Cheesy Lentil and Pepper Quiche Recipe

I have almost used up my previously baked lunch items for Nye and I was recommended the Lentil Quiche Recipe from The Baby-led Weaning Cookbook by Gill Rapley & Tracey Murkett.


I've adapted the original recipe to what I had available in my fridge so here's my version.  I had enough left over pastry from the 9inch dish to make a mini quiche which I have photographed.


This recipe has no salt as it is for for Nye but you could use Salted Butter or add some to the mix to taste.

Cheesy Shortcrust Pastry:

• 200g (7oz) - Plain Flour]
• 100g (3 1/2oz) - Unsalted Butter
• 100g (3 1/2oz) - Grated Cheese
• 3 tbsp - Cold Water

- Lightly grease the baking tin (I used a 9inch sq tin so I can cut it easily into fingers)
- Rub the butter and flour together until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs then add the cheese and lightly mix.
- Slowly add the water and stir in with a knife until the mixture comes together.
- Knead the pastry on a lightly floured surface until it forms a stiff dough.
- Roll it out to fit your chosen baking tray
- Blind bake in oven  @ 190°C (375°F/Gas Mark 5) for 10-12 minutes




Lentil Quiche Filling:

• Unsalted Butter for frying
• 1 Garlic Clove, finely chopped
• 2 spring onions, finely chopped
• 175g (6oz) - Red lentils, rinsed in cold water and drained
• 600ml (1pint) - Milk
• 2 sprigs Fresh Thyme
• 2 eggs
• 75g (2 1/2oz) - Cheese, grated
• 1 sweet red/orange/yellow pepper, sliced

- Heat the butter in a pan and fry the garlic and spring onions until soft.

- Add the lentils and stir.

- Add the milk and Thyme and bring to the boil.

- Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes (most of the liquid will be absorbed)

- Check and stir the mixture every 5 minutes.  It is done when the lentils are soft.  

- Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F/Gas Mark 5)

- In a bowl/jug beat the egg and stir in half the cheese.

- Fish out the Thyme Sprigs and add the egg mix to the lentils and stir until mixed (be careful the pan is not too hot or it will scramble!)

- Pour the mixture into the pre-cooked pastry case and bake in the oven for 45 minutes.

Creative Sunday

Oh there are so many good ideas out there of the little things that make a house feel like a home.  I made a map cupboard for Nye's room, for storing his blankets and bed linen a while ago, but I've seen so many clever ideas and uses for maps recently.

It's going to be a long few days here as my husband just left this morning for the last of his teacher training.  Last year when he went I was in the depths of pregnancy morning sickness and working in a corporate hell hole.  Now I'm free and easy at home with a beautiful son to look after.  Frankly a 6 month old is easier and better company than a gaggle of office junkies!

I'm going to try and tackle some house DIY while Neil is away which is made much easier by the fact he stayed up till 1am so the house was tidy when he left. Love you my darling husband!

Here's just a few DIY map projects that I love!

Love where you live - County, Borough, Country.

Map Pinwheels for the perfect party

Love this lamp shade and it's associated cockerel

Can extra large letters ever be overdone!?

map lampshade!

I think I might try and make a DIY lampshade this week.  There are so many amazing ideas out there, now I just have to get to it.  Although I am always a little worried about whether doing something like that is a slight fire risk... Anyone any ideas for not setting the house alight?

Have a great Sunday!

Isabella Storksak Changing Bag

I was absolutely astonished on 1st July to the news that I had won my very own Storksak changing bag, via the lovely Emily @ A Mummy Too Blog.  I was so shocked I woke my husband up at 6am when I woke up  and read my twitter feed, shouting "OH MY GOD" (he assumed something had happened to Nye!) Thankfully no, but I had won a new bag!

Anyway, back to the important things, this is a bag I actually drooled over last Christmas when I was deciding what changing bag to choose in preparation for my sons birth in January.  However, when a baby is on the way it's difficult to balance wants and needs, so I ended up choosing a lovely messenger bag my Fossil instead.  

The bag arrived yesterday, and I packed it today with all my bits and pieces.  When it first arrived I marvelled at how gorgeous it looked but I didn't quite believe how practical it was, it looks quite petite you see.  As I was packing it up, I was still waiting for it to start bulging at the sides but it really is so well designed the bag looks as if I've halved the contents, but I've actually packed the same things.  I still can't quite get my head around how neat and tidy it looks, packed and ready to go with everything in its rightful section, easy to grab at any given moment.  My previous changing bag had a lot of pockets but the difference here is that the pockets on the Storksak are more tailored to hold wipes, bottles, nappies.  And although it sounds daft to say, I haven't found that to be the case with most purpose built nappy bags out there.

Suffice to say, I am very smitten with my gorgeous and luxurious Storksak Isabella, big thank you to A Mummy Too for hosting the give away and to Storksak for being so generous.  I hear the bag also makes a great flight bag so I look forward to our many happy years together!

I SPY - floral skirts

Inspired by Isn't it lovely's post on Floral skirts I thought I'd have a hunt around to see whats available on this side of the pond.

Floral Skirts 2012 by jenni-clutten 


I think the oasis ones are my favorites, I may have to head in to town and track them down.

Oasis floral skirt
£47 - oasis-stores.com

Yumi high waisted skirt
£31 - houseoffraser.co.uk

Warehouse floral skirt
£23 - warehouse.co.uk

Lipsy printed skirt
£23 - lipsy.co.uk

River Island blue mini skirt
£47 - riverisland.com

Oasis floral skirt
£31 - oasis-stores.com

Floral print skirt
£33 - lavishalice.com

Oasis full skirt
£23 - oasis-stores.com

Oasis floral skirt
£23 - oasis-stores.com

H M wrap around skirt
£16 - hm.com

Baby Routine?

STAGE 1 - Getting to know you

When a friend asked me what kind of routine I planned to do once the baby arrived I said I'd play it by ear.  I didn't really read about parenting techniques, managed to steer clear of baby magazines, and focused on preparing my mind for labour rather than sleep routines.

I did however, try to heed the advice of a few mums, who said they found once the baby was born they didn't know what to do.  I therefore chose to prepare myself for what I considered the scariest moments of parenthood; how to clean a baby, change a nappy and read up on techniques for calming a crying baby.

Lots of people talk 'baby routines' and in particular, friends and strangers frequently ask about Nye's sleeping habits.  It appears to be the 'go to' baby topic of choice for anyone and everyone and we always say we have no complaints.  And for a baby, I've always felt Nye has been pretty good to us.  I figured that babies need feeding lots so I willingly waved goodbye to a good nights sleep and tried my best to accept the eventuality of broken nights.

Now we are at 5 months, Nye's sleep habits have probably changed more times than I have fingers and toes and I've tried to let him take the lead on telling us what he needs and providing it for him.  As time has gone on, I've become much better and second guessing him and preparing myself for what comes next.  

I did however find it difficult after the first month or so to understand how much a baby needs to sleep.  So I downloaded and read Gina Ford's Contended Baby Book.  I managed to follow it for a few days but quickly decided that routine wasn't for us, I wanted something more flexible and I felt Nye wasn't ready to have his feeds dictated to him.  But, I am so glad I did have a look because it helped me understand how much and when he was likely to go down for a nap and what sort of time he should sleep in the evening.  It all seems so obvious to me now, but at the time I was clueless.  

I have continued to demand feed, I've slowly learnt that the way I have chosen to parent would be described by others as attachment parenting.  I really fell into it, it's what feels like the most natural way to parent for us.  This is made much easier by breastfeeding which means I can feed him instantaneously.  It's an amazing tool to have, it provides nourishment, calms and soothes him when he is in pain, and helps him get to sleep.

STAGE 2 - Growing Together

Roll on a few months (4 to be precise) and we as a family have really found a routine that fits with us all, and in the the last week we have even had our first glimpses of a full nights sleep.  I am grateful but trying to remain level headed, it can be taken me at any moment.  That's Nye's prerogative!

So here we have our current routine, which does not run like clockwork but is relatively easy to predict.

6.20am : Neil leaves for work, Nye awake in cot sucking on thumb

6.30 - 7am : Pick Nye up, change, feed.

7 - 8.30am : Put Nye on play mat, make tea and toast eat whilst watching and chatting

8.30 - 9.00am : Nurse in arm chair until sleeping

9-9.30-10am : Transport Nye to cot, get washed and dressed.

10-12/30 : Play in nursery, go for walk, head out to do chores

12.30-1.00pm : Nurse to sleep

1-1.30pm : Transport to cot, sleep

1.30pm-2.45/3 : Play, do chores together

3-3.20pm : Nurse to sleep, nap in arms/ put down in cot.

3.20pm-4.30/5 : Play together

5-5.30pm : Neil home, go for family walk to park.

5.30-6pm : Hugs and tickles with Daddy

6-6.15pm : Run bath, naked play time on mat

6.15-6.30pm : Daddy gives bath, lots of kicking and splashing

6.30-7.00pm : Ready for bed, Daddy reads a story whilst I nurse to sleep.

7.00pm onward : Sleeping Nye laid in cot for the night

10.00pm : Sometimes wakes for night feed, nursed to sleep