January 2009 Cook off!

[Rob]

Carol's cooked her own dish and said it's delicious!! Unbelievable!!
Northern Lassie's polished off the crisps and it's time for another bottle!!??
How are we going to judge this properly?

[mallosa]

I suppose you could say "the proof of the pudding is in the eating" Rob ?

[Rob]

Well i reckon some people have voted twice!!

[mallosa]

...here we go!

[Northern Lass]

Carol's cooked her own dish and said it's delicious!! Unbelievable!!
Northern Lassie's polished off the crisps and it's time for another bottle!!??
How are we going to judge this properly?

Wot!

You don't arf do a lot of moaning!
We are going with Carols cos she won...and here's the thing Rob she won you lost
but its not about winning is it eh? eh?
Its the taking part that counts!


So put yer iron away get into that kitchen and rattle them pots and pans
and no more belly aching!
ok!
strewth!

oh and it was a bottle of evian water thank you!

[Northern Lass]

Ok that's it the Poll has ended! the results are in! and Yes the Fish Pie
is the Winning Dish we are all gonna cook!

So on the 19th - 25th January 2009

we are going to cook this dish
any day or night of that week you like
then the following week all say what we thought....exciting aint it!

The people so far taking part are....

Northern Lass
Rob
Gardener
Di
Mally

but it aint too late to get yer pinny on...so come on let me have your name to add to the list-
and hey wots a little food poisoning!
Joking Carol xx


and here is how you cook it!

Recipe .
350g/12 oz White fish fillet
350g/12 oz smoked haddock fillet
600 ml/ 1 pint of milk plus extra for glazing
65g/ 2 1/2 oz butter (that's 2 and a half)
25 g/ 1 oz plain flour
salt
pepper
30 ml / 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley
2 hard boiled eggs
75g /3 oz Cheddar cheese- (but I expect more is even better )
175g/6 oz self raising flour
10 ml/2 teaspoons dry mustard

Oven 220 C, 425 F, Gas Mark 7
Cooking time 25-30 minutes
Fillet pieces of fish and remove skin
Put fish in frying pan and add 450 ml/1/4 pint of milk
Simmer and poach for 5 minutes until firm but not cooked though
Remove fish (but reserve the milk for later) and flake fish into bite size chunks
Melt 25g/1 oz of butter in saucepan, stir in flour and milk used from cooking fish. Bring sauce to the boil and season with salt and pepper.
Remove from heat and add fish and parsley to sauce. Chop eggs and add to sauce.
Place mixture in ovenproof dish
Grate the cheese
Place self raising flour in bowl and rub in butter. Add grated cheese and mustard, salt and pepper. Mix in remaining milk to make soft dough and roll out. Cut circle into 8 wedges and use to decorate top of oven dish in a sort of spreading out circle
(No doubt variations are acceptable here) on the decorating theme
Glaze with milk and at this stage I recommend more grated cheese over the top but this is not in the original recipe-but you can't have too much cheese.
Bake in oven

Just to remind you all of this wonderful event that is taking place in the week coming!

So not too late to get your name down to be part of this!

[Rob]

One question!!
What if you can't get haddock? Can i use a substitute fish?
And what about Cheddar cheese? Can i use Edam?
And i'm only asking? Don't shout at me!!

[Carol]

No problem at all Rob-my fish was unlabelled white fish from the freezer-think it was unsmoked Cod.
I am sure Edam will be just as suitable but for me I like the extra extra strong mature variety-and it's still not strong enough so I just shovel in a bit extra

[Northern Lass]

No problem at all Rob-my fish was unlabelled white fish from the freezer-think it was unsmoked Cod.
I am sure Edam will be just as suitable but for me I like the extra extra strong mature variety-and it's still not strong enough so I just shovel in a bit extra

Oooh Carol I love a strong mature variety !
and for cheese too

I am so looking forward to cooking this!

what veg with it though! now there's a problem!

[Rob]

Thanks Carol for your sensible reply!! xx

[dianel]

OK, going shopping in the morning. Only question is, can you still get smoked fish here? I haven't eaten it for years ... Wasn't haddock though. Now what sort of fish was it? ... Smoked cod! Yes, that's it! Used to dread it. You could smell it all through the house when it was cooking - and I LOATHED it!

But with lots and lots of cheese ... mmm ... yes, that could be a different matter!

[mallosa]

Carol, just wondering how many will this serve?

Mally

[Carol]

Hi Mally,

The recipe says serves 4-6. I think if you were trying to serve 6, you would definitely need some extra greens . Mine did 4 servings but I only used half the fish.

[mallosa]

Great Carol, cheers!

Mally

[Rob]

Extra Greens!!!

If i can't get smoked haddock can i use smoked eels cos we have plenty of those over here.