorts!

    S x

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  2. Goodness, you can see a real little personality developing in Ruby's face now can't you? She is losing that look all new babies have, where they all look much of a muchness - except to their nearest and dearest of course, but to an outsider they are all cute but quite samey.
    Love the honeypots too.

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  3. yes - good to get back to normal. Today the sun is shining - so rare here in North Yorkshire. This year I have a great deal of sorting out to do - starting with a mammoth collection of blue and white plates - oh what joy!
    Happy New Year!
    Dx

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  4. What a fabulous house you lived in, I wouldn't have wanted to move....although I can understand entirely about walking into town, especially after all the snow we had.....very handy.
    Yes, glad to be back to normal too, decorations are coming down today...time to move on!
    Julie x
    Love that wire teapot! Swop you for a birdcage?

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  5. I love the honey pots....love Ruby even more though! ;0) xxx

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  6. Love your old cottage, how could you bear to part with it? Lovely old honey pots. Happy New year to you all.
    Jo xx

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  7. Your previous cottage is to die for, how gorgeous!
    You've got a great collection of honey pots, it's amazing how quickly collections can build up.
    Happy New Year!

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  8. What !!!!! you sold a house
    so beautiful!? How could you?
    You're right, she was beautiful, my dream!
    Kisses, even at RUBY

    Susy

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  9. I have a few honey pots but mustn't start another collection, it's so easy to get carried away, that said I can't wait for the boot fairs to start up again :)
    Cate x

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  10. How on earth did you drag yourself away from that stunning cottage? :0) Looks like you had an amazing country garden to go with it.

    Great honey pot collection and Ruby looks so cute x

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  11. I love your house I mean LOVE it.....Dreamy!
    Your litle honey pots are so adorable I had a pink milk glass one and sold it something I regret. I have a cute one still out there in the store its the same color as yours but it has a little bear sitting next to the pot!
    that little Ruby....I agree to.

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  12. Oh I do love your honey pots but that house of yours was spectacular my sweet friend...oh I would so love to live in that home. Your English homes are always soooooo lovely.

    Hugs for a great week..xo

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  13. Your beautiful garden has given me inspiration to start planning mine, love all your photos.

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  14. What a lovely collection of honey pots. Your former home looks wonderful as does your new one. The flan looks very tasty:)

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  15. Lovely houses, honeypots and little Ruby! Just had to go back and look at the cottage again. I would like to live there right now! I am going to put the image in my memory bank! x

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  16. hi i found your blog over at life on the east coast and have to say your collection of honey pots is adorable as is Ruby.
    Your old cottage does look gorgeous but i also love your new front door, i can can just imagine the wonderful christmas you have just had there!!!

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  17. Yes they are lovely honey pots and I might just start collecting !!! Ruby is lovely ( my naughty hen is called Ruby by the way )
    Laughed at your comment... no I'm not tiny ... I was a very curvy 16 but now back into 14s & very happy with that !

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  18. I love all those honey pots.I have ONE,and I'm resisting the urge to start yet another collection! Your former house is the kind I dream of living in,although in reality it probably wouldn't be practical.That flan looks delicious..what a lovely combination of flavours! :0)

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  19. Thanks for leaving me a comment... you'll like the soup. I had the leftovers for lunch! I used to have a honey pot like that though don't know what happened to it. Ruby is gorgeous!

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  20. Dearest Abby,

    WHAT A HOUSE!!! I confess having stared at the picture for a very long time now, and even if I understand your reasons for moving.... it cannot have been an easy decision...!?

    Lovely pics of your grandchildren and beautfully wintery images below. Your honey pots are so cute and I can see them fitting very nicely into your old house.

    Thank you SO much for all your kind words of encouragement and get-well greetings - it is so lovely to receive your comments! I hope you feel better soon too!

    Warm regards,
    Helena

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  21. THAT was your house? oh my. gorgeous.

    and those honey pots are too cute. You must have them on a shelf!

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  22. What a superb collection of honey pots! Ruby is coming on a treat, isn't she? :O)))

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  23. Thank you for your comment re: The Vintage Jumble.. I look forward to hearing from you. I have to say.. your old house took my breath away... it is the sort of place I dream of living in but alas we do not have many red brick houses in this part of the world. Love your present house too.. a most handsome front door!
    I have one of the very same honey pots but not filled with the sweet amber nectar.. more paper clips and little nick nacks of life.
    Regards Michele

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