Mini Party Quiches and Another Grand Design

There’s another grand design.

It’s for a final maths class.  And they’re celebrating with another class party.

This time I got in first.  I said, ‘Arabella, you all have the Valedictory Dinner coming up in just a few days and I know you’re all trying to squeeze into dresses two sizes too small and that as a consequence you’re all on bizarre diets.  But let me tell you this; having parties everyday where you eat nothing but sugary treats then coming home to check on the amount of carbs, sugars and fats there are in everything I put on the table, then rummaging through the pantry saying there’s nothing healthy to eat, then insisting you come shopping with me so I buy the ‘right’ foods, makes no sense at all’.


Mini Party Quiches

‘It’s just a stage mum.  Aren’t you excited for me?  There’s just a few days left of school’.

‘Yes, very excited.  Can’t wait.  But a few hours ago you asked me for a gym membership and now you’re asking for batches of brownies, trays of fudge and platters of chocolate caramel slice.’

‘We’re only dieting when we’re not at school, mum’.

‘None of you girls need to be on a diet anyway and if you just ate sensibly instead of shoveling down sugary treats and calling that a ‘lunch’ and if you all bought clothes that fitted you instead of buying the ones you hope to fit into in a week’s time, you wouldn’t need to become so obsessive about what’s in the pantry and what I’m buying.’

‘Mum, it’s maths.  My final maths lesson.  We all want a party’.

‘Okay, I understand.  But I’ll make you something tasty and delicious with a bit of nutrition.’

‘Okay, well I’ll get the other girls to bring the sweet stuff.  And I still want that gym membership, mum, and it will work out better for you in the long run.  A membership’s much cheaper than paying as a casual’.

So today I made mini party quiches for the maths party and when Arabella saw them she jumped up and down and clapped her hands and said, ‘Oh, thanks mum, these are perfect’.

Who knew.

Spinach, Mushroom and Asparagus Party Quiches

Mini Party Quiches

Makes:  36

Degree of Difficulty:  3/5 because of the time involved and cleaning all those muffin trays

Cost:  These aren’t expensive and they use everyday ingredients.

  • puff pastry sheets
  • melted butter

Perfect for a high school girls’ party

Pre-heat oven to 180C.

Using an 8cm pastry cutter, cut 36 rounds from pastry sheets.  Use a pastry brush with the melted butter to grease the muffin trays.  Place a pastry round in each muffin hole.  Spoon filling into pastry cases.

Place in oven for 15 mins or until golden.

Remove from oven.  Leave in tin for 5 mins then turn out and allow to cool on a wire rack.

Can be eaten hot or cold.

Spinach Filling:

  • 250g packet frozen spinach, thawed
  • 1 bacon rasher, chopped
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 125g cottage cheese
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 2/3 cup thickened cream

Press out as much water as possible from spinach.  Cook bacon and onion in frying pan until bacon is crisp; drain on absorbent paper.  Combine spinach in a bowl with bacon and onion, cottage cheese, egg and cream.  Spoon into pastry cases.

Asparagus Filling:

  • 1 bacon rasher, chopped
  • 310g can asparagus cuts, drained
  • 2 green shallots, chopped
  • 1/2 cup grated tasty cheese
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 2/3 cup thickened cream

Cook bacon in frying pan until crisp; drain on absorbent paper.  Combine bacon in bowl with asparagus, shallots, cheese, egg and cream.  Mix until combined.  Spoon into pastry cases.

Mushroom Filling:

  • 1 bacon rasher, chopped
  • 125g mushrooms, chopped
  • 1 tbspn chives, chopped
  • 1 tbspn parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 cup grated tasty cheese
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 2/3 cup thickened cream

Cook bacon in frying pan until crisp; add mushrooms, cook few minutes and add hives, parsley and cheese.  Stir in egg and cream and mix to combine.  Spoon into pastry cases.

This recipe has been adapted from The Australian Women’s Weekly Celebration Cookbook.

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Comments

  1. I’m fit to burst after lunch at my desk, but I could soooo wolf down a few of those!

  2. You will survive. Just keep saying that over and over. The truth is, getting them through university is only the beginning – you’ll always be needed. They’ll want you to make those cute little quiches you made for the maths party when they’re 28 and you had plans to go to the spa for the day. …and you’ll make them and smile.

  3. Glamorous Glutton says:

    Thank goodness I’ve got boys, their attitude is that if you want to loose weight you need to get down there and exercise more. If they are being picky about food it’s never much more than turning down the second piece of cake! How many subjects does Arabella do?! GG

  4. Yum, these look perfect for a party 🙂

  5. Love these mini bite appetizers. I love the idea of using puff pastry in a muffin cup and then filling it with a delicious filling like this one. I am going to try making these mini bites for my next party!

  6. Ohhh yumm these are definitely great for any party 🙂 And like you said they are pretty healthy since they’re vegetarian ~ you are truly the BEST mum Charlie hehe always making not only Arabella but also her friends delicious food!

  7. You’re such a good mum! Your kids are very lucky to have you 🙂

  8. What lovely little bites Charlie, and I bet they tasted wonderful too. I’m going to bookmark this in case we have out big Christmas bash this year. I know my friends would adore them.
    Eva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com

  9. What lovely little bites Charlie, and I bet they tasted wonderful too. I’m going to bookmark this in case we have our big Christmas bash this year. I know my friends would adore them.
    Eva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com

  10. I love your mini quiches. They’re certainly a lot better for the girls and guys at their end of year parties than so many sweets.

    http://a-boleyn.livejournal.com/

  11. Sweet Posy Dreams says:

    Perfect and just right for a party. Another hit, I’m sure.

  12. So many parties! Who knew there were so many parties in young people’s lives these days? Though finishing maths is definitely a reason to celebrate 😛

  13. Jed Gray (sportsglutton) says:

    One of the best things about mini items of tasty goodness is that you can eat a ton of them, like these quiches!!

    btw…sorry I’ve been MIA, but I’ve been traveling the past plus week. Cheers!

  14. WOW! I can eat all of them… you are amazing and also amazing mother too! Thanks and love, nia

  15. Victoria at Flavors of the Sun says:

    They always surprise us, our kids. And usually in the loveliest ways.

    I love mini quiches–could eat a dozen right now. Nice recipe with the cottage cheese. Thanks!

  16. OH, my gosh, these all look fabulous!!!!!!

  17. Mandy - The Complete Cook Book says:

    Wish I had thought of having all these kinds of parties at the end of school.
    Individual portions of anything are always my favourite so these tick all the right boxes.
    🙂 Mandy

  18. I love to cook for parties even if they are school parties. What a lucky girl Arabella is to have a mom who loves to cook! Mini quiche are delicious, what a good idea! 🙂

  19. Purely.. Kay says:

    Can I just tell you how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE your stories. You always put a smile on my face. And those mini quiches are definitely making me hungry right now lol

  20. Norma Chang says:

    Reading your post always puts a smile on my face too. Love the idea of mini quiches. So much easier for a party.
    Norma Chang, http://gardentowok.com/

  21. They certainly look perfect! How many subjects does Arabella take, and do you have to bake for them all? I do like her attitude though- we only diet when we’re not at school, well I only diet when I’m not awake, does that count too?

  22. I’m glad you got a little protein into these girls! I find it amazing that in their youth they can eat so much sugar and still be adorable! Age isn’t fair in this department. Ha! You probably would have more time to go out and play, Charlie, if you hadn’t distinguished yourself as such an extraordinary baker and cook! Your children must thoroughly enjoy showing you off! 🙂

  23. Claire @ Claire K Creations says:

    Oh to be a teenage girl again. Just the other day I was saying to mum how I wish I’d appreciated my body more when I was 17. I was so slim and always remember thinking ‘if only x was smaller’ or ‘y was nicer looking.’
    I don’t remember ever having class parties in year 12. I think I would have taken a bag of corn chips. You quiches look much better!

  24. You are the best mom!!! Now I want someone to bake these amazing mini quiches for ME!

  25. yummychunklet says:

    You are the best mom!

  26. ChopinandMysaucepan says:

    Dear Charlie,

    I would always opt for the savoury over the sweet and I’m pretty sure I can have at least half a dozen of the awesome mini quiches!!

  27. I love this! You are such a good mum! I tried telling my niece the same thing — it is more important what you put in your body then comes the exercise, but has the worst sweet tooth.

  28. Ah, the contradictions of the female teenager! Balance is not in their vocabularly. It certainly is an exciting time for her though. I would certainly be excited in her place – last maths class!

  29. Juliet Batten says:

    At least she knows what healthy food looks like! And you are so good at cooking it.

  30. What a nice mom you are! Your photos are always so good too.

  31. Charlie, you have the patience of Job. I will say, though, you are really going to enjoy your grandkids’ teen years.

  32. Charlie, you have the patience of Job. I will say, though, you are really going to enjoy your grandkids’ teen years.

  33. Charlie, you have the patience of Job. I will say, though, you are really going to enjoy your grandkids’ teen years.

  34. Charlie, you have the patience of Job. I will say, though, you are really going to enjoy your grandkids’ teen years.

  35. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says:

    Hehe who knew indeed! 😛 Have you taken up mind reading in your spare time (not that you have any 😉 ).

  36. thelifeofclare says:

    They look so good! I wish I had some here right now! Entertained by their dieting process!

  37. Jennifer Cullen says:

    These look yummy. Wonder if the girls think, “Oh, they’re small so we can eat more.”

  38. Minnesota Prairie Roots says:

    I’d take these any day over a sweet treat. They look, and sound, delicious.

  39. Minnesota Prairie Roots says:

    I’d take these any day over a sweet treat. They look, and sound, delicious.

  40. Barb Bamber says:

    Now these are pretty!! I’m certain I’d make them unhealthy just by eating half of them in one go, lol! Lucky Arabella!! I can’t wait to see if they all fit into their dresses after all?!

  41. justonecookbook says:

    This recipe is a keeper! I can do this with puff pastry! I especially love your mushroom filling. I may not be able to do three, but am excited to try the mushroom one!

  42. ‘We’re only dieting when we’re not at school, mum’. Love it! Hope she had a wonderful final maths class. All those mini quiches must have been fiddly, you’re very dedicated, Charlie! x

  43. They look great Charlie – I love little mini quiches like this, but I know just what you mean… I HATE cleaning muffin pans! I guess if I made these I could make them in paper cases to avoid the clean up perhaps.

  44. religious food says:

    Great article with excellent idea! I appreciate your post. Thanks so much and let keep on sharing your stuffs keep it up.

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  1. […] be pleased to know Arabella has had lovely class parties where the neapolitan cake and mini quiches were a huge success.  Such a success in fact that it has been requested I make a farewell cake for […]

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