Cornish Pasties

My Dear Cathy

I am so very sorry if I have upset you, but I realise now that I must have made a mistake. It wasn't 'mummy's tinkle cried' but 'mummy hitched a ride' I heard. I know you are an experienced festival-goer but I really wish you wouldn't hitch. If you want a ride to Glastonbury next week I will take you there on the motorbike. Do you think you could get astride it? If not, you'll have to ride side-saddle like my mother used to when pencil skirts were all the rage. She and father got stopped one night on the way home from a cheese and wine do, and the Police Officer in question made her hitch everything up to get her leg over the bike. How undignified. Gives another meaning to hitching a ride doesn't it?

Now, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our first follower, Margo Mocha, who cautions us against the use of kitchen gadgetry. Thank you Margo, how very wise you are, although I must say I wouldn't be without my egg slicer! I bought it recently along with some new plastic clothes pegs. I used one of the pegs to hold a towel around me the other day while I hung out the washing. I'd only done two vests and a pair of pants when the peg pinged off and landed in the shrubbery. There I was, stark-naked, with a pair of Jockeys in one hand and a peg-bag in the other. To top it all, who should come wandering down the lane, snooping through the Laurels but 'Mr Nosey' from Cosy Nook Cottage. I felt like Barbara Windsor in Carry On Camping - so humiliating.

When I had recovered my composure I thought I'd have a go at making some Cornish Pasties (p209). I've never made them before and I adore them. In my experience you can't get a decent one outside Cornwall. I knew the dough wasn't right when I put it in the fridge to rest. The recipe said not to over-handle it but I think I went too far the other way and didn't knead enough. As for the filling, I used stewing steak as they didn't have any skirt at the butchers. The recipe contained specific instructions on how to assemble everything in layers on rolled out pastry circles, but I opted to mix everything up and chuck it in. When I came to seal the pasties I found that bits of raw potato and swede were sticking out at all angles and puncturing the pastry. Let that be a lesson for those of us who think we know better - I shall layer next time. Needless to say, the end result was slightly disappointing. Strangely textured pastry and under-seasoned filling. Must try harder!

Before I close I must tell you that Mr Latte and myself enjoyed a fabulous evening at the Village Hall on Friday night. We sat amongst good friends and neighbours for an Italian Evening. Wine tasting (two whites and two reds on an empty stomach - oops!) was followed by Cannelloni and a green salad. Pudding was three-fold, Tiramisu, Panna Cotta and ... I can't remember the other one. Afterwards we had an Italian trivia quiz in which our table scored a less than impressive four out of ten, but a very jolly evening was had by all.

Hope all is forgiven, Lucy. x