We had a great long weekend! Yes, we celebrated The Queen's birthday here. So we took advantage of this public holiday and decided to go to Puhoi Village. A picturesque beautiful place, that I've been wanting to visit for a while. Since one of my favorite brands of cheese is made in Puhoi.
Despite cool weather, the atmosphere of the village was warm and welcoming and there were children playing around and locals and visitors enjoying at the coffee houses.It's been so inspiring and interesting to see this small town,friendly,quite,colonial and rural at the same time-- however I find it absolutely pretty and fascinating. I felt so connected with this place that for a moment my mind went away and I thought; I could live here! Right here, next to the cheese store :)
I've always been passionate about nature and artisan products and items, is something very related to my roots, so visiting places such as this-- also brings a mighty pleasure and makes me feel closer to my home-country.
But besides walking around the village,looking at lovely
colonial houses {that look like tiny toy houses},we have also enjoyed
visiting the famous Puhoi cheese store,the century-old church and the
town library. On our way there, we stopped for a gourmet sandwich and a hot drink.
Part of what makes me so excited about trips is the food.Indeed! Tasting is always my favorite part in a trip. Visiting, stopping, eating :) Nothing is better than sharing food moments with your loved ones and friends. It's a wonderful feeling! Needless to say, I also brought some camembert and cheddar cheese with me :)
With all that said, I can't get enough of winter's marvelous colors and the inspiration I received from it. The winter foliage ,the hills, the Puhoi river lining along the valley and the graces of the numerous trees...and let's not forget the sheep and the cows.This little adventure has been the perfect setting to relax and get away from everyday life.
A savory tart with caramelized onions and cheddar cheese. I couldn't think in a more comforting dish. You can serve this tart with soup or light salad- this really makes a great lunch or a fabulous meatless dinner.
Wishing you all a colorful weekend!
I
could have spent the whole weekend in this lovely place, taking photos
and enjoying the breeze weather. I certainly enjoy this temperature, its
a kind of tropical winter!
While
driving back home, the images of the landscape were still fresh in my
mind, a sensation that made me feel calm and renewed.And on the top of
my list a recipe with the cheese that I brought from the Puhoi cheese
store. Can't wait to go back for another visit!
A savory tart with caramelized onions and cheddar cheese. I couldn't think in a more comforting dish. You can serve this tart with soup or light salad- this really makes a great lunch or a fabulous meatless dinner.
Wishing you all a colorful weekend!
SAVORY TART WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND CHEDDAR
makes 2 tarts
Additionally,for the filling you can also use both red and yellow onions. Or onions and peppers.
Dough Tart:
2 1/4 C. All purpose flour / Plain flour
100 g / 3.5 oz. unsalted butter, diced into cubes,at room temperature.
1 Egg { I use free range eggs}
1/4 to 1/3 C. Ice-cold water {about 9 Tbsp. Water}
pinch of salt, optional {I don't use salt}
Preparation:
In
a medium bowl add flour, butter and make a crumble by rubbing with
fingertips until mixture resemble to breadcrumbs. Add egg and then add
water little by little and form the dough {do not knead, just mix with
your fingertips} - Cover and place in the refrigerator for about 45
minutes to firm the dough.When ready, divide in half. On a floured
surface,begin to roll each half of the dough out into a circle shape to
1/2 cm thick. Place each circle of dough into each of the tart molds { I
use a 23 cm / 9 inch tart mold} Press gently and puncture each of them with a fork. Add a tiny flour to tart molds before placing the dough.
Caramelized Onions Filling):
6 Medium yellow onions,sliced {slices should be the same size, so they cook evenly}
5-6 Tbsp. Olive oil
2 tsp.Soft brown sugar
4 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Cheddar cheese.
Preparation:
In a frying pan, heat oil over low heat, add onions, salt pepper and cook for about 10 minutes- stirring occasionally- until they are lightly golden. When onions are softened add sugar and balsamic vinegar and cook for a further 7-8 minutes.Set aside.
Assembling Tart: After puncturing the dough 'as described above' add caramelized onions and slices of cheddar cheese.Bake tarts for 15 minutes in a preheated oven 180 C/ 350 F.
*Preheat oven 10 minutes before placing tarts.