Sundays with Joy -- Leek & Asparagus Quiche

For the longest time I have been wanting to join some sort of cooking group.  I did the cookie swap in November, which was a blast, and I wanted more.  Unfortunately all the groups I found didn't fit right for me.  Either they were doing stuff I wanted to do but didn't have the skill level required (remember -- I am teaching myself how to cook here, folks) OR I had the skill level required but not the time OR I had the time but didn't want to do the recipes.  But I have a found something that fits me perfectly.  Sundays with Joy.

Here is why it fits me:  I am not only learning to cook, but I am finally, finally, starting to want to bake.  I used to hate it.  All that measuring and what-not... it was too complicated.  But as of late I have found myself baking a lot.  Cookies, tarts, bread... it has gotten into me.  And I am really really enjoying it.  So going through Joy the Baker's cookbook one recipe per week sounded like a great plan for me.  Especially since the title had the word "simple" in it ;)

For the past two weeks I have seen a few of the bloggers I follow (specifically Bakeaholic Mama, the starter of this brilliant plan) put up recipes for scones and muffins, and I thought, "I want those!"   Well, if I want some, I know how to get them... get in the kitchen and make it happen, right? 

The funny thing is that this week the recipe was not a sweet-treat such as a scone or a muffin, but a quiche.  That probably doesn't sound so funny to you -- until you hear that my poor husband has eaten egg-something everynight this week.  Fried eggs, scrambled eggs, egg and avocado pizzas... I think the last thing he really wanted to eat this weekend was some more eggs.

But he was good about it and supported me.  Which I needed, because I kind of felt like a fool asking the grocery-store-dude if he could help me find leeks when they were right there.  I guess that is what happens when I have only ever bought frozen, chopped leeks before...  (BTW - found out that nutmeg is considered a "seasonal item" at Trader Joe's.  Why?  I get that we use it in pumpkin pie, but wouldn't they think we might possibly want to use it at other times of the year for other things as well?)

I was happy he was a good sport, and so was he.  He loved this.  And when I told him some of the other bakers were putting bacon in it he said, "Oh!  You HAVE to do that next time!" 

It is official: there will be a next time.  Probably with bacon.

I have done it.  My very first recipe from my new cooking group.  I feel pretty darn good about myself right now!  Ninety-nine more to go...

Recipe from Joy the Baker Cookbook: 100 Simple and Comforting Recipes.

Basically, it is a puff-pastry fitted to the dish (I used a thawed-once-frozen one and I don't feel guilty at all!) filled with cooked asparagus and leeks on the bottom and egg/milk/cream/and a dash of nutmeg, along with a big handful of Gruyeye cheese.  Bake at 350* for 55 minutes and viola!-- breakfast/brunch/lunch/dinner is served :)

(For the full recipe, get the cookbook!)

Cost: $14.25                   Cost Per Serving (8): $1.78

PLUS bread, salad... around $2.50 per plate
(The cost could be lower if you find cheap asparagus -- I could not.)