Bacon and Egg Pie and…Overly Indulged

Arabella is on school holidays for two weeks but as she has exams the minute she returns to school, she has work to do.  At her school the girls in Year 12 are assigned a teacher who will be their mentor.   As luck would have it, the deputy principal specifically requested my daughter and so Arabella has to report to her once a fortnight.  At their last one-on-one her mentor presented her with a timetable for the holidays that included studying at the local library for five hours each day and exercising every evening at the local gym.

We’re at the end of the first week of the two-week break and Arabella has neither studied nor exercised.

What she has done is see trashy movies, go to ‘gatherings’, eat fast food and stay out past her bedtime.


Mum’s Bacon and Egg Pie

She is presently lolling around in her bed suffering from having over-indulged.  The lights are out, the curtains are drawn and there are pitiful cries of ‘I feel sick’ coming from her room.  ‘I told you Arabella you were over-doing it.  You don’t need to be going to two parties a night’, I yell out as I stomp past her bedroom.

‘But mum, I have no life, all I do is study’.

‘That is rubbish Arabella, you haven’t opened a book.’

‘Can you get me an appointment for the doctor?  My nose is blocked and my head hurts and I think I’ve got a stye in my eye.’

‘I told you not to go out on cold nights wearing flimsy, floaty frocks.  Open those curtains and let the sunshine in then open your window and let some air in and you’ll feel better.’

‘Could you do it?’

Honestly.  So I stormed into her room stepping over the mess and brightened up the room.  That was when I saw all the discarded foil wrappers from consumed Easter Eggs and empty fast food containers.  ‘Did you have McDonalds again last night?  And who ate all those eggs?’

‘Can you pass me my computer?’

‘What for?’

‘I think I’m a binge eater.  I want to google it.’

Bacon, Onion and Tomato

Arabella doesn’t fear the wrath of the deputy principal but I do.  So I’ve booked her on a one-week Crusader Study Camp.  She leaves tomorrow.  She’ll be out in the middle of nowhere with no mobile reception, no fast food outlets and no parties.  Stepping up from the vice principal’s recommended five hours of study, she’ll now be doing six.  She’ll be eating camp food and the only binging she can do will be from a vending machine – if she’s got the right coins.

Organic Eggs floating on top of the pie base

I didn’t take Arabella to the doctor because all she really needed was some sleep, fresh air and proper food.  I made Arabella this pie and she instantly felt much better; she even emerged from her room!

Making it neat and pretty

Mum’s Bacon and Egg Pie

My mother would make this typically on a Saturday morning.  When the time came to take it out of the oven she would wrap it in a clean tea towel and we’d all get into the Holden and go on a picnic to somewhere like Pukerua Bay.  Once at the beach we would sit on the picnic rug and the pie would be cut and served warm.

Pukerua Bay, a 40 minute drive from Wellington, New Zealand

Mum would make this using her own homemade pastry but I have used filo because shortcuts are allowed in 2012.  And I’m sure mum would have used filo too had it been available.  Feel free to make this using your own pastry or sheets of frozen puff pastry work just as well!

All ready for the oven

Serves:  6-8

Degree of Difficulty:  2/5

Cost:  A very inexpensive pie the whole family will enjoy.

Leave to rest for a few minutes before slicing

  • 1 tbsn olive oil
  • 4 rashers of rindless bacon, finely sliced
  • 1 brown onion, finely sliced
  • 4 roma tomatoes
  • 10 eggs
  • 100ml thickened cream
  • 1/2 bunch parsley finely chopped
  • 10 sheets of filo pastry
  • 60gms melted butter

A lovely pick-me-up if you’ve over indulged!

Pre-heat oven to 180C, fan-forced, 200c if not fan-forced.

In a medium-sized frying pan gently heat olive oil.  Add bacon and onion and stir until bacon becomes slightly crisp and the onion softens.

Fill a medium-sized saucepan with water and bring to the boil.  Add tomatoes and remove once skins have begun to split (about 1 minutes).  Peel tomatoes and discard skin.  Chop tomatoes and add to the bacon mixture and cook until liquid (from tomatoes) has reduced.

Crack 4 of the eggs into a medium sized bowl.  Add the cream, season, then whisk.  Add parsley.

Brush 6 sheets of filo pastry with butter, fold in half and use to line the bottom and sides of a large pie dish.  (Mine was 27cm in diameter).  Pour in bacon and tomato mixture.  Pour egg and cream mixture over the top.  Crack remaining six eggs on top of the cream mixture.  Seal with remaining sheets of filo pastry brushed with butter.

Fold over edges of pastry to seal the pie filling.

Optional:  Lightly beat an egg and brush over the top of the pastry.  (I like to do this because it makes the pastry go crunchy in texture and golden in colour).

Place in oven for 40 minutes.

Serve hot or cold with a salad.

And now I must go and help Arabella pack!

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Comments

  1. Thank God for your mother and thank God for this Pie!

  2. Bacon and egg pie, picnics at the beach, and mothers – all good. Your daughter is learning about balance. It can take a lifetime! But she’s making a good start, with your help.

  3. What a great Mum you are:) The tomato is a nice surprise ingredient I did not expect. Great pictures too. I liked the bracelet you were wearing in that one. I know. I have a one track mind – food and jewelry.

  4. Wow … tough love (though that pie looks mighty tasty). Can I sign my girls up for that camp?

  5. Now, that’s one great riff on the usual bacon and eggs. Put it all in a pie with flaky goodness and make it 10 times better is what you did! 😉

  6. I seriously think everything is better with bacon, LOL! This looks so yummy!

  7. Your mum is a genius! 🙂 looks delicious

  8. I love the way you write, introducing your recipes with a story about your family 🙂 That pie looks delicious and I think we have all the ingredients here so I might just have to make it this weekend – thanks for sharing!

  9. Awww! That’s so sweet! I wish my mum could bake me pies too!! And not just any pie, a DELICIOUS mouth-watering pie!! hehe.. And yes, shortcuts are allowed in 2012. Sometimes I try to make every thing from scratch, but there are certain things that really don’t need to be made from scratch!

  10. I went on a couple of church study camps in year 12 – they were brilliant.

    This pie looks fantastic! I am going to make that this weekend.

  11. Hi,
    Wow, that pie looks really delicious, and it seems easy to make as well, I just may have to give this one a go, tomato, egg and bacon, you just can’t beat those sort of ingredients. 😀

  12. Your daughter is one lucky girl…and clearly your mother is a fabulous cook!

  13. What a delicious looking breakfast pie! Yum!

  14. Ouch, you’re a hard task-master Charlie! 😀 I bet Arabella wasn’t overly enamoured with the prospect of being sent off to camp! I probably could have done with something like that when I was younger. I found motivating myself to study was so damn hard!

    Love the look of the pie – looks like it would make a great dinner!

  15. From a mother to her daugther… This was so nice, Arabella is so lucky to have a mother like you and understands her… In these ages we were all like that… But mothers are not same for them… So, she is so lucky because you are so nice mother, and your recipe is so delicious…. Thank you dear Charlie, Blessing and Happiness for you all.
    with my love, nia

  16. Charlie, I have a really random question. Where did you get the plate in the first pic from? It’s gorgeous (and coincidentally, they are the plates that they use at Chiswick for the mints) 🙂

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Hi Lorraine, thanks so much for noticing the plate! I was given the plate by my mother. It was her mother’s and before that, her grandmother’s so it is quite old and very treasured. Interesting that they use similar plates at Chiswick. I will definitely have to go there to see them for myself. xx

  17. Hahaha ah yr 12! I remember going out heaps, spending heaps of time on the internet and not studying (as for exercise? what was THAT?!) around this time 10 years ago. I did, however, promise to lock myself in the house a few months later and force myself to study. That worked for like, a, two days … before I knew it, the World Cup came on and while I did stay home for the most part, much of my evenings were spent staying up and watching the soccer and not studying! Thinking back, I kind of wished my mother sent me to a study camp (okay, not really…)

  18. You’re so hard on her!!! hahaha at least she has a mom that cooks delicious stuff!!!

  19. How fortunate for your daughter that you care so much about her schooling! That pie looks incredible, Charlie! I’m sure it could cure more than just overindulging!
    What are brown onions?
    Is that Sydney’s Best Blog Writer nomination I see at the bottom of my screen new? Congratulations!

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Hi Eva, onions in Australia come in three colours, brown, white and red (Spanish). I would say brown onions (with the brown skin are the most common variety and they are also the strongest in flavour. I use them to make onion marmalade). Yes, I have been nominated in the Sydney Writers’ Centre award for Best Blog. Very exciting!

  20. I have once made bacon and egg pie from a British blog’s recipe and it was amazing (I don’t make pies often, but rather tarts, so it was a nice change). Yours looks extraordinary and I love the filo pastry use instead of the traditional pie crust.
    I hope your daughter enjoys the camp 😉

  21. My husband would jump for joy if I made this….what a gorgeous post, too! You’ve got a great eye for photography!
    Anne

  22. Magnolia Verandah says:

    Pies are such wonderful things to take on picnics. Thank goodness for study camp to get her back on the straight and narrow!

  23. This looks like a wonderful dish to serve when the family is home. I always have lots of time in the mornings to make breakfast for them since they lie abed so long!

  24. Love the look of the bacon and egg pie as it is screaming BREAKFAST! Hope Arabella enjoys her camp.

  25. How can students enjoy a break when they have exams upon their return? I can never quite figure this out, why teachers assign major projects prior to break or plan tests immediately after. That said, it sounds like you made the right decision sending your daughter off to camp.

    The beach photos look so appealing. What a beautiful place.

  26. If she has access to the internet she can check your blog to see what food she would have been eating had she listened to you (and her mentor). I doubt camp food will beat the stuff you make

  27. Thank goodness for good mums… and for good food! This pie looks like a cure-all!

  28. Your daughter is very lucky to have a mum to make her such a wonderful pie and to sort out the studying!

  29. What a great looking savory pie! I need to go to a camp too so that I can focus… I used to easily get distracted by things around in my room when I was in school. Good luck to Arabella! Pukerua Bay looks soooo beautiful. I need to have a vacation there.

  30. Oh my, what a pie!

    That looks just wonderful…

  31. Oh my I remember those days with my daughter. It’s just a phase and then another phase, LOL. Beautiful pie and I love the way filo comes out all crispy. Also that I can buy it frozen, my pie crust skills need work.

  32. Good on you Charlie for sending Arabella to a Crusaders Camp hehe I think it’ll do her some good 😀 I’m actually surprised that she was willing to go 😛 because I know if it was me back in my teenage years, I would have ran away from home than to go to a camp HAHAHA I love how Arabella answers to your questions lol it reminds me of myself when I was a teenager hehe

    OOO this is a great recipe! Mr Bao keeps complaining that I make the same thing over and over again for breakfast! This would be a great pie and I like how you used filo it’s actually much healther and easier to work with YAY!

  33. I hope your daughter gets done with all the studying!
    I have an 11 months old, it’s physically demanding but it sounds like older kids are psychologically demanding.
    The bacon and egg pie looks amazing! I love how you didn’t stir the eggs before pouring it in!

  34. Beautiful Pie!!!
    I feel like making it now and going to beach with it just like ur Mother would have done…
    B/W my sons spring break is coming to an end we did no study only going out ,eating out and now I am feeling guilty. He is 6 I can’t blame it on him yet right…

  35. I’m so happy she felt better. And I can see why she sprung from her room, this pie looks so darn scrumptious and inviting. I would’ve wanted seconds myself lol. I loved all the photos Charlie

  36. That’s not fair that your daughter has to study during her vacation time. I hope she enjoys her camp.
    This pie looks so goood. After seeing this post I have to work with filo dough. I just keep finding excuses not to. I have heard one has to be really quick while using it, or else it dries up or tears. What a gorgeous pie. Love it!!!

  37. What a lucky young woman Arabella is to have such a loving mother who is on top of the important things. And this pie looks wonderful. This is a new “take” on this type of pie for me–am bookmarking the recipe!

  38. That camp sounds like a great idea. I’ve got one who’s spent too much time at his laptop and parties. Revising has taken a back seat. The pie looks delicious and very different. It must be very light with filo pastry. GG

  39. Good solution, I’m sure she’ll thank you for it (one day) 🙂 Maybe a care package of this yummy pie will sweeten the deal!

  40. I didn’t know there was such a thing as a study camp. What a great idea! No wonder she felt better after your pie it looks delicious!
    I can’t really say much though because one of my favourite Sunday foods when I was younger was chip sandwiches. We’d buy a loaf of bread and a big thing of hot chips. Really healthy stuff!

  41. What a fabulous pie! It looks DELISH!!! And I love your memories of eating it. Had to giggle at the daughter stories…I have a son the same age, and thank goodness there is much less drama with him compared with his sister 🙂

  42. what a pretty pie with so many eggs in there! 🙂

    Latest: Vegan Fruity Pizza

  43. Yay!! I was hoping you’d post this story! We moms of teenagers can relate! Anyway, I’d never overeat or drink like that, now would I;) I’m envious of your little excursions.. warm pie on a beach, I couldn’t think of anything more heavenly! I’ve just eaten my frittata which is quite similar to yours.. roma tomatoes, but ham instead of bacon, and no lovely crust which would have made it so much nicer! xo Smidge

  44. Your daughter is fortunate that you’re there to parent and not be her BFF. She’s even more lucky that you made such a great pie for her. Using phyllo dough for the top was a great idea. I love how flaky it gets in the oven, more so than puff pastry.

  45. Hahahah.. what a funny story! And what a lovely name! Arabella 🙂 I want pie!

  46. In truth, I’m envious of Arabella for being able to let herself avoid studying. I wish I’d been able to believe it was less life-or-death to get top of everything… So fascinated by the camp thing!

  47. I must confess to laughing throughout this, although I hope Arabella is feeling better. If she is, it will probably not be for long, until the study camp kicks in and she suffers withdrawal from all the experiences she’s been cramming in over the last week! Sometimes you need someone else to kick you into gear, that is for sure 🙂

  48. Poor mum! You do so well with your kids 🙂 I don’t know that I would have the same patience, but at least you got something decent in her belly and managed to ship her off to a week long study group! Good for you.

    Amazing my first reaction the room would have been exactly the same, open the window and let in some fresh air.

    I love the look of this pie, the ultimate healthy comfort food 🙂 Why do kids choose Macca’s and chocolate???

  49. haha, ur daughter sounds so like me 🙂 the camp sounds like the perfect idea… that pie has got me drooling, so pretty and flaky!

  50. That looks amazing! And as I’m considering a rather dull bowl of oatmeal or toast for breakfast…I wish your lovely pie was here for me to eat!

    The story about Arabella cracked me up! Hope she’s feeling better!

  51. Phenomenal sounding pie Charlie…brilliant incorporate of filo dough and eggs. 🙂

  52. OMG this all sounds like my teenager, however I have no idea about these kind of study camps. I am not sure I would not have had to chain him to the bus seat if I knew how to book such a thing. Arabella will probably pass her HSC as she has a wise Mother.

  53. Aah the unconditional love of a mother – Arabella is very lucky to have you as a mom!
    Awesome recipe! Don’t think I will wait until I have overindulged though to enjoy it.
    🙂 Mandy

  54. Wow, I love the looks of this pie and have bookmarked it. What a beautiful Bay! Glad Arabella is over her over-indugences!

  55. ah ya I remember when I was at that age, some 10 years ago… I was binge eating too! O.O

    I can imagine that Arabella felt better after a slice of your homemade pie. Love the idea of leaving the eggs whole in the filling. I just wish I could make it now!

  56. The teens lament…everywhere, every generation: I have no life. (Actually it applies to us quite often too, when we’re raising them 🙂 )
    Great bacon and egg pie!

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