Pastry 

 250 g of flour

 5 tbsp olive oil

 1 tsp salt

 2 splashes of apple cider vinegar

 lukewarm water

Creamed spinach 

 200 g baby leaf spinach

 2 tablespoons of water or soup

 1 small onion

 1 tbsp. Creme fraiche

 4 tablespoons of whipped cream

 Salt, pepper, grated nutmeg

1 tbsp. Creme fraiche per tarte

8 tender bacon slices per tarte

1 handful of dried cranberries

Some goat or sheep’s cheese to taste

Salt, pepper

None

Homemade Tarte Flambée (basic recipe).

And pre-Christmas madness.

It’s about the flu. Protecting yourself from pre-Christmas madness in November is not so easy, as I learn this year. Normally, I’m one of the first to jump into the fray. This feeling of warm socks, glitter and punch is just one of the nicest things for me. This year, however, we have deliberately decided against hustle and bustle. For many reasons and we want to stick to it. So far this turns out to be quite an undertaking. Almost blindfoldedly I shop, while the tinsel lolls around my ears, the Christmas songs drizzle from the speakers and I find myself humming Christmas carols. Psssst! Keep calm. It is still November. And November is November and not Christmas. Not Advent. Not yet.

Advenio. I arrive.

In addition to the self-imposed turtle speed, we have decided something else this year. Namely #shopping-down-time in December. There is probably no month of the year that seems more inappropriate than December. Anyway, this year we are doing it. This year passed too quickly, was too fierce. Too 2017. And somehow it suits us to scale back this almost artificial speed. Placing one’s own actions, thoughts and ideas under the microscope, critically looking, and carefully rearranging them. And because it was also a year of farewell for us, we also want to say goodbye to things that have so unconsciously moved in, on this sleigh ride through life. Well, we will abstain from consumption in December (largely) this year. The pantry is emptied and we improvise. No spontaneous purchases, no Christmas presents, no buzz. That does not mean that we don’t give ourselves anything, it just means that we give something that we have thought up and made ourselves. I’m curious what we will think up. That’s quite a challenge. But who cares, we have time now.

In the meantime we are eating Tarte Flambée with spinach and cranberries. Doesn’t take up much time and at the same time is also the basic recipe for the classic Austrian strudel. But this at another time.

Preparation

2. Clean, wash and dry the spinach. Chop the onion and fry in a pan with 2 tablespoons oil until golden brown. Add the spinach to it (set aside a few leaves for serving), wait a moment until the spinach leaves have collapsed a bit and gently pour in the soup. Season. Close the lid and simmer on low heat for 2 minutes. Add the creme fraiche and whipped cream. It should reach a creamy consistency, not too liquid. Set aside.

3. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees upper / lower heat. Divide the dough into 4-5 equally-sized pieces and roll into small, thin flat breads. You can carefully pull it with your hands, the dough is elastic. If it tears, just close it again – the result will not change. Spread 1 tablespoon of crème fraiche on each tarte, follow with the spinach, then sprinkle with chopped cranberries and add the bacon and goat cheese. Brush the edges of the dough with olive oil, that makes them crisp.

4. Bake in the oven for about 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown.

5. To serve, sprinkle the remaining spinach leaves over it, drizzle with olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Tip

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