Good Evening everyone! I have tried out a new recipe for today's post, it is one which I've adapted after having lunch with a friend a while ago at a local bistro right here in Stellenbosch. The dish in question is a spiced butternut, spinach with sundried tomatoes and feta (for lack of a better word) pie/quiche.....Puiche? This meal can easily be turned into a vegetarian (without crispy bacon) or mostly-vegan option (by taking out the feta as well) although, I do highly recommend giving the original version a go first! Here's what you'll need: puff pastry butternut a bouquet of spinach half an onion a couple of sundried tomatoes bacon a couple spoons of butter good ol' S & P Robertson's Potato spice (or any spices of your choice) love and an oven and a glass of wine (for right hand, not for pie) So as you can see, this dish is broken up into a few different components, and is all married together in the end to make a sumptuous Autumn-accented Saturday lunch. The butternut takes the longest to cook; start off by placing in a pot, cook until soft (or easy to cut) and mix together with the wilted spinach and chopped onions. The sundried tomatoes follow on later, as well as the bacon once it has been cooked on its own. Next, the puff pastry will be rolled out onto the counter, line the inside of the pot, and the filling may be added. Crumbed feta to top off. Like a baby, tuck in the filling, and cover any parts that are sticking out with some extra puff blanket! Make sure to poke little holes throughout the pastry (using a fork works fine), this allows for some ventilation. Once the pastry has been placed in the oven (at approximately 180 degrees Celsius for 8 minutes) give it a thin coat of beaten egg--for golden brownness! Leave to bake for 25-30 minutes, but keep an eye, as some ovens differ to others. On the sweeping, flux-like note of Autumn, the change that we are constantly faced with makes me realize that in order to try and stay happy and balanced we need to put certain things in place for ourselves to create a sense of positive influence or routine. Not routine such as regimented activity, but rather things that can make us feel comfortable and inspired in our every day lives and environment. I decided after a long day at work yesterday, to set the alarm early for this Saturday morning, to take a drive down to the closest beach for a feel-good morning run (which usually doesn't happen as often as I would like it to, since I'm more of a late-afternoon runner!). Impressed with my ability to get out of bed this morning, the day got off to a splendid start, however, as I got closer and closer to the beachfront, the weather got worse and worse. Thick fog and misty-rain covered the entire area! After realizing that this was not going to be a sunny Saturday morning jog, with tanned lifeguards and bronze surfers, I was contemplating turning the beetle around and heading for the covers again. Stellenbosch was fair-weathered and lovely, but the beach was a total 180 degree turn.
Long story short, I ended up going for the run, felt invigorated, energized, and at the same time totally calm and peaceful. Seeing the fishermen standing on the rocks and even a couple of feet into the freezing water, in this "miserable" weather, I realized that what we should do as humans is not to wait for the perfect circumstances before we do something. Life has many obstacles and challenges it may throw at us (not to sound pessimistic) and so therefore, if there is something that we'd like to do and that would give us joy, a sense of freedom and self-discovery, then we should take it with both hands, and tie those shoelaces like YESTERDAY already! There is beauty and every kind of discovery waiting to be made, so the trick is to not think that it can come in a typical form (like sunny skies and chirping birds). Happiness and serenity can come on the days where there is crisp air, a fresh mind even the foggiest, mistiest mornings! Until next time! Next stop, Johannesburg for family and friends..and Pretoria for Graduation! :)
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AuthorHi there, my name is Judete Fourie. I am a twenty-something-year-old writer living in Stellenbosch in SA's Western Cape. Follow my day to day adventures that involve wine, wit and braaibroodjies. Archives
June 2017
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