Falling in love with a flower....

I think I am in love....with a flower. The Barambah Creek Hibiscus to be exact, which I had the pleasure of stumbling across at the Mt Coot-tha Botanical gardens here in Brisbane. I love the name, the crinkly leaves, the muted tones and the mysterious buds.

Hidden Gem in Brisbane

On the weekend we discovered the Australian Plants section of the Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens and found ourselves asking how it was that we had never ever been there before! It's so quiet, has a lovely big lake and of course lots of gorgeous native plants. I was in heaven photographing the native flowers.

Asparagus, Tarragon and Feta Quiche

I just can't help playing with pretty patterns of asparagus...

This is one of my old favourites, inspired by an old cookbook given to me by a friend about 18 years ago. The cookbook is The Enchanted Broccoli Forest by Mollie Katzen. It, along with the original Moosewood Cookbook, are treasured gems.

The pastry is a bit different and the ingredients modified somewhat.

Asparagus, Tarragon and Feta Quiche

Pastry

1 cup wholemeal plain flour

90g cold butter

1 egg yolk

1 tab cold water

Rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Mix in the egg yolk and water until pastry is combined. Press into a flan dish. You can rest it in the fridge for 1/2 hour but I never bother as I am always running too late.

Bake blind ( I use dried beans on baking paper) in moderate oven for 12 minutes, then without beans for 6 minutes.

Filling

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

1 bunch steamed asparagus

chopped tarragon (about 1/2 cup)

chopped dill (about 2 tabs)

some blobs of nice feta eg Persian feta

5 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

salt and pepper

After pastry has been cooked, sprinkle cheese over base of pastry, layer asparagus and herbs over cheese. Mix together eggs, milk , salt and pepper and pour over. Place blobs of feta evenly over filling.

Bake in moderate oven for about 45 mins or until set and nicely browned on top.

Photo Shoot

There are not many nicer ways to spend an afternoon than taking photos of these two cuties...