In Praise of Fray Bentos

[Andrew_P]

Potatoes from an Ice Cream Scoop was this picture the 70's in School?

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Inverness.... ‘nuff said.

Pretty much actually

 

[Andrew_P]

The demise of Lard runs in line with the demise of the Roast Potato. I remember on of these stained white deep bowls always in our fridge any half decent fat run off used to get poured into it.. I did used to ponder WTF was going to be at the bottom of it if we ever got there. Might be making this bit up as was only a young kid but vague memories of it being scooped to fry stuff as well as baste potatoes. Never saw anyone spread it on buttered toast though...

 

[Dirk]

Talking of pies, a word about bad ones in hotel restaurants. In Inverness a few weeks ago my steak pie turned out to be a square of puff pastry with a ladle full of casseroled beef and mushrooms tipped onto it then another puff pastry square plonked on top. The mushroom/beef ratio was 50:50.

This is not a pie!

View attachment 397647

I always make a point of asking how a pie is made before ordering one off any menu. I refuse to pay top money for a casserole with a lid. I have noticed fairly recently that a lot of pubs are serving proper pies these days. Maybe more people are refusing to be conned on the pie front?

 

[nickyboy]

Talking of pies, a word about bad ones in hotel restaurants. In Inverness a few weeks ago my steak pie turned out to be a square of puff pastry with a ladle full of casseroled beef and mushrooms tipped onto it then another puff pastry square plonked on top. The mushroom/beef ratio was 50:50.

This is not a pie!

View attachment 397647

Someone appears to have put a teeny, weeny display cushion* on your plate

* I can't think of a better description....the ones they leave on your bed in a hotel that you have to throw on the floor

 

[Dirk]

Says the man who eats Fray Bentos...

I just knew that would be exactly the reply you would post.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

I got another variation on the theme in Newburgh near Aberdeen - a puff pastry square with the top neatly sliced off and the casserole filling dumped in before the lid was balanced, all delicate-like, on the top. Reminiscent of a beefy fairy cake.

 

[Reynard]

The demise of Lard runs in line with the demise of the Roast Potato. I remember on of these stained white deep bowls always in our fridge any half decent fat run off used to get poured into it.. I did used to ponder WTF was going to be at the bottom of it if we ever got there. Might be making this bit up as was only a young kid but vague memories of it being scooped to fry stuff as well as baste potatoes. Never saw anyone spread it on buttered toast though...

There's no demise here chez Casa Reynard. There's a block of plain lard in the fridge, plus a large jar of Polish smalec - lard flavoured with smoked bacon, salt, pepper, oregano, onions and garlic. The smalec is wonderful on hot toast. And there's a block of beef dripping in the fridge as well.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

There's no demise here chez Casa Reynard. There's a block of plain lard in the fridge, plus a large jar of Polish smalec - lard flavoured with smoked bacon, salt, pepper, oregano, onions and garlic. The smalec is wonderful on hot toast. And there's a block of beef dripping in the fridge as well.

+1 half lard, half butter makes for a much better pastry. And how do you make Chelsea buns without lard?

 

[Dirk]

+1 half lard, half butter makes for a much better pastry. And how do you make Chelsea buns without lard?

Or Lardy cake for that matter.

 

[Reynard]

+1 half lard, half butter makes for a much better pastry. And how do you make Chelsea buns without lard?

I use all butter for my chelsea buns. Have fabby recipe that I got from a chap who runs his own artisan bakery.

 

[Reynard]

Or Lardy cake for that matter.

Ooooooh!

 

[Dirk]

I use all butter for my chelsea buns. Have fabby recipe that I got from a chap who runs his own artisan bakery.

Artisan nobbery has no place in this thread. Shame on you!

 

[Reynard]

Artisan nobbery has no place in this thread. Shame on you!

Oi!

Don't knock until you've tried...

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Why was my first thought "rabbits"?