by Danica | Jun 17, 2020 | Featured, General, GloKitchen
Spinach & Parmesan Mini Quiches
Mostly utilized in Italian-themed dishes such as pasta or pesto, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese is much more versatile though and can add unique flavour to all kinds of dishes. The strong flavour of fresh goat’s cheese and the umami flavour of Parmesan cheese enhance the eggs and spinach used in this recipe for Mini Quiche Tartlets exceptionally well. Paired with walnuts and seasoned with aromatic nutmeg, these mini quiches bring a flavour explosion to the taste buds. The size of these tartlets not only proves to be the perfect individual portion for an elaborate brunch with one savoury treat after the next, it is also ideal as a lunch treat, served alongside baby leaf salad or fresh rocket.
Ingredients:
For 6 tartlets, ø12cm
For the base:
125g plain white flour
100g wholemeal flour
150g butter, salted (extra butter for greasing and for the pot)
1.5 tsp. baking powder
For the filling:
3 medium-sized eggs
150g fresh goat’s cheese
180ml milk
125g fresh spinach (approx. 110g after cooking)
50g walnuts, chopped
Salt, black pepper and ground nutmeg to season
Fresh rocket to serve
Olive oil to serve
What you’ll need:
Flat baking tray to carry the tartlet moulds
6 tartlets (ø12cm), ideally made from silicone (if moulds are metal, use butter for greasing)
Kitchen scales
Grater
Pot
Strainer or colander
Mixing bowl
Whisk
Teaspoon
Large spoon for stirring
Chopping board
Knife
Method:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the flours with baking powder. Cut salted butter into small cubes and add to the mixture.
- With your hands to knead the dough until the crumbs form a uniform mass. Divide the dough into 6 portions.
- Place the tartlet moulds on a flat baking tray. Press each dough portion firmly and evenly into the moulds. In case you use moulds other than silicone, grease them with butter first. Chill the pastry in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- In the meantime, wash the spinach thoroughly and drain by using a strainer or colander. Heat a pot with a teaspoon of butter. Add the spinach leaves and half a teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Cook the spinach for several minutes until the leaves are wilted. Let it cool.
- Prepare the quiche filling by combining eggs, fresh goat’s cheese and milk in a mixing bowl. Whisk the mixture thoroughly. Add a dash of sea salt, half a teaspoon of black pepper and another half teaspoon nutmeg to season.
- Chop the walnuts into small pieces and stir into the egg mixture. Add the seasoned cooked spinach to the bowl as well, but make sure to drain access water.
- Pre-heat the oven to 180°C (fan, middle rack).
- Take the tartlets from the fridge and carefully fill them with the egg mixture.
- Bake them for 30 – 40 minutes.
- Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and a side of fresh rocket.
(Credit to: Castelli/Parmigiano for these beautiful recipes)
http://www.castelli-uk.com
by admin | Feb 10, 2020 | Featured, General
Stars come in all shapes and sizes, from Hollywood to London, and from all cultures and backgrounds. Kim White is our own very special ‘star’ discovery, as a female entrepreneur from Hove in Brighton, who followed her dream as an inspirational woman in business.
Kim White
Kim was brought up in a world of celebrity and show business, with her father David Courtney managing and writing hit songs for some of the top music icons in the country and launching careers in the 70s and 80s such as Leo Sayer and working with the late great Adam Faith.
But Kim wanted to follow her own path, and one that was as challenging as the music industry, in that she was a divorcee with three children and a woman in a predominantly male dominated environment.
After a difficult marriage and an even more painful divorce in 2014, Kim felt it was time to branch out on her own, using her previous 20 years’ experience in real estate, and with a strong vision for holiday lets. But she knew it would be hard as she was female, and had 3 children Callum 11, Alfie 6 and Jesse who was just 3 years old who were mainly in her care.
So, Kim approached her dad and asked his advice, who responded immediately, and encouraged her to get started on limited resources, whilst guiding Kim in the right direction. They created a logo as they both felt it was necessary to get the image of the Company right from the outset. They came up with the idea of a pink palm tree which was perfect for the beach location. Kim had fallen in love with the image as soon as she saw it, as it was Miami retro style which is like Brighton and also had a holiday feel to it which was appropriate for the vision of her Company.
West Beach Properties Pink Logo
Kim recalls:
‘We knew of this office that was right on Hove seafront and was perfect location for Holiday Lets.
I wanted my Company to be different and stand out as the city of Brighton has fierce competition with letting properties.
So, I went with my gut and knew that being in Hove it would not compete with the Stag and Hen parties, but set out to attract families and couples, people in-between homes and those on business trips.
Hove has a vibrant community and gorgeous wide spaces, with Hove Lawns and an array of stunning properties, some of which are listed buildings.
It was not all plain sailing initially, but I finally got my own office in 2015 which was just a shell. I came up against numerous obstacles, including being let down by builders and a leaky roof, but I ploughed my heart and soul into it, not to mention all available cash, and finally opened the doors in June 2016.
When I saw the sign erected outside the building with Westbeach Properties, it suddenly hit me that I had finally succeeded in getting my business up and running.’
West Beach Properties Office
But Kim was still not entirely ‘out of the woods:
‘I had started the business with maybe just 2 properties, so it was very daunting especially when you are sitting in the office on your own and the telephone does not ring.
There were many times I thought – what have I done, no income, money going out and a single mum of three on my own, but I told myself, ‘if you build it people will come’. Having said that I was determined to be there every day and stick with it.
I felt that regardless of the outcome, there is nothing worse than having a dream and not seeing it through. But the dedication paid off and after a lot of hard work and perseverance, I began to attract more clients.
My office is not a prime walkthrough area, but it is on the main Hove seafront that goes in and out of Brighton and people soon started talking about my neon Pink Palm Tree promptly placed on the rear wall in my office.
I now hear people tell me that they don’t always remember Westbeach Properties, but tap into the image of the Pink Palm Tree, which leads them to the Holiday Lets or Agent, and then my name pops up, which is great.
Inside West Beach Offices
I now have a small team and the majority of my clients come to us through word of mouth. My motto is ’Treat people how you want to be treated’, and this is so true. I do feel we do go the extra mile with everyone and this is recognised now by so many of our clients. Trust is also very important and I feel we are a friendly team that work well and hope to expand to take others on in the future.
I feel blessed and grateful each day that we work in a lovely office just yards from the beach and I get to bring in my small dog Teddy into work with me too.
Teddy
I also love helping people and offer a bespoke service, tailoring our clients to what they need, and holding their hands throughout the process to alleviate the pressure.
It has been a really exciting experience for me, and a worthwhile one, and I also have a new partner, Gary who I have been with for several years, as well as a thriving business. I am told I am living proof that dreams really can come true, and I believe they can if you really work hard and see them through to the end.’
So, if you have an idea and you want to follow your own passion, remember it is possible, even against the odds, and as in the case of Kim, she is living proof and a real inspiration.
https://westbeachproperties.com/
Follow and Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/glotimetv/
Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/glotimetv/
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/GloTIMETV_
