Juliet's Bean and Vegetable Quiche
Feeding Families is a charity part-funded by Karbon that began almost by accident yet now provides emergency food boxes to some 1,000 people each month. Its creator, Juliet Sanders, tells us more and shares a favourite family recipe that relies on a food box staple – a trusty tin of baked beans.
Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself please
I’m Juliet. I’m a mum-of-four and grandmother-of-eight and I know from personal experience how challenging it can be to keep your family fed when you’re on a very tight budget. I remember well the feeling of opening the cupboard doors and finding nothing behind them. That’s why I started Feeding Families – to offer support, hope and security to people facing food poverty.
How did the charity get started?
It was born by accident in 2016 with one Christmas hamper! My family provided a hamper to a family who were struggling to feed themselves – it was just a gift from one family to another. The idea snowballed though the following year when I put a request on social media to find people interested in doing the same. The response was absolutely overwhelming! In the end I gave up my job in the NHS to focus on this amazing movement that grew around me from people who wanted to help.
So, what does Feeding Families do now?
The concept has evolved into year-round support for families across the whole of the North East. We have two packing centres – one in Blaydon and one in Spennymoor. We are different from food banks in that we work alongside other agencies and organisations such as Karbon Homes, schools, Social Services, mental health services and GPs to get support packages out to people in need who might not be able to get to a food bank. Working this way means we can focus on doing what we do best
– sourcing the food – and then our partners can use their links to reach the places and people who need us. We rely on a constant supply of donated food and an army of volunteers so always welcome any support that can be offered, find out more at feedingfamilies.org.uk
What have you picked to cook for us and why?
This recipe was passed on to me by a friend. She was in the same boat as me – running a household on a very tight budget and looking for cheap but nutritious ways to feed everyone. It was always a hit in our house. The star of the show is the good old baked bean which will always be a favourite with my family because it’s as tasty as it is healthy and versatile.
Got a recipe you'd love to share and want to feature in our next magazine? Just drop us a line at communications@karbonhomes.co.uk to get involved.
Juliet's brilliant bean and vegetable quiche
Serves 4
Cost 90p
Great served warm or cold with salad or a baked potato
Ingredients
Pastry
- 225g plain flour
- 100g margarine
- Pinch of salt
- 2-3 tablespoons of water
Filling
- 25g margarine
- 150g carrots, peeled and sliced
- 100g onion chopped
- 2 eggs
- 400g tin of baked beans
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme - this is optional but makes it extra tasty
- Salt and pepper
Method
Pastry (it's much easier than you might think!)
Put the flour and salt in a bowl and dice the margarine into cubes.
Rub in the margarine using your fingertips. This works best if your hands and margarine are cool
Add a little water and work in once the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Do a small quantity at a time until you can work the pastry into a ball. The more water you use, the more chance there is of it shrinking so keep it as dry as possible. Wrap in clingfilm and chill in the fridge for an hour if you have time - it helps to stop the pastry from shrinking too.
Roll out on a floured surface so it is big enough to cover a 20cm flan dish. Remember it needs to come up to the top of the sides. Press into the corners at the bottom and overhang over the edges then trim.
Top tip! Don't waste anything. Use any pastry scraps to make a few jam tarts or roll out and bake to use with a casserole, like pie crust.
Filling
Fry the carrot and onion in the margarine until soft. Leave to cool.
Beat the eggs and stir in beans, thyme (if using) and salt and pepper to taste.
Stir in carrots and onion.
Pour into pastry case.
Bake at gas mark 5/190C for about 45 minutes or until firm to touch.
Juliet's Bean and Vegetable Quiche
Feeding Families is a charity part-funded by Karbon that began almost by accident yet now provides emergency food boxes to some 1,000 people each month. Its creator, Juliet Sanders, tells us more and shares a favourite family recipe that relies on a food box staple – a trusty tin of baked beans.
Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself please
I’m Juliet. I’m a mum-of-four and grandmother-of-eight and I know from personal experience how challenging it can be to keep your family fed when you’re on a very tight budget. I remember well the feeling of opening the cupboard doors and finding nothing behind them. That’s why I started Feeding Families – to offer support, hope and security to people facing food poverty.
How did the charity get started?
It was born by accident in 2016 with one Christmas hamper! My family provided a hamper to a family who were struggling to feed themselves – it was just a gift from one family to another. The idea snowballed though the following year when I put a request on social media to find people interested in doing the same. The response was absolutely overwhelming! In the end I gave up my job in the NHS to focus on this amazing movement that grew around me from people who wanted to help.
So, what does Feeding Families do now?
The concept has evolved into year-round support for families across the whole of the North East. We have two packing centres – one in Blaydon and one in Spennymoor. We are different from food banks in that we work alongside other agencies and organisations such as Karbon Homes, schools, Social Services, mental health services and GPs to get support packages out to people in need who might not be able to get to a food bank. Working this way means we can focus on doing what we do best
– sourcing the food – and then our partners can use their links to reach the places and people who need us. We rely on a constant supply of donated food and an army of volunteers so always welcome any support that can be offered, find out more at feedingfamilies.org.uk
What have you picked to cook for us and why?
This recipe was passed on to me by a friend. She was in the same boat as me – running a household on a very tight budget and looking for cheap but nutritious ways to feed everyone. It was always a hit in our house. The star of the show is the good old baked bean which will always be a favourite with my family because it’s as tasty as it is healthy and versatile.
Got a recipe you'd love to share and want to feature in our next magazine? Just drop us a line at communications@karbonhomes.co.uk to get involved.
Juliet's brilliant bean and vegetable quiche
Serves 4
Cost 90p
Great served warm or cold with salad or a baked potato
Ingredients
Pastry
Filling
Method
Pastry (it's much easier than you might think!)
Put the flour and salt in a bowl and dice the margarine into cubes.
Rub in the margarine using your fingertips. This works best if your hands and margarine are cool
Add a little water and work in once the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Do a small quantity at a time until you can work the pastry into a ball. The more water you use, the more chance there is of it shrinking so keep it as dry as possible. Wrap in clingfilm and chill in the fridge for an hour if you have time - it helps to stop the pastry from shrinking too.
Roll out on a floured surface so it is big enough to cover a 20cm flan dish. Remember it needs to come up to the top of the sides. Press into the corners at the bottom and overhang over the edges then trim.
Top tip! Don't waste anything. Use any pastry scraps to make a few jam tarts or roll out and bake to use with a casserole, like pie crust.
Filling
Fry the carrot and onion in the margarine until soft. Leave to cool.
Beat the eggs and stir in beans, thyme (if using) and salt and pepper to taste.
Stir in carrots and onion.
Pour into pastry case.
Bake at gas mark 5/190C for about 45 minutes or until firm to touch.
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