Author Archive: Lydia
Dedicated to finding you the best for Baby and Child with the latest offers on everything you need for your little ones.
Pumpkin, Leek & Sprouting Broccoli Quiche
This recipe is for a vegetarian no pastry quiche with ricotta and sweet roasted pumpkin. It’s colourful, tasty and a great way for the family to get 2 of their 5 a day.
It’s packed full of healthy goodness and is versatile for families as it can be eaten at anytime of the day, hot or cold. I use organic vegetables as these taste better and are grown without chemicals.
As an alternative to sprouting broccoli, this quiche can be made with baby spinach.
Pumpkin, Leek & Sprouting Broccoli No Pastry Quiche
Serves 4
Preparation Time 10 minutes
Cooking Time 45 minutes
Ingredients
700g butternut pumpkin, peeled and cut into 2 cm pieces
Olive oil
1 leek, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
100g sprouting broccoli (or baby spinach leaves)
4 eggs
2 egg whites
60ml (1/4 cup) skim milk
80g (1/3 cup) fresh low-fat ricotta
1/3 cup fresh basil leaves
Mixed salad leaves, to serve
Preparation
Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C for fan ovens).
Line a large baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Place the pumpkin on the lined tray and spray with olive oil. Bake in oven for 25 minutes or until golden.
Chop the sprouting broccoli into 2 cm pieces. Place in a pan with water and boil for 2 minutes. Drain.
Heat a large non-stick frying pan with a little olive oil over medium heat. Add the leek and cook for 5 minutes or until soft, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute or until soft. Add the sprouting broccoli and stir for 1 minute (or if adding baby spinach, stir for 3 minutes or until the spinach wilts).
Line a 26cm x 16cm (base measurement) baking dish with non-stick baking paper. Spread the pumpkin and leek mixture evenly over the base of the pan.
Whisk the eggs, egg whites and milk in a jug. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the pumpkin and leek. Sprinkle the ricotta evenly over the vegetables.
Bake for 25 minutes or until puffed and golden. Sprinkle with basil.
Enjoy the quiche on its own or serve with mixed salad leaves.
Leek and Potato Soup
This is such an easy recipe for a really nutritious meal. I make this soup using all organic vegetables, they’re free from chemicals so better for your family and the soup will taste delicious.
This Leek and Potato Soup recipe can be prepared in 10 minutes and within 30 minutes you’ll be sitting down and enjoying ladles of hearty, warm and filling soup.
Serve with some crusty bread on the side for lunch and the family will be full until dinner time.
Leek and Potato Soup
Serves 4
Preparation Time 10 minutes
Cooking Time 30 minutes
Ingredients
50g (2 oz) butter
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
3 large leeks, chopped
3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
900ml vegetable stock
Small handful chopped fresh parsley
Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Preparation
Melt the butter in a large saucepan on medium heat and sauté the garlic and onions for a few minutes, stirring frequently.
Add the remaining ingredients and bring to the boil. Simmer for 30 minutes. Purée soup with a hand blender.
Serve with fresh crusty bread.
First Holiday with Baby in Orford
We ventured to Orford on our first holiday with our baby when she was just 8 weeks old.
Suddenly it was no longer about throwing a few clothes into a bag, it was now about making sure we had absolutely everything we needed for our precious little one!
The car was laden full with baby gear including her baby monitor, moses basket, baby bath, activity play mat, numerous outfits of clothing to cover all eventualities of weather, Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier, breast pump, pram, Moby Wrap (we were still in the fourth trimester) and my parents!
We weren’t even going very far, staying within the confines of the UK so we could drive a reasonably short distance. Up until this point our baby had only travelled in a taxi home from the hospital.
Travelling from London to Orford near the Suffolk coast was going to take at least 2 hours. We were certain we’d need to take several breaks to ease the journey (and calm ourselves should our baby take an extreme dislike to her car seat or the car or her Daddy’s driving)!
Pump Street Bakery
Thankfully I’d remembered to include her soothing classical baby music which helped her to sleep almost the entire journey (we were shocked) and kept us relaxed during the busy drive out of London.
Orford is a stunning small town, dominated by the 12th century Orford Castle and Orford Church.
It has some of the best restaurants in the area including Ruth Watson’s Crown and Castle and the Butley Orford Oysterage.
Orford Castle
Suffolk is an amazing and fairly untouched part of England.
It has a stunning coastline and some of the most beautiful inland forests suitable for walking, horse riding and cycling with plenty of walkways and bridal paths.
You can find out more about this amazing location for family holidays at Discover Suffolk.
For somewhere to stay visit Suffolk Secrets which has some of the most beautiful cottages, houses and beach huts for holidays in Suffolk. These are available for rental by the week or for a short break.
