Cheesy Lattice Pie

If you follow the blog you'll know that I have this addiction to pies and cheese, potato and onion versions in particular, which is probably why this caught my eye.

Here's the recipe, verbatim, from The Vegetarian Society :

For the lattice top

500g vegetarian ready rolled or block

puff pastry

For the filling

500g leeks, finely sliced and washed

1 tbsp olive oil

25g vegetarian margarine

1 tsp paprika

3 cloves of garlic, crushed

1 tsp plain flour

200ml milk

100g vegetarian cheese, grated

400g vegetarian cream cheese

400g chicken style Quorn pieces

50g sun-dried tomato, diced

1 tsp fresh thyme or parsley, finely chopped

50g frozen peas

For the glaze

1 egg beaten

Method

Pre-heat oven to 160fan/180c/Gas 4.

To make the filling, gently melt the margarine with the oil in a frying pan and fry the leeks for 5 minutes then add the paprika and garlic. Sprinkle on the flour whilst stirring to create your sauce.

Add the milk a little at a time whilst stirring. Add the grated cheese, cream cheese, Quorn, sun dried tomatoes, herbs and peas. Cook for 5 minutes. Adjust the seasoning as required. Place your filling into a pie dish, 25cm x 25cm. Allow to cool.

On a lightly floured surface roll out the pastry until it is 40cm x 40cm or large enough to cover your pie dish with at least 10cm spare around the edge. Cut your pastry into strips 3cm across. Thread the pastry on your pie dish to make a lattice effect keeping the joins nice and tight. Seal the edges of the pie by pressing down on the pastry with a fork. Brush the top of the pie with your glaze and bake for 45 minutes in the pre-heated oven.

Each to their own as they say – anything with cheese and I loved the idea of a lattice pastry top … hmm

Christmas 2021

If I'm grateful for anything during this desperate year we've all been having it's for the packages - or boxes if you prefer - idea – I know it's not new, neither is it rocket science but out of it has come lots of joy and smiles so a huge result. It has changed the way I think about Christmas gifts and I'll definitely be repeating it next year.

I know you'll think I'm bonkers but bear with me.

If you've made your own gifts too and have had similar thoughts then let me pass on a tip – create a Christmas folder for yourself. Keep all your ideas, the lists you make, basically every scrap of paper – from beginning to end. It matters not whether you use them when the time comes – what does matter is that you are reminded of what you did create and how well received your gifts were, you'll be sorry if you don't. You might also want to take advantage of Christmas boxes and kit in the sales?

I did not expect such great feedback which was wonderful and it made me smile too!

Back to normal guys – remember The Vegetarian Society and the “Online Cookery Classes”? In addition to the cheesecake I mentioned I'd seen a Cheesy Lattice Pie which took my fancy … it's up next or at least my version of it.

I wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe 2021 and I never ever thought I'd be looking forward to a shot in the arm!

A Christmas gift!

In a brief moment during the summer when we were able to socialise outside I saw my friends from the USA albeit briefly.

My friend brought with her a recent gift and what a vast tome! Here it is :

 

I was warned at the time not to buy it – now I know why – a wonderful Christmas gift and I've promised myself time out to really savour (sorry about the pun) this beautiful book. I should say that there are 958 pages and the anticipation of making my way through is exciting to say the least.

During our regular email exchanges leading up to the holidays, my friend in the USA said she was using recipes from the book for a pre-Christmas Dinner – here are her comments :

from her partner … “it was the best tenderloin he has had in his life”. To clarify - what the USA call tenderloin we in the UK call fillet.

My only complaint with the book is that I sometimes have difficulty finding what I remember reading on my first attempt.

My friend's complaint about the difficulty in finding stuff reminded me of my golden rule. If I'm trawling through a new cookery book I always follow the same pattern – I have small coloured (post-it style) markers and use them to flag recipes that I'm interested in – I know I'll never find what I'm looking for later – it's quicker and you don't get frustrated! It doesn't matter if you flag a recipe you then change your mind – with 958 pages it's the easiest way to remember what caught your attention. I passed on my tip!

She replied … Oh and by the way, thanks for the coloured marker tip … I have some and just never thought of using them. I have stupid torn pieces of paper marking pages. Colour coding will be great.

Another idea – has just occurred. This is a huge book and it won't be easy to prop the book to use a particular recipe – it's far too heavy and will eventually, with use, damage the spine. Here's a thought - photograph a recipe :

 

I used my tablet for the photograph – you can

either use your tablet for easy access or print out the

recipe if preferred

In addition to protecting the book I ask the obvious question - are you a messy cook? Sticky fingers when you're flustered and it's too late, your beautiful book is spoilt!

Coming up – hints and tips for next year

The cheesecake and the doorstep delivery

As you know from recent posts I'd made the salted caramel cheesecake … there's only one problem when you've “road-tested” a dessert that has a limited lifespan you need to give it away, consequently my deliveries increased!

The doorstep delivery began and I realised quickly that the best feedback comes from random taste testing.

I posted the comments after delivery of the first two slices - here's what happened with the rest :

a slice each to my friends who'd had a package

as a gift. One friend couldn't indulge but her husband could …

… the next day – I didn't tell him he'd got cheesecake

• he has a smile on his face and uttered “mmm mmmm mmmmm”.

• Thank you x

I collected my meat order from the butcher and on my

way home popped in to say good morning to the other recipient …

“that was the best cheesecake I've ever tasted”

another slice to my best friend and running buddy when

I delivered her Christmas package – I knew she'd share

the cheesecake with her daughter …

… message received later that day – “absolutely

scrumptious”

later that week, on a run – the cheesecake was

mentioned again - “your best dessert ever”

My intention was to make people smile and I think I did.

I have a feeling that the cheesecake will be back – it would be a great addition to a summer gathering – hopefully we'll be able to celebrate by then!

Next … a Christmas gift

After Christmas …

I delivered the first package on the 8^th December. It worked out better than I'd expected – everyone is so busy rushing around with last minute lists that they don't have time to cook or organise food so the delivery of the package gave bits and pieces to create a supper or a lunch with sweet treats to follow. Who'd have thought that cheese scones would be so popular, they aren't exactly what I'd call festive fare but may be that's the secret of the scone and a cheese version in particular! The relish had a part to play and I suppose produced what I'd call a posh ploughmans.

Neither was I prepared for the reactions and am very happy to report that the idea was a success. The next two packages were delivered on Monday 21^st December and soon after I received the following :

“Thank you so much – your cranberry and onion relish

is delicious and perfect with cheese, ham and pork pie.

As for the cheese scones my Grandson loves them and

has already ordered two for lunch tomorrow”

On the sweet side, Rocky Road always seems to be popular but the standout has been the tiffin – what I'd consider to be an old fashioned treat, then I noticed that a well known supermarket had pinched my idea – how rude! The only difference being they added Christmas Trees made out of chocolate to the top – too much chocolate!

I'm waiting for feedback on the last package delivery, which looks more like a traditional hamper – have a look :

 

Here's a Rocky Road delivery – you can make the smallest of gifts look pretty :

When I had the Brown paper packages … Christmas Box idea I didn't realise it would require the planning and organisation that it did, probably because what began as a gift for Margaret but then grew into four more! In addition to which there were the smaller one off gifts.

Further news to follow …

A doorstep delivery and a taste test …

My plan is to do a doorstep delivery to a couple of friends – what can possibly go wrong - at least my friend won't have to make dessert for the evening meal. I cut a slice for H – here I'm on dangerous ground – cheesecake isn't his favourite but if he enjoys it then I'm in with a chance. When I served the slice I said “... I know it's huge just give it a try and leave what you can't finish”. Silence is good – an empty plate even better!

I received a message from my friends, here it is :

“... Wow, that dessert was awesome, each layer was

delicious. We have never tasted such a cheesecake,

well done and thank you”.

If you're a fan of cheesecake and salted caramel then this is a match made in heaven.

It has to be said I'm not a dessert person – but even I enjoyed my taster - it was the salted caramel that did it!

Now all your plans have been tipped upside down here's a thought – you could make the cheesecake and do a doorstep delivery giving a slice to people who have a sweet tooth and are now on their own?

Here's to a happier and safer New Year and, as you'd expect, there's more to follow.

With love

Fingers crossed it works ...

It does – eureka!

Take your time and gently does it

To ease the cheesecake from the base use a

palette knife, gently and slide it on to the cling

film – the base is set firm, especially if you've

used a tamper. Sprinkle the additional 80g of

crushed biscuit topping over the cheesecake 

salted caramel sauce – made ahead

at a time that suits you – all that remains is to cut

a slice and drizzle

Here it is in all its glory!

Now for a doorstep delivery and a taste test ...