Lunch with Aunty Joyce

Last Sunday Ben and I had lunch at my parents' house. Impromptu visits involving homemade bread, gifted garden cuttings and pot plants are so simple now we're living merely 10 minutes from their door. On this day they hosted a lunch with mum's Aunty, my great Aunty Joyce. Mum made a lovely tomato tart and a particularly delicious quiche using leek from their garden. Mum based her quiche on this recipe (link), but used slightly less cream and only 1 cup cheese (tasty cheese), and added peas to the mix as well as an extra egg. Tarts and quiches like these, with spring vegetables and tender pastry, are just about my favourite weekend lunch. Especially when enjoyed with fresh salad and homemade sourdough. And family.

Mum served a vibrant apple cake made by Bernie, from The Red Hill Kitchen. I adored the flecks of zest in this beauty and appreciated the apple skin in the mix, too (I hate to peel apples and waste the skin!). Mum whipped up some cheeky cream (spiked with calvados) to serve with the cake, which was a delicious, 'on theme' decoration.

The five of us had a lovely time eating quiche and cake, chatting about family, gardening and birds and my dad's once long hair. And we spoke about Uncle Rex. We miss him. There was tea, of course. Very weak and black, for Aunty Joyce, just like my nana, her sister. I favour strong black tea, myself. I get that from my grandad. I also inherited his slightly crooked feet. But my fear of birds? I got that from my nana.

After lunch we took a turn in the garden together, chastising possums and picking rosemary. Ben and I left with a loot of goodies and trundled down the hill to our home, our garden, taking with us the love and advice of my great Aunt and parents. I planted that rosemary cutting straight away.

I hope it is as strong as theirs...

Heidi xo