Lunchbox Bakes – Ham, Egg and Courgette Cups

These Ham, Egg and Courgette Cups are quick to prepare and are something just a little more special to have for breakfast or lunch (they go well with a salad).  Great for feeding a crowd too!

24 slices shaved ham
2 large courgette (zucchini)
3 eggs
⅓ cup cream
⅔ cup grated cheddar cheese
4 grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

Preheat the oven to 180°C.  Grease 8 holes of a 12 hole muffin tin.  Line each hole with the ham (use three pieces and overlap them so there are no gaps).  Grate the courgette and squeeze out the excess liquid.
Whisk the eggs and cream in a medium sized bowl.  Stir in the courgette and grated cheese.  Spoon the mixture into the prepared muffin hole and top with a segment of tomato.  Bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until golden brown and cooked.  Stand for 5 minutes before serving.

For more delicious and nutritious recipes, head along to our Lunchbox Bakes page.

Lunchbox Bakes - Kumara and Bacon Savoury Slice

This is a really tasty slice and is easy to make.  It’ll go down a treat if you’re having a few people over for lunch or it would be great for dinner in summer with a simple salad.  I used golden kumara in mine, but I think after trying it that your typical red variety would taste better.  If you are not from New Zealand, you probably know kumara as ‘sweet potatoes’.  However, in New Zealand we call them kumara, which is their Maori name.  If you want some info about kumara history and the different varieties, the Kaipara Kumara website is a good quick read.

Serves 6 – 8

400g (2 medium) kumara (sweet potatoes) peeled and cut into chunks (I used orange kumara, but I reckon your typical red variety would taste better)
4 rashers rindless bacon, chopped coarsely
6 large eggs
½ cup milk
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
¼ cup fresh chopped parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 small tomatoes, sliced

Preheat oven to 200°C.  Line a 17cm x 27cm slice tin with baking paper, leaving an overhang on all sides.
Cook the kumara in boiling salted water for 5 minutes or until just tender.  Drain and set aside.  At the same time, cook the bacon in a frying pan for about 5 minutes to brown.  Remove to cool.
Place the eggs and milk in a bowl and whisk to combine.  Stir in the kumara, bacon, cheese and parsley.  Season well with the salt and pepper.
Pour the mixture into the prepared tin.  Arrange the sliced tomatoes over the top.  Bake for 35 minutes or until set.  Cut into squares and serve warm or cold.

Click to find out more info on Lunchbox Bakes.

Lunchbox Bakes – Ham, Cheese and Broccoli Quiche

This is my first attempt at a quiche.  I didn’t really like eating quiche as a kid, I suppose it is because the usually have onions in them.*  Ick.  However, this one was quick and easy to make and it tastes delicious.  It smelt amazing while it was baking and looked pretty impressive when I took it out of the oven.  Simon and I have been eating it cold as a part of our lunches this week. 

1 sheet pre-made savoury short crust pastry
1 ½ cups cooked ham (either cubed or shaved and sliced)
1 ½ cups cheese, grated
1 cup broccoli florets, chopped (if using frozen broccoli make sure it is thawed and well drained)
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon mild mustard
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper

Preheat the oven to 180°C.  Line a 22cm tart tin with the pastry.
Layer ham, cheese and thawed broccoli on top of the pastry.  In medium bowl, beat all remaining ingredients (eggs, milk, mustard, salt and pepper) until well blended.  Pour over broccoli.
Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted in centre comes out clean.  Let stand for at least 5 minutes before serving.  Cut into wedges.

Remember, you too can take part in Lunchbox Bakes – just flick us an email to bmtbblog@gmail.com.  You can read more about this event on the Lunchbox Bakes page.

*Courtenay and I hate onions.  We probably hate them more passionately than we love baking.

Inspiration: Romantic Breakfast

Bacon & Egg Pie

 
This is a favourite in our household at anytime of the year. It is super easy to make and sure to please!

All you need is:
2 sheets of rolled out flaky puff pastry
8 eggs
200g of bacon, chopped into small pieces
3 tablespoons of milk
A small handful of tasty cheese
salt and pepper to season
flour

1. Dust your pastry sheets with flour, roll out and place in a pie dish.
2. Break 8 eggs into a large bowl, add milk, cheese, salt and pepper, and mix.
3. Add bacon to egg mix and stir.
4. Pour bacon and egg mixture into the pastry lined pie dish and put it into the oven for 35-45 minutes at 180˚C.