My left knee has suffered quite a lot of damage over the years. I still remember 10 years ago when I was at Crown Casino Melbourne’s arcade (I know that no 19 year olds should be hanging around arcades, still..) because it was one of the very few arcades in Melbourne that housed a Para Para Machine. Speaking of which, does anyone remember the Para Para dance? I was quite an expert! I was even creating my own little moves back then.
The accident didn’t happen when I was actually dancing. I was about to walk in to the ‘stage’ when I felt something pop. Next thing, I was on the ground crying in pain. Turned out, my left knee cap had dislocated (patella dislocation). That led to a visit to the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Emergency Department and a few days being confined to bed.
Unfortunately this would not be the end of it. From time to time (more frequently in the first two years, now around once a year or less) my knee cap still pops out of place (it does go back easily), though nowadays it doesn’t hurt as much anymore. That is until it happened again last weekend. Totally embarrassing as it happened when I was leaving Capital FM’s 1st Anniversary Party. Again I wasn’t doing stunts, just walking normally when it popped. That attracted quite a bit of unnecessary attention. But I was glad that there were people willing to help. This episode is pretty bad as I’ve been limping for a week now and only now able to recover full range of motions. This indicates few months of vigilant knee rehab exercises to strengthen the muscles for support.
Ok. What does my left knee have to do with Quiche? Absolutely nothing. I just happened to have made it few days ago.
Quiche is something Frank and I both enjoy. Me, for the love of savoury pastry and the creamy filling; Frank just loves that it’s vegetarian AND delicious at the same time (and because “Real Men Eat Quiche!”). It’s easy to put together, provided you are well practised with pastry making (or just use store bought), and so good for you. This time, I’ve used Mushrooms, Spinach, Red Capsicum, Onion and Zucchini for that extra festive touch.
Shortcrust Pastry
1 1/2 cup All-purpose Flour
125g Butter (use the best butter for better tasting pastry), room temperature, cut in cubes
2 teaspoons Icing Sugar
1 teaspoons salt
Half a beaten egg
Filling
100g Mushrooms, Sliced
Handful of Spinach, chopped
1 small Red capsicum, finely chopped
Half brown onion, thinly sliced
1 small Zucchini
3 Eggs
1/3 cup Cream
1/4 cup Greek Yoghurt
1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese
1 teaspoon Cayenne pepper (optional)
Salt to taste
Dash of Truffle Oil to garnish
To make pastry, mix flour, icing sugar and salt together then rub in the cubed butter until mixture resemble breadcrumbs. Add egg (add 1/2 first, and pour in more as needed) to draw the moisture and mix until the dough just comes together. Form pastry into a disc, enclose in plastic wrap, then refrigerate for 30mins
Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface until 4mm thick and use to line 23cm tart pan with removable base. Trim the edge, then put the whole thing in the freezer for 15-20 mins.
Preheat oven to 180C. ,take the pastry out of the freezer, prick with fork, then fill with dried beans or rice. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove beans and paper, and bake for a further 5 minutes or until golden. Set aside to cool.
To make the filling, first sauteed the onion, mushroom, red capsicum, zucchini and spinach until cooked. Beat eggs with cream and yoghurt then add in cheese and mix well. Season with cayenne pepper, mustard, salt and pepper.
When the pastry is ready, distribute the vegetables evenly, then pour the egg mixture over evenly. Bake in 160C for 20-25 or until the top is golden brown. Serve warm. A sprinkling of Truffle oil just before consuming.
This would be perfect for a Vegetarian Christmas lunch/dinner, or even a side to cater for your vegetarian friends. You can always substitute with almond meal for the pastry too but just be mindful that it will be a bit more crumbly. I know I have ‘bastardised’ the recipe adding all these unauthentic ingredients, but as long as it agrees with my palate, it’s good in my book! What’s your favourite Quiche filling?
Kelly Siew Cooks 
Take care of the knee. Maybe a Chinese chiro sinseh can help? Thanks for the recipe – must make one one of these days – brought lots of ham, bacon and chorizos back from NZ. For New Year’s Eve perhaps.
..and it’s Christmas Eve today – so taking this opportunity to wish you a Blessed Christmas and an awesome 2013.
I can manage it ok. One of the reasons I did medicine is so that I don’t have to go to doctors unless necessary… Hahaha! Being Western trainined, I’m a little skeptical about sinsei ( can’t help it I guess)
Merry Xmas! Hopefully you get to make that quiche soon then! Lucky you (with all that cured meat!)
How are you doing now? I’m suffering a knee problem as well.since I’m in Form 2. Sometimes when I’m too active, my knee feels something funny (I don’t know how to explain. I bet you know how it feels). Doctor said I had a mild athritis (at such young age back then…). I just want to say that I understand the pain that you have to face it because we’re sharing the same boat. 🙂 Get well soon and Merry Xmas!
Can you knee predict the weather? Mine can’t yet but I’ll be developing arthritis later most likely. Merry Xmas!
Dear Kellie,
I never used to like quiche until recent years and now wonder what’s not to like about it!
Hahaha indeed!
Kelly, take good care of the knee. My problem is my ankle. Sprained it 4 times in my lifetime and it has a tendency to bend inwards when I am not careful. Love quiche, especially the one with bacon. And I am sure I would love your vege version too!
I sprained my left ankle once too. Something about my left leg. Lol.
ooh, i have to confess that i’m usually not a fan of quiches, but maybe it’s because i’ve not managed to have really good ones so far. yours looks much more inspiring than a spinach quiche that i saw at a cafe’s display counter last weekend 😀
Hehehehe there’s nothing wrong with a spinach quiche but I do prefer to put a few more vegetables, for the textural contrast.
As someone who’s veg, it doesn’t matter what they put into the quiche (as long as it’s veg!), just the fact that they thought of me when putting together a meal would be wonderful. I quite like sautéed mushrooms and caramelized onions if I’m making quiche for myself, with sliced tomatoes on top before cooking.
There are a few dishes at home which are defaultly vegetarian. Not only because of Frank, I do meatless few times a week too. Yum, slightly caramelised tomatoes are delicious!
Take care Kelly! Hope you fully recover soon.
I like quiche, especially with mushroom filling, and some bacon will be nice too. Hehehe. 🙂
Hehehehe I’ve only made the bacon version a couple of times, Frank prefers it without.
Take care Kelly! Is there no way can improve the condition of your Knee?
Anyway, you made a nice Quiches, although I didn’t try it, but it does look very nice in photos. =D
Need to be vigilant about knee strengthening exercise, otherwise there’s nothing much. Knee reconstruction down the line if necessary but I’m hoping it does go to that point.
Oh do take good care. and rest well. Your quiche looks so yummy with lots of filling 🙂 I haven’t made any quiche after competition, need 6 months rest.. lol
LoL! I haven’t made any lemon tarts yet either!
Hi Kelly,
Oh dear, I hope your knee gets well soon. Take care!
Your quiche looks delicious, quiche is one of my favourites. My favourite filling would be if there’s bacon in it! Haha!
Merry Christmas to you and Frank and have A Blessed and Happy New Year!
I still have to walk stairs carefully, feel like an old lady, haha. I’ve only made it with bacon a couple of times because I hardly ever buy it. Frank is a strange creature who doesn’t like bacon. Merry Xmas!
Yep, I can remember that!!! Hahaha so old we are!!! Hrmm Aaron Kwok
even has a song about Para Para dance hahaha! Mmmmm
the ingredients
for the quiche filling mmmm yum 😀
And hope your kne recovers!! 🙂
Para Para Sakura! I watched the movie lol.
Hey…take care of ur troublesome knee lar =)
Staying at home everyday until my gig, hopefully back in action by then!
Ouch…I feel your pain. I had once hurt my knee too and the old sickness will come back once in a while.
Ur quiche looks delish and perfect for any kind of celebrations
Haih our poor knees. Pain almost all gone now. But have to be extra careful for the next 2 weeks.
Oh dear, hope your knee will recovery fully with diligent exercise. My hubby also has bad knees due to football injuries, but he’s stubborn or procrastinating to do rehab. I like quiche but dare not take much, gotta watch the scale! :p
It’s somehow not very easy to ‘remember’ doing the rehab exercises, I’m guilty of procrastinating also. Especially when it’s recovered and good as gold. Hehehe.
sorry to hear about your knee problem. I havent actually seen one with dislocated knee cap with my own eyes but that’s quite terrifying. Glad to hear that it’s getting much better now. btw, merry christmas and happy new year and may you be blessed with good health and abundance of love and joy !
It’s pretty scary looking because you could see clearly the knee cap going sideway. Merry Xmas to you and your family! 🙂
Sorry to hear about your knee. I hope you get that taken care soon.
Just wanted to wish you Happy Holidays and May You & Your Family have a blessed one!
p/s: my favorite quiche… ham, bell peppers, gruyere cheese… 🙂
90% recovered, thank goodness for that since I have a gig tonight that requires me to be on my feet all night. Merry Christmas and I bet your lasagna has been all lapped up! 😀 Mmmm you are the second person I know who likes capsicums in Quiche!
Oh gosh you poor poor thing! Your left knee it sounds so painful! So glad that your kne has recovered by 90% but still you’re gonna have to take care!
Ohhh capsicums in Quiche 🙂 Never thought of that hehe I’m weird I only eat green ones 😛
I don’t like the green one as much because the smell is a little too pungent for me. But I love roast red capsicum!
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