Leek and Bacon flan

This recipe is from the lovely  janesgrapevine who is a wondrous cook and crafter do , I don't think there is anything she can't do !

Leek and Bacon flan

1 shortcrust pastry flan case, baked blind

2 large leeks, shredded, washed and allowed to dry

4 rashers back bacon

2 eggs

200 ml milk (or a mixture of cream and milk)

100g strong Cheddar cheese, finely grated

25g butter

Pre heat oven to 170C, gas 3

Cut the bacon into narrow strips and dry-fry slowly in a non-stick pan until crispy. Set aside on kitchen paper to drain. Add the butter to the pan and as it melts scrape up any  bacon residue that has stuck to the pan. Now add the leeks and cook slowly until very soft, then allow to cool a little.

Scatter the bacon over the base of the flan tin and then spread the cooked leeks over the top. Beat together the eggs and milk and season with plenty pepper (the cheese and bacon will provide enough salt) and pour over the leeks. Sprinkle the cheddar over the top and bake for 30-40 minutes  until set and browned.

Best served warm rather than piping hot.

Leek and bacon flan.

Toys Naturally Giveaway

I am having a lot of giveaways on my blog at the moment as part of my blogs birthday  so here's another one.  I recently won a product off another blog which came from Toys Naturally   which I gave to one of my pregnant colleagues at work. Everything is delivered quick . They hold stock of everything and use first class mail so typically it’s 1-3 days (max) Also all recyclable and biodegradable packaging. From winning the toy to informing them off my address I received the package in record time/ My work colleague as absolutely delighted with the item.

They package everything with gift grade tissue and Toys Naturally seals, They  use only card and paper packaging and tape and biodegradable document wallets, so it can all go straight into the recycling. They want to do their  bit to preserve the planet for our children!  They have  have tried, wherever possible to select toys with an environmentally aware ethos, or ones that are at least manufactured in Europe so have significantly reduced air miles/carbon footprints.  They  have also checked that all manufacturers use FSC wood in the manufacture of the toys and of course that all fall in line with the European CE safety code requirements.

If you haven’t heard about Automoblox here is a you tube video which may help explain their brilliance.

So  I am giving away one of their products which will be very kindy sent by Toys Naturally. To win this fabulous prize, follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below. The last date for entries is 24 th May Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Silent Sunday #SilentSunday 22/04/2012

A Parents stress

 Though everything is alright now back when J was a toddler it wasn't it was pure hell.  It went beyond the normal toddler tantrums because of his glue ears , he also had other issues to deal with as well . We never had him assessed for autism despite exhibiting some signs of it. I suppose we had so much to deal with at the time we just didn't think of it. I would regularly have to call my husband to come and back us up when J was having a melt down. And these melt down often happened as you've guessed it when I was out shopping with him. This also happened at Nursery when he  frequently refused to come in inside.
I used to have to put a harness on him and then attach that t the D rings on the push chair just to keep him from running off.


This recent episodes were a toll on my mental well being and it was very stressful at the time, also when J was a baby my husband spent many weeks either in hospital on at home due to a back injury and I couldn't get any help from any one. To make matters worse when the toddler trouble was kicking off my husband again was ill with E-coli in hospital and nearly died. So J 's early years were very fraught and I wonder did I do my best and could I have done more  ?

Caption Saturday #satcap

Teenagers and mobiles.

Here We are in London Convent garden having tea and muffins. Notice sons expression , oddly the girl behind seems to be on the phone as well. Sign of the times with the younger generation!