England: Homity Pie

Ingredients:

• 7oz plain flour

• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3 1/2 oz butter
• 3/4 lb potatoes
• 1 lb onions
• 3 tbsp oil
• 1 oz butter
• 1/2 oz chopped fresh parsley
• 4oz cheese, grated
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tbsp milk
• salt and pepper, to taste

First make the pastry. Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl, then rub the butter into the flour. Mix in enough water (about 3 tbsp) to make a stiff dough. Roll out the pastry and use it to line an 8" flan tin.

Boil or steam the potatoes until tender. Chop the onions, then fry gently in the oil until very soft. Combine the potatoes with the onions. Add the butter, parsley, half of the cheese, garlic, milk. Mix and season well to taste. Let the mixture cool, then use to fill the flan tin. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Bake in the oven at 220C/425F/GM7 for 20 minutes. (Alternatively you can make six individual pies, in 4" tins or foil cases.)