Spinach Flan Food

SPINACH FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• In a blender, add spinach, parsley, milk, goat cheese, eggs, nutmeg, salt and pepper, and blend until smooth. Pour evenly between 3-ounce ramekins (small soufflé dishes) that have been sprayed lightly with EVOO (or non-stick cooking spray). Place ramekins in a large casserole dish. Slowly add boiling water in one corner, being careful not to spill water into ramekins, until half-way up the sides of the ramekins.
• Carefully place into oven and cook until the sides are firm and a little wobble remains in the middle of each ramekin.
• Remove from oven; remove each ramekin from water bath and let cool on cooling rack. When cool, run a sharp knife down the sides of each ramekin and invert onto a warm plate. Serve with the mixed herb salad, a drizzle of EVOO, and a few strips of parmesan.
• Herb Salad Garnish.
• 1/4 cup fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley.
• 1/4 cup fresh tarragon.
• 1/4 cup fresh basil
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice.
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil (EVOO).
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Combine all ingredients in a large salad bowl. Toss. Enjoy!

CRABMEAT AND SPINACH FLAN WITH SMOKED TOMATO BUERRE BLANC

Steps:

• In a stainless steel bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, and mustard. Season with the celery salt, cayenne pepper, and salt, to taste. The egg mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pick through the crabmeat carefully to be sure that all the shell and cartilage are removed. Put 2 quarts of water on to boil. Brush 8 (5-ounce) timbale molds with clarified butter. Cut out 8 round disks of waxed paper and place 1 in the bottom of each mold. Brush the paper with butter. Divide the crabmeat among the 8 molds. Pour 2 tablespoons of the custard over the crabmeat in each mold. Carefully fill the molds with the Spinach Mousse. Place the filled molds in a 12 by 12 by 2-inch baking dish. Fill the dish halfway with boiling water and gently place on the lower rack of the oven. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the mousse is firm to the touch. If the tops of the timbales begin to brown, cover with aluminum foil. Carefully remove the dish from the oven and let the timbales set a bit. The timbales can be kept in a warm water bath on top of the stove for several hours. Drizzle with Smoked Tomato Beurre Blanc before serving.
• In a 2-quart heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour, and stir with a wooden spoon for 3 to 4 minutes or until the flour turns a light golden brown. Remove from heat. In a 1-quart heavy bottomed saucepan, scald the milk and cream. Remove from the heat and add to the flour mixture, whisking to incorporate. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture is very thick. Remove from heat. Blanch spinach in rapidly boiling water for 30 seconds. Drain, pressing out any excess liquid. Add to the thickened cream mixture. Puree the spinach sauce in a blender or food processor until smooth. Add the eggs and blend lightly to just incorporate. Season with nutmeg, white pepper, and salt. Use as directed above.
• For sauce, heat shallots and cider vinegar in a medium skillet. Reduce until almost no liquid remains. Add cream and pureed tomatoes, bring to a boil, and reduce by 1/2. Reduce heat slightly, and whisking constantly, add butter, piece by piece; the sauce should not be too hot while you are incorporating the butter. When all of the butter has been added, remove from heat and add chives, lemon juice, and salt, to taste. Keep warm until ready to use.

SPINACH FLAN

Steps:

• Base: Take the flour and salt in a bowl.
• Rub in all the butter till the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs.
• Sprinkle around 2 tblps of cold water to form a firm dough.
• Knead until smooth and roll out on a floured board and use to line an 8 inch tin or pie dish.
• Bake open in a preheated oven for 15 mins at 190C or till light brown.
• (the recipe calls for it to be lined with greaseproof paper and filled with baking beans. Not sure what these are so did not do this. It calls for 15 mins of baking. Then the beans have to be removed and the base has to bake for 5 mins more to dry out) Wash the spinach and cook with just the water that stays on the leaves after washing then for about 8 mins.
• Drain and chop coarsely.
• Reserve few 4-5 rings of the pepper for garnish and chop the remaining afer deseeding and cook for around 5 mins in some boiling water.
• Beat the eggs and milk (you can use semi-skimmed milk), then add the chopped onions, spinach, pepper, nutmeg and seasonings.
• Spoon the filling into the flan and cook in the oven (Preheated to 190C again) for 40 mins, or until set.
• Garnish with the pepper slices.
• Can be had hot or cold.
• But not in the pot nine days old!

SPINACH & FETA QUICHE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• In large skillet, saute onion and garlic in butter, app. 5 minuets or until just soft. Remove from heat.
• Stir in 6 oz. cheddar, the feta cheese, mushrooms, and spinach. Mix well; place into pie crust.
• In medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour over spinach mixture, poking holes to allow the egg mixture to seep inches.
• Bake 15 minutes. Top with remaining 6 oz. cheddar, continue baking 40 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

MUSHROOM & BABY SPINACH TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use it to line a deep 22cm flan tin. Let the edges overhang, don't trim them yet. Chill in the fridge or freezer for at least 15 mins.
• Line the tart case with baking parchment and fill it with baking beans. Place on a baking tray, then bake for 15-20 mins. Remove the beans and parchment, then return to the oven for another 5 mins to cook the base. Remove, then reduce oven temperature to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3.
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan, then cook the mushrooms for 1 min. Add the spinach, then cook for 3 mins more or until wilted down. Combine the eggs with the milk and cream in a jug and season well. Build up the tart by sprinkling the cheese onto the base, then scatter over the vegetables and pour over the cream and egg mix. Sprinkle the thyme over the top, then bake for 40-45 mins or until set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Trim the pastry edges and serve in slices with the salads, below.

ITALIAN CHEESE SPINACH FLAN

Steps:

• Pre heat the oven to 200c (180c fan forced).
• Roll out the dough thinly and line 2 x 20 cm pie plates.
• Place piece of foil in each base and cover with raw rice or pastry weights to prevent pastry from bubbling up during the cooking & prevent shrinking.
• Cook the pastry 15 minutes. Remove from oven and remove the foil and rice.
• Put eggs & cream in a bowl and whisk until well blended. Add the cheese's. spinach, cayenne and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well and divide the mix between the pastry shells.
• Reduce the oven temp to 185c (165c fan forced) and cook the flans for about 25 minutes or until the centres are set. Remove and cool on rack.