What to do with lard

[Susie]

Oh, God. My partner used to live in Switzerland and likes Rösti, but insists that for it to be authentic you have to fry it in lard and put a bit of melted lard in to bind it (instead of butter). This despite me strongly suspecting the closest he got to an authentic Rösti was buying it in a packet in the Swiss version of T***o. No matter. So, I bought lard and made Rösti but now I have almost an entire packet of lard left and I just can't bear lard.

But I hate wasting food. Does anyone have any idea what I could do with it that won't taste like lard? (I mean, I could make more Rösti, but it doesn't use much). At the moment I am thinking I could make something involving pastry (half lard half butter) or perhaps make fat balls for the birdies (I am scraping the bottom of the barrel here. Also it is nearly summer and they might turn their collective beaks up at my fat balls, I don't know). I don't think I have enough to make a batch of soap, although I might go and weigh it to see.

Anyone got any ideas? (I feel I'm leaving myself wide open here ).

[red]

make pastry with it. hot water crust pastry, like you get with pork pies.. ?

[Susie]

I think you might be right and pastry is the way to go.

[Green Aura]

I think it keeps for ages - why not bung it in the back of the fridge for when OH wants more rosti. Otherwise you'll have to buy more and so on......

[Odsox]

Yes, definitely pastry, ordinary shortcrust pastry half lard and half marg makes lovely light pastry.
It's difficult to get over here, in fact the only shop that sells it is that store that begins with a "T", and that's 60 miles away.
I'm not sure why it's impossible to buy locally, they used to sell it but blamed the eastern European countries buying it all up when they joined the EU. But that was years ago, so I'm not sure what their reason is now.
Pretend vegetable lard is not the same.

[Susie]

Can you freeze it? I never thought of that!

[Big Al]

fat balls for the birdies is my idea. melt in the pan, add some fruit, crushed nuts, seeds and put in a tray to cool. Hey pressto, starling migration to your garden...

[Helsbells]

I use lard to roast my potatoes in, yummy, also I have used it to make soap, though it does smell a bit beefy!

[oldjerry]

Move to Yorkshire,then eat it neat out of the wrapper....BW(from an efette Southern softie).

[MKG]

I just woke up, and someone gives me a gift ... "they might turn their collective beaks up at my fat balls". What can I say, Susie?

But it does make the best possible pastry. And just because it's lard is no reason to avoid that - the amount of lard in a single portion of lardy pastry is miniscule. Cold hands and a dollop of lard - you can't go wrong.

And I'm sorry to hear of your problem

Mike

[red]

take up cross channel swimming?

[Green Aura]

Move to Yorkshire,then eat it neat out of the wrapper....BW(from an efette Southern softie).

You've never sampled that great Northern delicacy - Wiltshire Lardy Cake?

[boboff]

I add it to the Deep Fat fryer Veg Oil, it's cheap and tasty.

[jim]

Green Aura! I am surprised and hurt!

You've never sampled that great Northern delicacy - Wiltshire Lardy Cake?

Wiltshire!
Wiltshire?
Bl**dy Wiltshire!!!!!

It's Hampshire lardy cake!

Love and Peace
Jim

[Green Aura]

It's Hampshire lardy cake!

Tell google - I looked for Lardy Cake (apparently my Mother used to make it) and the first page was full of the Wiltshire variety. As my Mum was a Staffordshire woman I'm guessing it's quite a well travelled recipe.