This isn't just any pie blog...

This is a lubbly jubbly, knees up Mother Brown, cor blimey Guvnor kinda pie blog. For National Pie week, I celebrate the creme de menthe, the pie of all pies, the mighty Pie and Mash.


Had it? Enjoyed it? Never tried it? You haven't lived. I like a steak and kidney pud, a chicken, leek and mushroom pie, my fancy schmancy braised lamb and redcurrant creation as much as the next woman but for the Goodes', a pie craving can only really be fulfilled with a double helping of the good stuff. Here you go Reader, something to drool over

A 'Single'

Started off in the East End, as all good things tend to, as an economical, portable lunch brought from a cart, before the shops popped up. And thank god they did. Where would Lou and I be without our Saturday fix? It was my first solid meal as a baby, and I'm pleased to say that this tradition has been continued, and dare I say, improved upon. Aged nine, he's not content with just a single pie/single mash...devours a double helping, no sweat.


My childhood was filled with Saturday's at these marble-tabled palaces. A beef pie, 'hold the eels', a portion of mash, scraped onto the slide of the plate, liberally covered with liquor. Liquor as in a heavenly mix of eel stock and parsley.  The rush for the table before it got cold. The grabbing of the spoon and fork. Never a knife. We laughed at those with a knife. So unaware of the traditions...


Visits to the now-closed shop at Ridley Road Market with my beloved grandparents are a memory never to disappear. The Bond's did not dine out regularly; for them, nothing could beat a family meal at home; a portion of Ridley Road's finest almost lived up to their scrutiny.  It was dissected and discussed with a fervour not known to many, before or since. How's the pastry, Emma? Liquor ok? Mince minced adequately?


This was accompanied by a running commentary of one or another convos: "How pies used to be in the good old days" and "Our Friday night dinner". "So, we'd have the soup, then the chopped liver, then the chicken, then a pudding, then cakes if we were peckish". No wonder I am the way I am!


Tearing myself away from nostalgia, and back to 2012, am pleased to report the Pie and Mash shops are still going strong in the heartlands of Essex and the East End.  For a full list and ratings, visit http://www.pie-and-mash.com/index.shtml and start planning those visits now. If you can't wait that long, get your order in at http://www.pieshop.co.uk/


Seems us easties just can't get enough of it. Lou and I jumped for joy at seeing the lovely Phil Thompson snazz it up for Great British Menu. He woz robbed. Loved seeing this blushing bride's wedding reception too http://www.london24.com/news/dagenham_couple_turn_to_pie_and_mash_after_tying_the_knot_1_1219618 and of course, not forgetting the Towie peeps' Pie and Mash pool party, god bless them.  Just take a butchers at those bad boys!

A 'Double'

Most of us have it on Monday....apparently

Nope, not sex. A nice bowl of Spag Bol. 

Recent research carried out by an energy company reveals that Monday's the night for the 'average' family to indulge in this family-friendly stalwart. http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/258024


So, how do you like yours? A lovingly-simmered ragu or a jar of Ragu?  Seems we all have our favourite way, from the tried and tested routine, to the riskier numbers.

Put your hands up if your first experience was with Mr Henry Heinz. He launched the tinned variety in England in 1966 - I can imagine our mums' excitement at this cosmopolitan addition to the larder.  A quick and easy route to the piazzas of Roma.  


As bistro fever took over, we moved a little closer to the traditional version. Something that Italians might nearly recognise. A pork and beef mix, chicken livers, red wine, simmered, al dente pasta and Parmesan.


My childhood version was slightly removed from this. Always a packet mix and always with chips. A 'N Chips' dinner. Al Dente spaghetti? "Al Dente? Never heard of him" said Mum. Bless her xxx


Cheddar reigned supreme. Had to have a conversation before we moved onto the Napolina tub of Parmesan.


Our familial roots inspire tweaks too. In the Montgomery-Gibbs household, I can just imagine the wonderful Garth unveiling his bobotie-inspired creation. Not sure how it was received, but I bet he was proud of it.


A Germanic twist for colleague Marc includes pork, lamb and peppers. My idea of comfort food heaven replaces tagliatelle with lokshen. Instant memories of Nanny whose simmered Spag Bol soothed fractious nerves on many a Saturday night.


G, living in the East Midlands, takes advantage of his fantastic local produce and serves up a venison ragu.  Ooh la la....


The hubby's version very much depends on the kind of day he's had. A bad day, and we've got a heady mix of lea & perrins, red wine with a scant offering of mince.


I make mine in the crockpot. Start it off in the morning, and walk through the door to a lovely aroma. Guaranteed to put a smile on the face of a nine-year old. I don't ask for much more than that.


So no matter how we all do it, it seems that we just can't get enough of it. Especially on a Monday night (:)

I feel like chicken tonight....

Continue to feel bleurgh. There was only one thing for it last night... suet, and lots of it! Chicken and vegetable stew. This one can be tweaked to include whatever's in the fridge. I would normally make this on a Monday to use up the Sunday roast leftovers.

And here's how I did it.  Preheated oven to 180c. Boneless chicken thighs (about 900g) rolled in seasoned flour and browned off in schmaltz (cures all ills, trust me!) along with a large chopped onion.  Deglazed the pan with some chicken stock and added a herb combo of parley, sage, thyme and bay leaves.

I'd visited "Cheapo Corner" in Tesco's earlier, so I had a nice array of vegetables to include.  I chopped half a swede (15p bargain!), parsnips, chantenay carrots, potatoes and a few stray mushrooms. Like to aim for five-a-day and this is a great way of making sure Lou gets everything he needs, whether he knows it or not! Every little helps, eh *with an affectionate nod to my Catmag colleagues*.

Put everything into a large casserole dish along with 75g of pearl barley. Added around two pints of chicken stock (if I have to use a cube, I normally use the Telma range) but please keep an eye on the liquid as you may wish to adapt. I tend to find the barley really soaks up the stock so recommend checking at regular intervals, especially at the latter cooking stage.

Everything mixed and seasoned, popped into the oven for an hour and a half. And then off to suet-heaven.

I combined 75g reduced-fat suet, 150g self-raising flour, chopped flat-leaf parsley, pinch of salt and two teaspoons of Colman's mustard powder, then slowly added enough water to make a slightly sticky dough. Should make around 16 dumplings. Must be Lou's Polish heritage - it's a struggle to stop him eating just dumplings and no stew. Same for me, actually.

Buzzer gone, I checked the chicken was cooked, topped up with some extra stock, and added the dumplings. After approx 25 minutes, we had crusty dumplings, tender pearl barley and more vegetables than you could shake a stick at. The sauce should be fairly thick at this stage but if you find the sauce a little thin, I'd add a cornflour/water mix and reduce down.

A no-frills family favourite. A warming, nutritious stew which is perfect for these dark autumnal nights...

Happy Friday x