Thursday, September 15, 2011

Dinner and a Movie: Young and Innocent

Veal and Ham Pie
Veal and Ham Pie

Yes, I'm a day early this week. That's because I needed to post my Charcutepalooza recipe today. One of the challenges is to make a pork pie, so I was going to make a Melton Mowbray-style pork pie, but a pig had to be slaughtered for me to get the necessary ingredients and the processing wasn't going to be finished by today. So--I decided to use leftover ham from last week and make a Veal and Ham Pie (still pork, right?). It even uses aspic, which I figure makes Veal and Ham Pie a pâté de campagne in pastry. Right? Right. Totally Charcutepalooza-riffic.


Veal and Ham Pie

Veal and Ham Pie Cross-section
Veal and Ham Pie slice

It may seem like there's not enough room for all the jellied stock. However, I think if I had just waited for it to settle a bit and then added the rest of the stock I would have filled the gap at the top of the pie, just like the aspic filled the gaps at the side of the pie. I just thought the pie was full. Learn from my mistake--you can use all 2 cups of stock!


Veal and Ham Pie 1969 Instructions
Original instructions from 1969
*****

Young and Innocent scenery

What better companion to a totally British cold meat pie but a pre-Hollywood Alfred Hitchock film? Even better, this one is available to watch for free from the Internet Archive. Young and Innocent is the story of a young (and innocent, naturally) screenwriter who is implicated in the murder of an older actress. This film is much like The 39 Steps in that our hero requires the help of an attractive young woman to aid in his running about Britain trying to prove his innocence. Unlike The 39 Steps, Young and Innocent counts Basil Radford as part of the cast, albeit in a brief role (and in a silly hat). It's definitely worth the watch.


8 comments:

  1. Wow it looks pretty spectacular.

    I'm not a meat eater as you know, but I do like my veggie pies and I make and awesome mushroom hot water crust pie. Don't think I've made a square one though, so am inspired to make something similar :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. The loaf turned out yummy looking! That is an extremely funny hat, by the way!

    ReplyDelete
  3. In my book you get an "A" for effort, despite the stock. It looks fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Please come to my house and cook... I am drooling right now.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That pie looks magnificent! It would have been a lot of work, but the end result sufre looks worth it. LOL at Basil's silly hat. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm not big on meat pies either, but this one makes for a pretty picture. I'm not strictly a vegetarian, though I try hard. :)

    The movie is one Hitchcock I haven't seen. This is based on an old Josephine Tey book if I'm not mistaken. One of her early ones. I think I'll take a look.

    ReplyDelete
  7. rhhhoo this pie looks incredibly delicious. and I think it is indeed perfect with an hitchcock's film. I haven't seen that one it seems good.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'll have to check out this film...it's an Alfred Hitchcock I haven't heard of before. I learn so much on your blog! :)

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.