With a name like this it had to be a potato pie, didn’t it? My first thought was that this would make a good Sunday night family tea, but I’ve now decided that slices would be good served up with a roast or b-b-que. Either way I think it would be a winner.
My and Dad played cards regularly with Mena and her husband Les. Supper was always served at the end of the night and I think this simple snack was a one of their favourites.
SAVOURY SPREAD
Mix all together, spread on bread and bake until brown.
This recipe gets it’s name from the Mallee District an area in north west Victoria, but over the years I’ve seen it with lots of other names including Impossible Pie and Zuccchini slice. I suppose it’s an Australian version of a frittata, the Italian crustless quiche to which a variety of meat and vegetables are added. It’s a nice easy meal and if you make this version you’ll feel very Australian.
Mum wrote this recipe out pretty roughly on a piece of paper from an exercise book. She used to make it fairly often either to take on picnics or for casual Sunday night teas. I can even visualize the baking tray she made it in – the family loved it.
CHEESE & BACON SLICE
Line a lamington style baking tray, approx 30cm x 20.5cm x 3cm with the pastry. Combine the apple, potato, onion and green pepper in a bowl. Add the butter, cheese, bacon, eggs and milk and mix together. Bake for 3/4 of an hour at 200oC.
This another of Mum’s recipes that she’s pinned together when she couldn’t find the cellotape. It was probably published before mayonnaise in all it’s different varieties was available in the supermarket. If you don’t want to go to the trouble of making the mayonnaise use about a cup of a plain bought one and add the mustard and parsley.
I think the combination of salami, sweet corn, bacon, tomato and onion makes these little quiches very tasty. They’re great to pop into a lunch box or to take out on a picnic.
Rabbit was a much more common ingredient when I was growing up and although it’s not as popular or as readily available these days it can still taste good if cooked correctly. The secret is to make the meat tender, but not dry. This is one of the recipes that Mum used.
This is one of Mum’s classic handwritten recipes. Firstly, it’s written on a scrap of paper that comes from the minutes of meeting she had attended and secondly it’s rather short on detail. It also has a mix of Imperial and Metric measures. I’ve rewritten it to give you a clearer idea of how it should look.
LAMB CHOPS WITH BEANS
Heat oil in frying pan and brown chops, remove and place in casserole dish. Cook onion and bacon in frying pan, then add to casserole. Add the other ingredients and bake in a moderate oven 180o for 1½ hours.
I was really surprised to find this recipe in the collection. For many years Mum made a sausage dish that consisted of beef sausages, bacon, onion, corn, tomatoes and noodles. Although it was quite simple it was always a great hit and I’ve made in many times myself. This printed recipe is a bit fancier with chicken sausage, salami and garlic, but it’s basically the same idea. Either version is worth trying out.
Neither Mum or Dad were beer drinkers, but there was usually a bottle in the fridge for visitors, sometimes it would sit there for a bit too long and not be fresh enough to serve. So this recipe was great for using up the odd ‘stale’ bottle. It makes a very hearty winter casserole.
Beb's Recipe Drawer 