Feta, Peppadew and thyme quiche for a blogger photo afternoon

 

As anybody who cooks for a living, or who blogs for an obsession, will know, going to eat at other people's houses can be a social minefield.  First there is the "oh I can't have YOU over for dinner - you won't possibly enjoy the simple food that I can cook - too much pressure!" argument.  And even if you somehow convince them that, just this once, you could force yourself to eat a meal wthout truffles, tians, foie gras and foams then you come up against the "you can't photograph my food and write nasty things about it on your blog, OK?" speech. 

Because, of course, that's how we food bloggers amuse ourselves: by slagging off our dearest friends' culinary abilities.  Not!

And you can't even get around the dilemma by saying "oh what the hell, come over to my place!".  Because then the pressure really is on.  You can't very well make baked beans on toast because then all the guests will leave with a sneaky suspicion that you don't actually make any of that stuff that you blog about.  People have seriously asked me in the past: "So do you ever cook normal food?", as if it's beef Wellington and baked Alaska for dinner every night here at CookSister HQ.  Oh dear.  So what's the answer?  Simple:  socialise with other food bloggers who understand :)

 
In particular, I'd recommend dining with the three very lovely food blogging ladies who came over to my house a couple of weeks ago for a day of food photography and a potluck lunch:  Bron of Feast with Bron; Ailbhe of Simply Splendiferous; and Michele of 5 a.m. Foodie.  We had chatted at the food styling and photography workshop at the Irish Embassy in the summer and I had offered to host a little "getting to know your camera" gathering later in the year. I took a while to get the dates in the diary but it was worth the wait when the three of them finally arrived at CookSister HQ a couple of weeks ago, bearing cameras and food to feed an army.

We started with the more serious part of the afternoon: the photography.  OK, I admit, it couldn't have been THAT serious, given the full champagne glasses you see in every picture!  But I chatted to them about basics like the relationship between aperture and shutter speed and how changing each of them affects your shots; how to get off auto settings and move towards manual settings; what white balance is and how you can use it; and how to take succesful photos in low light.  We raided my prop drawer and used our lunch spread and Michele's home-grown tomatoes and pumpkin as our "models", and soon everybody was snapping away, comparing notes, and consulting camera manuals.

 
 

To sustain us through all this strenuous creative activity, we had some good Champagne and the DIVINE spicy caramelised nuts above on the right (courtesy of Michele); more spiced caramelised seeds on the left (were they pumpkin or sunflower?) courtesy of Ailbhe; and my choice for Decadence of the Day - pork scratchings that Bron brought from a market near Oval.  There are no words.  Crispy, salty, porky heaven.  It's a good think I live nowhere near Oval, otherwise I would no longer fit into any of my jeans!

 
 

Our lunch spread was pretty sumptuous as well as being photogenic and included Michele's brown rice, black bean and edamame salad with cilantro and lime (hard to believe this is healthy as it tastes so good!); my spinach, feta and sun-dried tomato salad with toasted seeds; Ailbhe's stuffed bell peppers with chorizo, feta and pine nuts; a gorgeous pork pie that Bron brought from the market (not pictured), and my quiche (scroll down for the recipe). 

 

And seeing as I was hosting, I thought it only fair to throw in something a little bit South African.  OK, so I had already done that by adding Peppadews to the quiche - because these were developed in South Africa - but I took it a step further and made a proper South African dessert:  Cape brandy pudding.  This old-fashioned favourite comprises a moist, dense baked date pudding, smothered in a syrupy sauce rich with the flavours of brandy and cinnamon and it makes a fantastic alternative to a traditional Christmas pudding.

And so a very happy afternoon passed, full of laughter and companionship and (hopefully!) a little bit of photographic knowledge!  I think we all agreed that this was a great way to share tips and practise our food photography, and the general consensus is that we will do it again in the new year.  Leave me a comment if you want to join us!

And how did the quiche turn out?  Scrumptious!  I love the way the sweet spiciness of the Peppadews balances the saltiness of the feta, and few things make me happier than eating something made with herbs picked from my own garden :)

If you like this recipe you may also like my:

• biltong, Peppadew and blue chese quiche
• smoked salmon mini-quiches
• gammon (smoked pork) and caramelised shallot quiche

 

FETA, PEPPADEW AND THYME QUICHE (serves 4)

Ingredients:

FOR THE PASTRY:
1/3 cup + 3 Tbsp plain flour
3 Tbsp cold butter (if you use salted butter, omit the salt from later in the recipe)
1 Tbsp cold vegetable shortening
1 ½ Tbsp iced water
Pinch of salt

FOR THE FILLING:
2 large free-range eggs
1/3 cup double cream (or full cream milk)
1/3 cup Peppadews, chopped (available in most large supermarkets)
1/3 cup of feta cheese, cubed or crumbled
1/2 tsp fresh or dried thyme leaves
salt and pepper

Method:

Preheat the oven to 425F (220C).  Using either a food processor or your hands, rub the butter and shortening into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.  Add the iced water and mix until the dough forms a ball.  You can add slightly more if  1½ Tbsp is not enough but be careful not to add too much water!

Press the dough into a greased/non-stick ovenproof quiche dish or springform pan about 15cm in diameter.  Bake in the lower third of the oven for about 7 minutes, or until puffy and golden.  In the meanwhile, whisk together the milk/cream, eggs, thyme, salt and pepper in a bowl.  Roughly chop the peppadews and crumble the feta.

When the crust is done, arrange the Peppadews crumbled feta cheese on the baked crust, pour over the egg mix and bake on a rack in the middle of the oven for 15 minutes.  Then reduce the heat to 350F (175C) and bake for a further 10 minutes or until turning golden and puffy.  You can also turn on the grill for the last minute or two to brown the top a little.  Serve with a spinach, feta and sun-dried tomato salad.

 

And in other news...

The May 2011 Plate to Page hands-on food writing and photography workshop presented by me, Meeta, Jamie and Ilva is now sold out - but register now if you are interested in Plate to Page II in Italy in Autumn 2011!

Comments

[5am Foodie]

It was a FABULOUS afternoon and thanks so much for hosting. I know what you mean about the whole meal with friends minefield, but that afternoon was just perfect. The food wasn't at all fussy and was absolutely delicious, the company was tops, the photography tips very useful, and even Nick seemed to have survived your house being taken over by camera toting, champagne swilling, food loving women! I'm looking very forward to our next get-together.

[Firefly]

I'm still struggling to take food photos like this. But it will come.

[Ailbhe]

Loved the afternoon! And have been putting my new found shutter speed knowledge into action. It works so hugs & thanks. Still not as picture perfect as yours though Pork scratching was dangerously good and the pudding is one I need to make Looking forward to next session x

[meeta]

Oh Jeanne! I missed this one. I remember our photo session in the conservatory back in June! So much fun. These shots look incredible and the food to die for. God I wish I could have stayed for a few more days then we could have arranged another such session!!

[tiina { sparkling ink }]

What a delicious set of food pics! Looks like a lot of fun!

[Foodieinberlin]

Now that I think of it... Even though I have had plenty of people over to mine, I haven't had any invitations back!

[Jan]

Wow what a great afternoon you all had! Such lovely food too (of course)!

[SMITH BITES]

OMG - am DYING here and sooooooo wishing I were a friend who lived close by. Not only was the food to die for but holey-shmoley the photos are just stunning - you captured the day! Can't to make the quiche - I love peppadews!

[Marisa]

What a great idea! And I know what you mean re the odd questions us food bloggers must field. Hehehe. I always get asked: so do you cook *every* night? And when my answer is, well um, yes most nights, I always get strange looks. Why is that such a weird concept?? You have to eat *every* day right? So makes sense to cook for most of those meals if you enjoy cooking does it not?

[Kalynskitchen]

All this food looks just delicious, but especially your quiche! Would love a slice of that right now. (And congrats on the workshop selling out so quickly. Very fun!)

[Sebastian]

Having fairly recently become more involved and passionate about food (it has turned my life around !) it is great to read articles like this and to be able to share a bit in your passion - thanks so much !

[Sarah, Maison Cupcake]

Looks great fun, wish I'd been there! I'm having serious trouble with photos now the light has gone and the boy is moving things I've put down around faster than a poltergeist. I'm sure my windows are half the size of other peoples' too.

[Amy]

Great post! I’m looking to make some changes in my own eating habits and learning to cook, so I appreciate your insight a lot! Thank you. I recently stumbled upon this blog like I did yours and I thought your readers may appreciate it: http://burisonthecouch.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/food-for-thought/

I’ve started to look for their stuff more regularly and I think I’m going to add your blog to my list as well. Thanks for the post!

[Sally - My Custard Pie]

Having read my new camera manual and working my way through a camera book I'm just thinking how nice it would be to find out the 'relationship between aperture and shutter speed and how changing each of them affects your shots' in a lovely environment while drinking champagne!

[deeba]

Wish I lived close by...what a great time you had lady! That is one beautiful get together of like minded foodies! I ♥ it!!

[Myfrenchkitchen]

I can't decide what looks the most fun...eating those DELICIOUS foods I see...the beautiful photography(all very professional!) the champagne...the conversations and laughter...joking, Im sure. I wonder why I'm not invited...I am SO much fun! Great to read about a fun afternoon!
bisous
Ronelle

[arcadia]

Wat 'n wonderlike idee. En ja, ek raak soms baie bitter oor ek heeltyd vir ander mense kos maak maar hul is traag om my terug te nooi - I feel your pain.

[Dana]

this is soo beautiful..everything looks great..
Merry christmas!!!

[lackjo]

absolutely adorable and well presented!

[grace]

that's almost more good and tasty food than these eyeballs can handle! i love your quiche, jeanne--it's delicate while still be hearty and wholeheartedly delicious!

[Angie Sansom]

I also love cooking and photography, so I am very impressed with these pictures and I love the Quiche recipe too.