My Kitchen Heroes and a Signature Dish:
Cheese, Spring Onion and Tomato Flan Recipe
Meet my kitchen heroes and one of my “signature” dishes……I love cooking and baking and also prefer to make my own pastry, but, life can be hectic and frenetic sometimes and that’s where my kitchen heroes come into play – ready-made and ready-rolled pastry, as well as ready-grated Cheddar cheese. They are great to have in stand-by when life is throwing lots of curved balls at you, and I feel not ONE ounce of guilt in advertising the fact that I use them now and then. As for signature dishes, when Sainsbury’s asked me to bake my signature dish with some of my kitchen heroes ingredients, I had a struggle; the fact is that I don’t have any ONE signature dish, but several! But, I am known in my family for my pies, quiches, tarts and flans, so it seemed appropriate to share a favourite with you all, Cheese, Spring Onion and Tomato Flan, made with ready-made herb puff pastry, two cheeses, a little cream, spring onions, cherry tomatoes and Greek basil leaves.
As part of the Sainsbury’s Blogger Network, I am also hosting a competition on behalf of Sainsburys’ – they want YOU, that’s Lavender and Lovage readers to create your own signature dish. All you have to do it post your recipe online, and then leave comment on my blog post here with your recipe link, and if you are on twitter, you can tweet your recipe using #kitchenheroes hash tag. The winning recipe from this competition will be picked by the Sainsbury’s team and the most impressive recipe will win a £50 Sainsbury’s voucher. The competition will run for seven days and will end on Monday the 13th May. My signature dish is made from FOUR of “My Sainsbury’s” kitchen heroes, what I consider to be “staples”, that’s the ready-made pastry, grated Cheddar cheese, cherry tomatoes and the garlic and herb soft cheese. So, what will YOUR signature dish be?
We all enjoyed this Cheese, Spring Onion and Tomato Flan today as part of my birthday tea, and it was perfect with all of the other treats that my mum cooked……sausage rolls, poached salmon sandwiches, salad, cheese straws, cooked ham, pickles and cake of course! You can also make this flan with chives as well as spring onions, and normal tomatoes too……but, we all like the sweetness of cherry tomatoes and the lovely flavour of spring onions. Greek basil is a delicate peppery herb and the leaves are tiny, so no need to chop or dice them. The rest of the Cheese, Spring Onion and Tomato Flan is being taken on a “National Trust Picnic” tomorrow, we are off to Fountains Abbey, and the remains of my birthday tea will make great picnic grub!
My recipe for the Cheese, Spring Onion and Tomato Flan is below, as well as the competition information. So, DO enter your signature dish, you could be in with a chance of winning £50 of Sainsbury’s Vouchers…….and that has GOT to be handy for the family’s weekly shopping. That’s all for today, have a wonderful bank holiday Monday for those reader sin the UK, and see you tomorrow with my Thrifty and Organic Meal Planner for May. Karen
Cheese, Spring Onion and Tomato Flan
Serves | 8 slices |
Prep time | 20 minutes |
Cook time | 25 minutes |
Total time | 45 minutes |
Allergy | Egg, Milk, Wheat |
Dietary | Vegetarian |
Meal type | Lunch, Main Dish, Snack, Starter |
Misc | Child Friendly, Freezable, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold, Serve Hot |
Occasion | Casual Party, Easter |
Region | British |
By author | Karen S Burns-Booth |
Ingredients
- 1 pack of herb puff pastry (ready rolled, I used Sainsbury's)
- 3 large free-range eggs (beaten)
- 100mls single cream
- 4 tablespoons garlic and herb soft cheese (I used Sainsbury's)
- 125g grated extra mature Cheddar cheese (I used Sainsbury's)
- fresh Greek basil leaves
- salt and pepper
- 4 spring onions, trimmed and cut into small pieces
- 8 cherry tomatoes (halved)
Note
A delectable and easy to make cheese flan with spring onions, cherry tomatoes, herb puff pastry and Greek basil; this is made with ready-made pastry and pre-grated cheese for ease and convenience. This recipe makes a generous 8 portions, suitable for two family meals or for one meal and the lunch box meals. Serve warm or cold and can be frozen.
Directions
Step 1 | Pre-heat oven to 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6. Line a 8" (20cms) square or round cake/flan tin with the pastry, and cook blind for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set to one side whilst you prepare the filling. |
Step 2 | Whisk the beaten eggs, cream, soft cheese and grated Cheddar cheese together, add the Greek basil leaves, season to taste with salt and pepper, then pour the filling into the prepared pastry case. |
Step 3 | Scatter the chopped spring onions over the mixture and then arrange the tomato halves over the top. |
Step 4 | Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the flan is puffed up, golden brown and firm to the touch. |
Step 5 | Allow to cool in the tin before turning out. Serve in slices, with fresh basil leaves as a garnish. Perfect with salad and baked potatoes, as well as for lunch boxes and picnics. |
Food Heroes “Signature Dish” Competition:
Win £50 Sainsbury’s Vouchers
1. Create a signature dish recipe and share it online.
2. Leave a comment here with your recipe link.
3. If you are on Twitter, tweet me your recipe link: @KarenBurnsBooth and@SainsburysPR Please use the hash-tag #kitchenheroes
4. The competition closes at Midnight on Monday 13th May 2013.
5. The winning recipe will be picked by the Sainsbury’s team and the most impressive recipe will win a £50 Sainsbury’s voucher.
(Disclaimer: I received a £50 voucher from Sainsbury’s in order to create my signature dish. Karen S Burns-Booth)
What is your Signature Dish?
Do you have JUST one, or several like me?
Rachel K @MarmadukeS says
Love this – it sings Spring! Making me feel rather optimistic, beautiful food with good ingredients and hopefully a sunny bank holiday. BTW, very happy birthday!
sallybr says
Perfect spring recipe!
great that you have access to herb puff pastry, must be delicious!
Dominic says
and there I was thinking I was your kitchen hero…. love that flan, it’s a beauty… can’t wait to start baking quiches again!… well done on your number one spot too, back where you belong!… i’m number 5 this month, highest i’ve ever been!
Hungry Jenny says
Wow, your photography is amazing and that tart looks so delicious!
Hungry Jenny x
Karen S says
Thanks very much Jenny! Karen
Bryony Sayburn says
I have got some lovely free range eggs so I think recipe way to use them.
Jayne Sullivan says
This looks delicious. A real summer treat
Lisa Williams says
This is beautiful and looks delicious, it would be welcome on my picnic any time 🙂
Lisa Williams says
I am desperately waiting for the sun to come out so I can make this 🙂
Lisa Williams says
screw the sun I am making it it just keeps luring me in when I look at the page 🙂
Lisa Williams says
tweeted to share
Zoe Howarth says
This looks lovely- very fresh and colourful!
Diana Cotter says
Perfect for a fabulous Summer picnic, and equally at home when you come back tired and wet.
olivia kirby says
That looks delicious for a picnic, kids can have soggy sandwiches and I’ll have this!!
I don’t have any signature dishes really but I do a very nice slow cooked pork.
Maya Russell says
I’d take this on a picnic. Scrumptious!
Carol Peace says
I don’t have a signature dish but will definately be trying that flan.
anthony harrington says
perfect for a picnic hamper
Paul Wilson says
This looks ideal for a picnic.
Maria Turner says
This just sounds delicious and perfect for a picnic 🙂
Rikka B says
This looks delish, I hope we get some Pic-nic appropriate weather soon
abby carroll says
wow this looks so good kids would love this
Jayne T says
I’ve never made flan before, but this has inspired me to give it a go.
ashleigh says
yum sounds delicious!
Ruth Grover says
My grandson loves this. He asked what it was and we said ‘Egg pie with bits in’…he nodded and tried it..and ate loads…it’s a pinic staple for us now.
Tracy Nixon says
Shared via G+ Thank you! Great idea for a picnic!
Eleanor says
This looks lovely. Just wrote a shopping list so I can make it!
Tracy Nixon says
Retweeted as I love this recipe!
Helen Moulden says
I’ve never tried making a Flan before but this looks delicious!
Sharon Hingley says
This looks wonderful and is making me feel very hungry. Bookmarked, definitely one for lunch with friends. Thanks
Natasha says
Wow this looks scrummy! Might have to attempt one myself
Annie Costa says
I have several siggy dishys,notably my upside-down,3 ways-round,inside-out choccy fudge,vanilla creme melt cheesecake.
Maggie Osborn says
Now we just need some warm weather for a picnic!
anthony harrington says
the weather is warming up, maybe a picnic might just possible soon!
anthony harrington says
tweeting this @freyerj
Maya Russell says
The pastry looks good. I didn’t know you could get ready made herb pastry. Thanks for the recipe.
anthony harrington says
I love cherry tomatoes, they are so much sweeter and tastier than the larger ones
christy beckett says
Looks lovely, perfect for picnics or a late supper, think I`ll try it tonight thanks x
Helen Humphries says
This sounds delicious and is a good example of why I should “get out more” with my cooking. I wouldn’t think to use puff pastry or soft cheese but it looks absolutely scrumptious. I have bookmarked this to try!
jessica newman says
This looks nd sounds fab im going to give it a try
Stacy McBryde says
Looks delicious, simple enough to make and the kids can join in too – nice light meal for the summer x
Maggie Osborn says
Mmm! Looks and sounds lovely!