For a perfect pie you need perfect pastry. For perfect pastry, you need margarine. Trust me. I've tried butter, lard and combinations of the lot but for pliable, reliable dough, steel yourself and buy some Stork.
Herby shortcrust pastry for savoury pies:
16oz plain flour
8 oz margarine
1 tsp ground black pepper
Enough cold water to bring it all together
Rub the fat in to the flour, add the herbs and black pepper and mix.
Add the water, a little at a time and mix to a smooth, workable dough.
Wrap in cling film and rest in the fridge for half an hour or so.
Roll out to whatever size your pie dishes are.
Top Tip: Paint all of the base with beaten egg before the filling goes in. This will not only help the lid to stick, it also water-proofs the base so that you won't get a soggy bottom. These ones are mince and potato.
Fillings to try before you die:
Chicken and bacon in bechemel sauce
Hot beef chili and rice served with sour cream
Ham and sausage with leek sauce
Lamb curry and Bombay potato served with riata
Around the Grounds
Be daring and move your tubs of bulbs away from the house. It should be warm enough from now on but if there is a frost forecast, just nip out at dusk and put some newspaper over the top.
Other jobs to be getting on with:
Feeding the lawns
Tying up climbing plants
Clearing and cleaning the greenhouse
Drinking tea and staring defeatedly at the problem areas
Happy Mother's Day!
Make your lovely mum a cake.
Boiled Fruit Cake
Weigh these things in to a pan:
1lb dried fruit
4oz glace cherries (halved)
6oz soft brown sugar
4oz butter
Half pint of water
2tsp mixed spice
Heat until everything melts together and then cook at a moderate simmer for about half an hour - the fruit will plump up and there will still be a little free liquid.
Allow to cool thoroughly.
Once cool add:
8oz Self-raising flour
2 beaten eggs
Mix well
Line an 8" circular tin and add the mixture.
Wrap the cake tin with brown paper and make a brown paper lid for the top.
Place in the centre of a pre-heated oven - 150 degrees centigrade - and bake for 1 and a half hours.
When completely cold, remove from the tin and cover with marzipan - stick this to the cake with apricot jam or marmalade.
(Remember to look suprised when you get this cake Mum) x
Funny of the Week
A special for Mums everywhere.
The Mom Song
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