Ahhh .... the peas. Not petit pois note. No bleedin' breeding! On the topic of pies ... and yours does look nice and flakey.

We love pies but hate what you can buy so I thought I'd buy one of those little double pie makers to play with and make a stack of fillings for the freezer and put them into little Chinese Takeaway containers. One full container exactly equals two pies.

I've made a load of boeuf bourguignon fills (Ocado had mispriced sirloin steak a month or two back ie 2 for 1p and I bought a stack of it and froze it for stewing) and a stack of chicken with smokey streaky bacon and mushroom and Noily and fresh thyme and cream and we had the chicken yesterday.

I'm really pleased with the piemaker and now I know I can have a decent pie whenever I want. I'm making a "shepherds" filling in a few days.

Oh dear, just been looking at pie-makers, I can feel a purchase coming...

They look beautiful, but do you eat the shells and all?

I had low expectations and they don't cost much. They look like the pies should be too small but because your using premium filling actually they are more than enough. Our next pies are going to be basically a very lamb rich pasty mix but made with sofritto. I am ashamed to say that I'm finding Ocado mash is actually pretty much the same as I make at home and add nob of butter ..... my cooking lately seems to be to make rational compromises and only work hard where value can be added taste wise.

So I take the filling out of the freezer the night before with a pack of frozen shortcrust and lunch takes 15 minutes for a fresh couple of home made pies.

Buy one and report back.

I also just replaced my buggered toasty maker and enjoying that for evening toasties. It has been a gadget rich few days.

Thanks. Sticky and hot and all around the mouth but no ... not the shells!

Sticky sweet chilli wings.

OK, so they are finger food? Peel & eat?

I'm not typically one to photograph the food I make, but I was particularly proud of my dinner last night. Pan seared salmon (crispy skin on, scored and stuffed score lines with rosemary and S&P), over horseradish mash, and spicy sauteed spinach and mushrooms with a citrus beurre blanc. The radishes just made it look pretty I guess, and I love using my mandoline.

.............. you should be proud. That is very classy. Do keep taking the pics ... good or not so!

My own efforts tonight hit the mark exactly but it wasn't anywhere near as elegant.

A bacon, mushroom and gouda toasty .... and a mug of Rioja.

This is now on my must make list! I've never seen a grilled cheese look so damn appetizing!!

Snow day breakfast:

Now that looks wonderful!

Meanwhile I was drooling over your steak and ale pie!

Quite agree .... but you must keep us up to date with more of your pics. That last one is I think a prize winner on this thread. I'm currently in a very poor last place after you and indianwells.

This evening .... I think my wife's favourite meal of all. A bacon and chip butty with Sarsons vinegar and sea salt with a pint of Rioja.

Baked Haddock with a Ginger, Garlic, Tarragon, Lemongrass & Ginger cream sauce, served on Coconut and Chive rice and garnished with 20 year old Juniper Balsamic. I wanted to please the missus, we had a stressful day!!!