Homity Pie

[Graye]

We have a wonderful pie and mash shop in Whitby - sort of 1940s wholesome cooking served up in enamel pans to the strains of Frank Sinatra.

Most of the pies are meaty - lamb and rosemary, steak and ale, mince etc. The "veggie" option is homity pie, described as a Romany speciality. I'm not sure about that - I thought it was a wartime economy meal - but they are wonderful. I've found a few recipes online and tried cooking a few but they don't seem quite right. The ones in the shop seem to have no onions but lots of garlic, some sort of herbs and spices, chunks of potato and grated cheese in a crispy pastry shell. I've asked Grandma Leah (she of the great wartime recipe memory) but the word homity has her foxed, they must have had another name too.

Does anyone have any wartime recipe books with this in please? I would love to make my own.

[Mylovelyhorse]

Hi Graye

I'm pretty sure there's a recipe for them in my old Cranks' cookbook. Shall I look it out for you, or would you prefer to wait for an authentic wartime one??

Lemme know. I'm just off to look in my book...

MLH x

[Graye]

The Cranks' one would be good, I haven't tried that one yet...

Thanks

[Mylovelyhorse]

Here goes:

10oz (300g) shortcrust pastry
3/4lb (that's three quarters!) (350g) potatoes
1lb (450g) onions
3 tblsp (45ml) olive oil
1oz (25g) butter or margarine
1/2oz (that's a half) (15g) parsley, chopped
4oz (100g) grated cheese
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tblsp (15ml) milk
salt and pepper

Roll out the pastry and use to line six 4" individual tins.
Boil or steam the potatoes until tender. Chop the onions, then saute in the oil until really soft. Comnine the potatoes and the onions, add the butter, parsley, 2oz cheese, garlic, milk and season well to taste. Cool, then use to fill the pastry cases. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bake in the oven at 220C (425F) for 20 mins.
Alternatively, use to make one 8" flan. Bake for 25-30 mins.

Enjoy!

[red]

this is what I make

[lazyspice]

I had the Homity pie when we were on holiday in Whitby last year - it was lovely but it's a shame they don't offer more veggie options. We only ate there the once because himself refused to go back if it meant I had to have the same meal - he's a meat eater so had plenty of options but he's very veggie aware and likes me to have a few things to choose from, bless him.

[Graye]

I shall mention that next time we go in, I'm sure he could come up with something else too. He also does a mixed vegetable with brie but I'm not so fond of that one.

Perhaps we should come up with some suggestions for him to consider and I'll drop them in when we pop in next week. I nominate a vegetable and creamy sauce filling. Perhaps I could also get him to tell me what is in the homity pie he offers, although it's unlikely!

In the meantime I'm going to try some of these recipes you have come up with. Thanks...

[Mylovelyhorse]

Graye - would it be possible to canvas for a vegan option, rather than something which includes dairy?

For example.... a vegetable curry pie? or an italiano pie, containing tomatoes, onions, herbs, peppers, olives etc? Or a vegetable and bean chilli pie??

Just a thought!

MLH x

[lazyspice]

Something with red onions and goats cheese, perhaps? I would definitely want to give that a try!