pie

It had been on my autumn to-do list to make a vegetable pie. I never make pie normally so I had forgotten how long it takes to get to the end result of an actual pie! You make the shortcrust pastry, let it rest, peel all the veg, dice the veg, par-boil the veg, make the b√©chamel, roll out the pastry, put it all together, then bake. After a summer of making things like salads that seems quite a few steps to multi-task. The veg I used for the filling were turnips, carrots, squash, and mushrooms. I didn’t blind bake the pastry base in this instance, it was fine. I decorated the top with stars. The b√©chamel I flavoured with a teaspoon of finely chopped rosemary from the garden, parmesan, and a little very sharp chedder. It’s not the prettiest pie I have ever seen (a bit bumpy on top – I think you could call it ‘rustic’), but it tasted good.

As I have mentioned it I should show it, this is my full list…

Autumn To-Do list:
Buy and roast chestnuts.
Go for a walk with Simon while the leaves are crisp underfoot. (done!)
Knit on the sofa with the kitties while listening to Forbidden Fruit.
Bake a pie. (done!)
Make mulled cider on a Sunday night.
Light candles as soon as it gets even a little bit dark.
Go for a coffee by myself and read my book.
Make a new scarf.
Sweep up the leaves and bring in a few to decorate.
Cycle the longer route home so I can pass the park.

I stopped myself at 10 items so as to keep it relaxed and do-able. I have lots of little lists like this saved into my Google Documents and on Sticky Note on my iGoogle (Sticky Note is very useful). I find making lists like this helps me appreciate the seasons and stops me getting into the samey pattern of go-to-work-come-home-go-to-work-come-home, you know? :)