Fidget Pie

This pie comes from Shropshire, I believe and it's full of taste, texture and just pure yumminess. Why it's called Fidget Pie I have no idea, but I saw it baked on a T.V. programme and I knew I had to make it myself. I was not disappointed.

This is what you'll need.

Sliced Gammon or thick bacon. Apples,potatoes,onions,flour,salt pepper, sage leaves or thyme. A tub of cream. A bottle of cider.

Pastry, either shop bought or home made. I made my own with plain flour, lard, cooking margarine and salt and water. Half the amount of fat to flour, a teaspoon of salt and a couple of tablespoons of water. Mix it all together then put it in the fridge to keep cool.

meanwhile boil the potatoes and add the onions to them when nearly done. Allow to cool.

Chop up the apples and dice the gammon.

To blind bake the pastry, which stops it from going soggy, roll out the pastry and grease a pie dish. Line the dish with pastry, add a sheet of greaseproof paper and fill it with baking beans or rice to keep its shape. Bake in the oven at 180 C for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and take out the paper and beans and allow to cool.

Sprinkle flour over the potato and onion mix. This will make the gravy thick. Add the cream and salt and pepper.

Now layer the pie dish with apple, potato and onion mix, chopped gammon, sage leaves or thyme, then more potato and onion mix, them more gammon, sage or thyme. Press each layer down and season with salt and pepper. When the pie dish is full, add cider until just full, roll out the last of the pastry, make a lid, paint it with beaten egg and bake in the oven at 180C or gas mark 6 for 40 minutes.

That is a beautiful pie.