Steak and Kidney Pie Wars

When I was in England and it was my birthday, the one thing I would consistently ask for, other than a   hasselblad,

was steak and kidney pie. Usually this had to be Fray Bentos.

Now the before cooked image does not do justice to what is about to  follow

After the top of the tin is removed the bottom serves as the baking pan. Preheat the oven, (Yes Tammy, that would include you, if you ever followed directions.), place pie on a baking sheet. Sit back and enjoy the delicious aroma as the pie crust cooks to a golden brown.

Now since it was my birthday month I did break out one of these delicious pies, but I also did a sort of homemade version using Princess steak and kidney pie filling.

I used American style biscuits for the crust: Grands Flaky Layers Butter Tastin Biscuits. The crust was good, but the filling left a lot to be desired. Unlike the Fray Bentos, Princess, as I was forced to recall, had less meat and less fantastic flavour. So in the Princess vs. Fray Bentos challenge The Princess was flattened.

Just as a foot note to any of my wonderful sisters who happen to visit and or find other ways to get steak and kidney to me Fray Bentos is king! LONG LIVE THE KING!!!

Elder Betty, Coffee Crisp, and Violet Crumble

  The following several posts are late in being posted. Other things took over and the post was stalled until my family convinced me I had truly been remiss.
February birthday celebration continues, with Elder Betty from Mad Hatter.

This beer has a good flavour that does justice to its name. The elderberry flavour complements the flavour of the beer. Not a heavy or strong flavour but an enjoyable one.

I also tasted  a couple of my Christmas gifts. The first, Coffee Crisp, is one of my wifes favourites. (Which shows how giving she can be) It is, however, confusing that she likes it, since its pleasent coffee flavour would normally have her spitting it out. She hates coffee.

Anyway a nice mild coffee flavour, with a crisp wafer, surrounded in a nice thin layer of chocolate. MMM...good.

Finally Violet Crumble, made by Nestle in Australia, a poor imitation of Crunchie bars, which I love. You might think by saying this I am saying I don't like Violet Crumble. Well, you would be wrong. I very much enjoyed this.It's just that I like Crunchie more.

Something interesting I did find with this, and several other chocolate/candy items: the recipe changes from country to country. England offers the best version. Australia's is still good, but not as good. And least favourite is Canada, where things like bicarbonate of soda can clearly be tasted in items like Crunchie bars. Normally it is either not present or very subtle.