I’ll be honest: if I see a pie book, I tend to buy them. I’m a sucker for pies. Not, not just sweet ones. Can you resist a grand Chicken Pot Pie?
In the UK, there is a firm Higgidy with a great website and interesting, very British food products:
Quiches [Balsamic Onion and Mature Cheddar]
Heart Warming Pies [Paneer, Coconut and Spike Chickpea]
Meatless [Roasted Sweet Potato and Red Onion Parcels]
Pastry Free [Welsh goat’s Cheese and Leek Frittata]
Sausage and Veggie Rolls [Pork and Apple]
Camilla Stephens is a co-founder of the firm and a pie advocate. In five chapters she presents a series of pies and quiches and tarts that is just awesome, a serious extension of the Higgidy products. This book is tantalizing and inviting. Here are those chapters and some representative recipes:
- Simple Suppers
- Pea and Parmesan in Filo Parcels
- Chicken and Ham Hock Pie with Garlicky Butter Bean and Kale Mash
- Chicken and Chorizo with Spiced Paprika Crumble
- Party Pies
- Mini Chorizo and Chili Tartlets
- Giant Garlicky Mushroom Galette
- Giant Roasted Red Pepper and Mushroom En Croute
- Christmas Turkey Pie with All the Trimmings
- Roasted Risotto Pumpkin Pie
- Crafty Quiches and Trusty Tarts
- Baby New Potato, Leek and Goat’s Cheese Tart
- Roasted Sweet Potato, Chorizo, and Chard Quiche
- Roasted Beet Galette
- Lemony Asparagus and Ricotta Tart
- Sweet Treats
- Red Plum and Ginger Tart
- Pear and Whiskey Tart
- Jumble Berry and Jam Tart
- Honeyed Nut and Custard Tart
- Mochaccino Tarts with Kahlua
- Lemon Posset Tarts
- Easy Extras and Proper Pastry
- Caramelized Half Onion in Puff Pastry
- Spiced Apple and Onion Chutney
Words, titles, are one thing. To be great a tart or pie has to be beautiful. Here’s the Red Plum and Ginger Tart.
All the recipes possess this same beauty and elegance. This is an exceptional book, ideal for the holiday season. I’ll be posting that Christmas Turkey Pie before Thanksgiving because it is the ideal way to serve leftover. They won’t look like leftovers. And your table will have a look you’ve never experienced before.