Weekend Feb 20-21 Cooking Agenda, Car Break In and an Electrician

Friday night we had a beef shepherd's pie. I normally make a traditional lamb with carrots shepherd's pie using Emeril's recipe but had been really busy at work so opted for a beef using canned corn- lazy woman's recipe. But I did add cheddar cheese to the mashed potatoes before putting it in the oven to brown. That deserves some points.
Saturday an electrician came to fix the hall switch that had sparked and blown out 3 lights during the week. In the process, we decided to ask him for an estimate to replace the old wiring. I guess the bathroom reno moves down the list. But this is more important. I suppose.

Saturday made a great chicken rice soup with the leftovers from the chicken curry I had made earlier in the week with chicken thighs. We had this for lunch.

Saturday night we wanted to use up the tzatziki we had in the fridge. I have blogged about this tzatziki in an earlier post from Sun Valley in Toronto. We grilled some boneless chicken breasts, chopped some onions (didn't have any tomatoes and no one was going out to get any), heated up some pita that was in the freezeer and piled everything onto the pita. Was very good! With hot sauce added!

 Sunday I had to make something for a pot luck lunch at work tomorrow. Gawd how I hate those things. You have no idea how other people cook or keep their kitchens clean. Since most of our staff are vegetarians I thought I would make these.

I did have plans to make other things today but a neighbour knocked on the door to tell us our driver's car window had been smashed in and we discovered that our GPS was taken as well as some loose change. Honestly do these hooligans people do this to make a few bucks selling it in some bar? They only cost $100 so how much could you get for it? Glad that BH didn't have our house address programmed, he had used a store near us. It's all the inconvenience it causes, cleaning up, calling cops, making appointment to get it fixed. And to add insult to injury it isn't even worth claiming on your insurance.

Mixing the filling

Mini Gorgonzola-cranberry quiches

Published by Chatelaine on 1/1/2006

Frozen mini tart shells are a good cheat for showcasing these pretty quiches.

Cooking time 6 minutes

Preparation time 10 minutes

Baking Time 20 minutes

Makes 36 mini quiches


•1 small bunch leeks

•2 tbsp (30 mL) garlic butter

•1/2 cup (125 mL) coarsely chopped dried cranberries

•5 oz (150 g) Gorgonzola or Cambozola cheese

•2/3 cup (150 mL) whipping or table cream or homogenized milk

•2 eggs

•1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt

•2 (255 g) pkgs frozen mini tart shells

1.Position oven racks in top and bottom thirds of oven. Preheat oven to 375F (190C). Slice root ends and dark green tops from leeks. Discard. Cut in half lengthwise. Fan out. Rinse under water to remove grit. Thinly slice. Leeks should measure 2 cups (500 mL).

2.Melt butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add leeks and cranberries. Stir often until softened, 6 minutes. Cut cheese into small pieces. In a large measuring cup or bowl, whisk cream with eggs and salt. Place frozen tart shells on 2 rimmed baking sheets.

3.Stir cheese into cooked leek mixture in pan until almost melted. Spoon into tart shells, filling two-thirds full. Slowly pour in egg mixture just to tart rims. Bake until filling is set, 20 to 25 minutes, switching baking sheets halfway through. Serve right away or cool, then cover and refrigerate up to 1 day. Warm at 350F (180C), 12 to 15 minutes.