Ploughboy

This is a traditional recipe from the county of Yorkshire in England.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon black treacle
1 finely shredded red cabbage
1 grated onion
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Method
1 Mix the treacle, vinegar and pepper together.
2 Pour the sauce over the vegetables and stir thoroughly.
3 Serve with cold meat and jacket potatoes.

Brawn

This is an old recipe from England, my grandma used to make this occassionally and found the notes she made. The pigs head should have soaked in pickle for 2 days beforehand. Serve the brawn sliced as you would for cooked meats.

Ingredients
1//2 pigs head
2lbs veal knuckle
1/2 grated nutmeg
salt
pepper

Method
1 Remove the pigs head from the pickle.
2 Pat the pigs head dry.
3 Remove the brains - they are not required!
4 Place the head and the knuck into a large enough saucepan.
5 Add the nutmeg and salt.
6 Cover with cold water.
7 Place a lid over the saucepan.
8 Bring the contents of the saucepan to the boil.
9 Skim off any scum.
10 Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 3 hours.
11 Remove the meat.
12 Reduce the liquid in the saucepan until it forms a jelly when dropped onto a cold saucer.
13 Remove all the meat off the bones and leave to cool.
14 Dice the meat.
15 Dampen a mould in cold water - do not dry.
16 Place the meat in the bottom of the mould.
17 Strain the stock over the meat.
18 Leave the contents of the mould to set.
19 Dip the mould in hot water.
20 Invert the mould onto a serving plate.

Serve sliced garnished with parsley.

Bakewell Pudding

Bakewell Pudding

A wonderful traditional almond flavoured pudding from the town of Bakewell in the county of Derbyshire in England. Sometimes people call the pudding Bakewell tart, this is incorrect as the locals say a tart is a loose woman and the pudding is a wonderful dessert. In no uncertain terms do white glace icing and glace cherries belong anywhere near this pudding. The exact origin of which is still unknown.

Ingredients
8oz/250g flaky pastry as per basic recipe
4 tablespoons raspberry jam
4oz/110g ground almonds
4 oz/110g caster sugar
2oz/55g unslated butter at room temperature
3 beaten medium sized eggs
1 teaspoon almond essence

Method
1 Sprinkle a work surface and the rolling pin with a little olain flour.2 Roll out the pastry thinly.
3 Line a 900ml/1 1/2 pint) shallow pie dish with the pastry.
4 Knock up the edge of the pastry with the back of a knife.5 Mark the rim with the prongs of a fork.
6 Chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.
7 Brush the base of the pastry with the raspberry jam.
8 Rest again in the fridge for 10 minutes.9 Place the ground almonds, sugar, butter, eggs and almond essence into a large mixing bowl.
10 Beat thoroughly with a wooden spoon.11 Pour the filling over the jam and spread it evenly with a spatula.
12 Bake immediately in the oven at 200 degrees centigrade/gas mark 6 for about 30 minutes or until the filling is set.

Traditionally serve the pudding warm or cold on it's own. Or serve untraditionally with fresh cream or custard

Sweet Norfolk Dumplings

Dumplings whether savoury or sweet are basic British traditiional fayre. Norfolk is a county in eastern England, it is extreemly flat and well known for growing wheat.

Ingredients
4oz plain flour
4o self-raising flour
salt
4oz suet
5floz water
2 Bramley cooking apples

Method
1 Sift the flours and salt together into a large bowl.
2 Add the suet, mix well.
3 Make a well in the centre.
4 Add most of the water.
5 Using a wooden spoon bring the flours into the liquid, to form a soft dough that is not sticky (add extra water if neccessary).
6 Sprinkle a little flour onto a work surface.
7 Knead the pastry to get rid of any cracks.
8 Peel, core and quarter the apple.
9 Chop the apple into bite sized chunks.
10 Pull off tiny pieces of pastry.
11 Chop the apple into bite size chunks.
12 Wrap the pastry around a piece of cooking apple.
13 Make sure they are well sealed.

Cooking method 1
Drop into salted boiling water and cook for 20 minutes or until well risen and cooked through.

Serve with syrup or treacle and custard.

Cooking method 2
Place the dumplings on a greased baking tray, bake in a hot oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until well risen and cooked through.

Serve as before.

Bakewell Pudding

A wonderful traditional almond flavoured pudding from the town of Bakewell in the county of Derbyshire in England. Sometimes people call the pudding Bakewell tart, this is incorrect as the locals say a tart is a loose woman and the pudding is a wonderful dessert. In no uncertain terms do white glace icing and glace cherries belong anywhere near this pudding. The exact origin of which is still unknown.

Ingredients
8oz/250g flaky pastry as per basic recipe
4 tablespoons raspberry jam
4oz/110g ground almonds
4 oz/110g caster sugar
2oz/55g unslated butter at room temperature
3 beaten medium sized eggs
1 teaspoon almond essence

Method
1 Sprinkle a work surface and the rolling pin with a little olain flour.2 Roll out the pastry thinly.
3 Line a 900ml/1 1/2 pint) shallow pie dish with the pastry.
4 Knock up the edge of the pastry with the back of a knife.5 Mark the rim with the prongs of a fork.
6 Chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.
7 Brush the base of the pastry with the raspberry jam.
8 Rest again in the fridge for 10 minutes.9 Place the ground almonds, sugar, butter, eggs and almond essence into a large mixing bowl.
10 Beat thoroughly with a wooden spoon.11 Pour the filling over the jam and spread it evenly with a spatula.
12 Bake immediately in the oven at 200 degrees centigrade/gas mark 6 for about 30 minutes or until the filling is set.

Traditionally serve the pudding warm or cold on it's own. Or serve untraditionally with fresh cream or custard.

Savoury Norfolk Dumplings

Dumplings whether savoury or sweet are basic British traditiional fayre. Norfolk is a county in eastern England, it is extreemly flat and well known for growing wheat.

Ingredients
4oz plain flour
4o self-raising flour
salt
4oz suet
5fl oz water
pepper
finely chopped savoury herbs (sage and thyme)

Method
1 Sift the flours and salt together into a large bowl.
2 Add the suet pepper and herbs, mix thoroughly.
3 Make a well in the centre.
4 Add most of the water.
5 Heat the lard until it melts, remove from the hob.
6 Using a wooden spoon or your fingers bring the flours into the liquid, to form a soft dough that is not sticky (add extra warm water if neccessary).
7 Sprinkle a little flour onto a work surface.
8 Roll the pastry to get rid of any cracks.
9 Pull off tiny pieces of pastry.
10 Form the pastry lightly into little balls.
11 Using a slotted spoon drop them into briskly boiling water (or the gravy of the stew).
12 Cook for 20 minutes or until well risen and cooked through.

Serve immediately with the stew, soup or meat and gravy.

Beef y-stywyd

This is a medieval recipe for stewed beef which originated in England in the 15th century. The recipe is printed as I found it in the book I was reading.

Ingredients
1 1/2lbs beef
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon mace
1/4 teaspoon grains of paradise
1/4 teaspoon cubebs
1 medium onion, minced
1 tablespoon parsley
1/2 teaspoon sage
water
3 slices bread
100ml vinegar
pinch saffron
1/2 teaspoon salt

Method
Take fayre beef of the rybbys of the fore quarterys, an smyte in fayre pecys, an wasche the beef in-to a fayre potte; than take the water that the beef was sothin yn, an strayne it thorw a straynowr, an sethe the same water and beef in a potte, an let hem boyle to-gederys; than take canel, clowes, maces, graynys of parise, quibibes, and oynons y-mynced, perceli, an sawge, an caste ther-to, an let hem boyle to-gederys; an than take a lof of brede, an stepe it with brothe an venegre, an than draw it thorw a straynoure, and let it be stylle; an whan it is nere y-now, caste the lycour ther-to, but nowt to moche, an than let boyle onys, an cast safroun ther-to a quantyte; than take salt an venegre, and cast ther-to, an loke that it be poynaunt y-now, and serue forth.

Apple and Cheese Cake

This is a traditional autumnal recipe from the county of Gloucestershire in England. It makes good use of locally produced food with the Bramley apples and the local double Gloucester cheese, although it was originally made with single Gloucester cheese.

Ingredients
120g butter
180g caster sugar
2 medium size beaten eggs
225 cored and grated cooking apples (save the juice and the peel)
120 grated double Gloucester cheese
60g flaked almonds
450g plain flour
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 heaped teaspoons baking powder

Method
1 Grease a 2lb loaf tin with vegetable oil.
2 Line the tin with greaseproof paper.
3 Re-grease the loaf tin.
4 Place the butter and sugar into a large mixing bowl.
5 Using a wooden spoon beat the ingredients together until they are light and fluffy.
6 Add the eggs a little at a time, beating well after each addition.
7 Stir in the apples, cheese and almonds thoroughly.
8 Place a sieve over the mixing bowl.
9 Spoon the flour, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder into the sieve.
10 Shake the flour into the mixing bowl.
11 Using a metal spoon fold the flour and raising agents into the cake mixture.
12 Using a spatula, scrape the mixture into the tin.
13 Smooth the top.
14 Bake the cake in the oven at 180 degrees centigrade/gas mark 4 for about 1 hour or until golden brown and a skewer comes out cleanly of the middle of the cake.
15 Transfer the cake in the tin and cool on a wire cooling rack for 10 minutes.
16 Then turn the cake out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Store in an airtight tin.

Wakes Cakes

Wakes week was a festival celebrated in the autumn to cheer up people before the long dark winter nights drew in. At fairs there would be merry go rounds, hawkers and stalls selling ribbons, gingerbread and Wakes Cakes.

The recipe for wakes cakes (which are crisp and more like biscuits) differed from village to village, this is a general recipe from England from the 19th century.

Ingredients
12oz flour
8oz butter
6oz white sugar
1 beaten egg
½ teaspoon baking powder
3oz currants
1/2oz caraway seeds
grated rind of 1 lemon

Method
1 Grease baking trays well.
2 Beat together the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon until pale and fluffy.
3 Add the beaten egg, a little at a time, beating well after each addition.
4 Sieve the flour and baking powder into the mixture.
5 Add the currants, caraway seeds and lemon rind.
6 Carefully bind together with the hands to make a stiff dough.
7 Roll the dough out on a floured board with a floured rolling pin.
8 Dip a 2½ cutter into flour.
9 Stamp out as many rounds as the dough will allow.
10 Sprinkle the rounds with sugar if required.
11 Transfer the dough onto the prepared baking trays.
12 Bake at 190 degrees centigrade/gas 5 for 10 – 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
13 Cool on the trays for a few minutes on a wire cooling rack.
14 Transfer onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Store in an air tight tin

Bubble And Squeak

A traditional English way of using up cold leftover vegetables from the Sunday Roast meal. It does taste a lot better when you use day old ingredients rather than using freshly cooked vegetables.

Ingredients
450g/1lb peeled and diced floury potatoes
salt
pepper
70g/2 1/2 oz butter
250g/8oz shredded cabbage
3 tbsp water
1oz/28g to 2oz/55g dripping or lard

Method
1 Place the potatoes in a saucepan.
2 Cover with cold water, place on the lid.
3 Place the saucepan on the hob and bring to the boil.
4 Add the salt if using.
5 Reduce the heat to a simmer, cook for about 15 to 20 minutes or until tender.
6 Drain into a colander and then return to the saucepan.
7 Dry the potatoes thoroughly shaking them a couple of times.
8 Add 55g/2oz of the butter.
9 Continue to mash until perfectly smooth.
10 Leave to cool completely
11 Fill another saucepan with the 3 tablespoons of water.
12 Bring to the boil.
13 Add a little salt, if using.
14 Place the cabbage into the saucepan and do not cover.
15 Bring the water to the boil again.
16 Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook gently for 5 minutes, or until tender.
17 Drain the cabbage into a colander and then return to the saucepan.
18 Dry the cabbage thoroughly.
19 Add the remaining 1/2oz/15g butter.
20 Leave to cool completely.
21 Place the cold mashed potato and cabbage into a large mixing bowl.
22 Mix the cabbage and mashed potato together.
23 Taste the mixture.
24 Adjust the seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.
25 Heat a large frying pan on the hob over a medium heat.
26 Add 1oz/28g of the dripping or lard to the frying pan.
27 Add the potato and cabbage mixture.
28 Press the mixture to form a flat cake with the back of a fish slice or spatula.
29 Cook for about 15 minutes or until golden brown on the underside.
30 Place a large plate over the frying pan.
31 Carefully tip the frying pan over so that the bubble and squeak cake drops onto the plate.
32 Add a little of the remaining dripping or lard and allow to melt.
33 Transfer the bubble and squeak cake off the plate and into the frying pan.
34 Cook the other side for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Transfer onto a plate, cut into wedges and serve with cold roasted meat, sausages, bacon or a good quality burger with seasonal vegetables.

Serves 4 people

Notes
White or green cabbage can be used.

A finely diced onion can be added, soften in a little oil or butter and then add to the mashed potato and cabbage mixture.

Spinach, shredded Brussels sprouts and kale can also be used, simply substitute for the cabbage.

Substitute the lard for a healthier oil, you will require 3 to 4 tablespoons or 1oz/28g butter and 1 to 2 tablepoons oil.

Pumpkin, Leek And Cheese Tart

This is a traditional autumnal dish from the 18th century from the county of Warwickshire in England

Ingredients
1 25cm pastry case baked blind made with 250g chive pastry
150g leeks sliced into 1 cm rounds and well washed (prepared weight)
150g cooked pumpkin mashed smooth
120g good local cheese grated
3 eggs
150ml double cream
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
salt
pepper

Method
1 Cook the leeks until soft in the oil.
2 Mix the eggs with the cream and the parsley.
3 Season well.
4 Stir in the leeks the cheese and the pumpkin.
5 Pour into the pastry case.
6 Bake at 180 degrees centigrade/gas mark 4 for 25-30 minutes or until set and golden.

Bosworth Jumbels

This recipe is said to have been found and picked up from the battlefield of Bosworth, having been reportedly dropped by Richard III cook.

Ingredients
8oz flour
1lb sugar
6oz butter
1 large beaten egg

Method
1 Place the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl.
2 Beat the sugar and butter together with a wooden spoon until the mixture is light and fluffy.
3 Gradually add the egg a little at a time.
4 Place a sieve over the mixing bowl.
5 Sieve the flour over the butter and sugar.
6 Using a metal spoon fold the flour into the mixture thoroughly.
7 Shape walnut size pieces of the mixture into the form of an S.
8 Place the jumbels onto a hot greased tin.
9 Bake in a moderate oven until brown.
10 Cool in the tin on the wire cooling rack for 2 minutes.
11 Transfer the jumbels onto the wire cooling rack with a spatula.
12 Leave to cool completely.

Store in an airtight tin.

Orchard Pork

An economical dish from England for the harvest time workers.

Ingredients
3lb piece of pork spare ribs
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
salt
pepper
3 unpeeled, cored and quartered eating apples
3 firm unpeeled, cored and quartered pears
5fl oz cider
stock or water
3 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons cider
2 tablespoons redcurrant jelly

Method
1 Wash and dry the pork spareribs thoroughly.
2 Brush or smear the pork with oil.
3 Sprinkle over a little salt.
4 Place the ribs onto a roasting rack sitting in a roasting pan.
5 Place in the oven at 190 degrees centigrade/gas mark 5 for 30 minutes.
6 Reduce the temperature to 180 degrees centigrade/gas mark 4 for 60 minutes.
7 Remove the pork from the oven.
8 Remove the rack from the baking tin.
9 Drain off the excess fat and keep to 1 side.
10 Place the fruit pieces onto the base of the baking tray.
11 Place the pork over the fruits.
12 Return to the oven for 30 minutes or until the fruit and the pork are cooked thoroughly.
13 Cover the pork and allow to rest.
14 Spoon the fruits onto a carving plate, cover with aluminium foil and keep warm.
15 Drain the liquid from the roasting pan into a pint measure.
16 Make upto 1/2 pint with stock or water.
17 Take 3 tablespoons of pork fat and pour into a saucepan.
18 Add the flour and stir thoroughly with a wooden spoon.
19 Cook out, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
20 Add the redcurrant jelly and mix thoroughly.
21 Add the cider slowly, stirring constantly.
22 Bring the gravy to the boil.
23 Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for a minute.
24 Gradually add the stock a little at a time.
25 Bring back to the boil.
26 Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 2 to 5 minutes, or until the required consistency is reached.
27 Check for seasoning and adjust.
28 Place the pork on top of the fruit.

Serve with potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Serves 4 people

Wifes Sod

This recipe comes from the English county of Yorkshire. The sod is the stiffly beaten eggs, milk and seasoning.

Ingredients
5 large eggs
2 oatcakes
1 1/2 pints milk
salt
cinnamon
butter

Method
1 Grease a baking dish with butter.
2 Beat the egg for 2 minutes with a hand whisk until pale and very frothy.
3 Add the milk gradually, whisking inbetween.
4 Season well to taste.
5 Mix thoroughly.
6 Pour the mixture into greased baking dish.
7 Toast the oatcakes under a grill.
8 Butter the oatcakes well.
9 Cut up oatcakes into 1/2" pieces.
10 Sprinkle the oatcake pieces on top of the sod
11 Dot the sod with small pieces of butter
12 Bake for 20 mins in mod oven

Serve hot

Melton Mowbray Pork Pie

This is a traditional recipe from the county of Leicestershire in England and is still very popular today.

Ingredients
2 lb finely diced pork
1 and 1/2 lb flour
1 medium beaten egg
1 lb lard
a little milk
a little water
salt
pepper

Method
1 Place a sieve over a large mixing bowl.
2 Spoon the flour and salt into the sieve.
3 Using a spoon force the flour through the sieve.
4 Add half of the quantity of lard into the flour.
5 Rub in the lard into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
6 Make a well in the middle.
7 Place the remaining lard into a saucepan.
8 Add the milk and water and bring to the boil.
9 Pour half of the liquid over the flour.
10 Stir the mixture thoroughly.
11 Add the egg and combine thoroughly.
12 Pour over the rest of the liquid.
13 Using your hands bring the mixture into a ball.
14 Flour your hands and a work surface.
15 Place the ball of dough onto the work surface.
16 Knead the mixture until the pastry becomes pliable.
17 Leave to stand for a few minutes.
18 Take 1/3 of the dough and set aside.
19 With the remaining 2/3 of the dough place into the centre of the mould or tin.
20 Carefully bring the pastry evenly all around the tin.
21 In another mixing bowl, place all the pork.
22 Add a little salt and pepper to your taste.
23 Mix thoroughly.
24 Add a little water.
25 Mix thoroughly.
26 Pack the pork mixture into the pastry case.
27 Level the pork mixture.
28 Roll out the rest of the pastry just larger than the top of the mould.
29 Brush the edge of the pie with a little.
30 Cover the top of the pie.
31 Seal the edges well.
32 Flute the edges with your fingers.
33 Brush the top of the pie with a little egg.
34 Make an air hole in the centre of the pie.
35 Place the mould onto a baking tray.
36 Bake in a hot oven for 15 minutes.
37 Reduce the heat to moderate and bake for a further hour and 3/4.
38 Make a stock of the bones and trimmings of the meat until it become thick and jelly like.
39 Place the cooked pork pie onto a wire rack.
40 Place a funnel into the centre of the pie.
41 Pour the stock into the funnel.
42 Cool completely in the tin.

Serve cold with salad and crusty bread

Sweet Harvest Pudding

This is a traditional Sweet Harvest time pudding from the County of Devon in England.

Ingredients
6 – 8 slices of buttered medium bread
1lb peeled, cored and sliced apples
2oz shredded suet
3oz soft brown sugar
2oz raisins
grated rind 1 lemon
2 beaten medium eggs
½ pint milk

Method
1 Butter a pie dish thoroughly.
2 Line the pie dish with some of the buttered bread (including the sides).
3 In a large mixing bowl mix together the apples, suet, sugar, raisins and lemon rind.
4 Fill the pie dish with the fruit mixture.
5 Cover the filling with the remainder of the buttered bread.
6 Beat the eggs and milk together.
7 Pour the liquid over the bread, do not throw away any excess.
8 Cover and leave to stand for at least 2 hours or overnight.
9 Uncover the pudding.
10 Pour over any left over egg mixture.
11 Bake at 180 degrees centigrade/gas 4 for about 1 hour, or until just set.

Best served warm with traditional clotted cream.

Serves 4

Courgette And Basil Charlotte

This wonderful recipe hails from the county of Warwickshire in England and comes from the end of either the 19th or the early part of the 20th century.

Ingredients
1 medium white loaf sliced
150ml olive oil
30g butter
salt
pepper
250g courgettes quartered lengthways and sliced into chunks
200g cherry tomatoes halved
2 handfuls fresh basil
zest and juice 2 lemons

Method
1 Brush 6 dariole moulds with a little of the oil.
2 Take the crusts off the bread and brush lightly with the oil.
3 Line the moulds carefully with the bread making sure there are no gaps.
4 Lightly fry the courgettes in the butter until just tender.
5 Drain and mix with the tomato halves.
6 Whizz the basil with the lemon zest and juice and enough of the rest of the oil to make a thick sauce.
7 Add to the courgettes and tomatoes and stir well.
8 Season well to taste and divide the mixture equally between the dariole moulds.
10 Place on a bread lid on and press firmly.
11 Brush with oil.
12 Bake at 200 degrees centigrade/gas mark 6 for 15-20 minutes until golden.

To serve Turn on to a plate and serve with some new potatoes and a leaf salad with fresh herb dressing.

Serves 6 people

Apple Tansy

In the 14th century in England Tansy was a savoury dish which was traditionally eaten at harvest time and consisted of eggs, herbs and tansy juice. By the 17th century it had developed into a sweet pudding with the tansy herb left out of the recipe.

Ingredients
1lb cooking apples, peeled, cored and sliced
4oz butter
2fl oz water
4oz granulated sugar
4 beaten medium eggs
1 dessert spoon orange juice
4oz fresh white breadcrumbs

Method
1 Place the butter into a large saucepan and melt.
2 Add the water. apples and sugar.
3 Simmer, covered until soft.
4 Leave to cool completely.
5 Add the beaten eggs and beat well.
6 Add the orange juice and beat well.
7 Add half of the breadcrumbs and beat well.
8 Place the saucepan back on the hob.
9 Stir constantly until the mixture thickens.
10 The mixture will thicken, add more breadcrumbs until the mixture reaches the required consistency.

Serve hot with fresh cream.

Serves 4 People

Notes
Gooseberries can be used instead of apples, but they must be topped and tailed.

Shepherds Pie

This is a traditional and most wonderful main meal from England, it is still extreemly popular today.

Ingreedients

For lamb and vegetable filling
10 oz baby onions
4 medium leeks (white and pale green parts only) cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
2lb boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes
salt
black pepper
5 tablespoons cornflour
3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 tablespoons tomato puree
1/2 pint beef stock
1/2 pint water
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
5 carrots, 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 medium swede, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 small turnip, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

For mashed potato topping
2lb floury potatoes
1/2 pint milk
1oz butter
salt
black pepper

Method

Prepare filling
1 Blanche baby onions in a large pan of boiling salted water for 1 minute 2 Place straight away into cold water. Set aside.
3 Sprinkle 3 tablepoons of cornflour, a little salt and pepper into a sealable plastic bag, add the lamb pieces, seal bag and shake to coat lamb.
4 Melt 1/2 oz butter in casserole dish over moderately high heat until foaming.
5 Add some of the lamb, turning until browned on all sides, set aside.
6 Continue until all lamb is browned.
7 Add tomato puree to pan with stock and water, deglaze and bring to the boil.
8 Add thyme, browned lamb with any juices that have accumulated on plate, onions, leeks, carrots, swede, turnips.
9 Check the seasoning and adjust.
10 Remove from heat.
11 Cover dish with lid or foil and braise lamb and vegetables in middle of oven, at 180 degrees centigrade (350 derees farnheit or gas mark 4) stirring once or twice, until lamb is tender for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Make topping while filling cooks
12 Peel and dice potatoes.
13 Cover potatoes with salted cold water.
14 Bring to the boil and reduce to a simmer, covered, until very tender.
15 Drain into a colander.
16 Return potatoes to saucepan and mash well.
17 In another saucepan. bring milk, and butter to a simmer until the butter is melted.
18 Add sufficinet milk and butter until the mash reaches a soft dropping consistency.
19 Take meat and vegetables out of the oven and place over a medium heat on the hob.
20 Stir together 1/2 oz butter and 2 tablespoons cornflour in a small bowl to form a paste.
21 Spoon 8 tablespoons of gravy from casserole dish into a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
22 Stir in the butter and cornflour mixture a little at a time.
23 Bring to a simmer, whisking occasionally, until thickened.
24 Carefully stir sauce into lamb and vegetables until the gravy becomes the required thickness.
25 Spoon potatoes over lamb and vegetables and spread evenly with a spatula.
26 Use a fork to make a pattern.
27 Place under a heated grill about 3 inches from heat until top is golden.

Serve immediately on warmed plates.

Sweet Harvest Loaves

These sweet loaves were eaten by the farm labourers in England at harvestime in the fields as they reaped.

Ingredients
1lb self raising flour
pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4oz diced lard
4oz diced butter
1oz caster sugar
2oz currants
2 medium besten eggs
a little milk
a little sugar for dusting

Method
1 Place a sieve above a large mixing bowl.
2 Spoon in the flour, salt and nutmeg and shake through into the bowl.
3 Add the lard and butter.
4 Rub in the fats into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
5 Add the caster sugar and the currants, mix through the mixture.
6 Make a well.
7 Tip in the eggs and mix in to make a smooth and soft dough.
8 If the mixture is dry, add a little milk.
9 Flour a work surface.
10 Tip the dough onto a board and knead slightly.
11 Cut the dough into quarters.
12 Form the quarters into a round shape (about the size of a saucer).
13 Place each loaf onto a pre greased and floured baking sheet, leaving space to spread.
14 Brush with a little milk.
15 Sprinkle over a little sugar.
16 Mark each loaf with a diamond pattern with a sharp knife.
17 Bake at 190 degrees centigrade/gas mark 5 for about 25 minutes or until the loaves are golden brown.

Serve hot or cold.

Makes 4 loaves