Something smells good

 Mar 11, 2009

Ceecee has fed us delicious food every night. Sunday night was fish pie, Monday night was lamb, and last night was chicken satay. Now I can smell lasagna.

We are sitting in the dining room at Elm Grove, recovering from a day of walking all over London. Okay… it was not all over London, but my feet feel like it was. We went to Regent's Park to look at the flowers, and before that, we went to the Wellcome Museum. It had a bunch of medical stuff that was actually quite interesting to the plebes. Bridget met us at Euston Station and went around the museum with us, and we all had lunch in the museum cafeteria. We found a playground at Regent’s Park, as well as an island with bridges, so Joel was happy.

I am going through my list of English food I have to eat before I go back. So far, I have had a sausage roll and a milky ice lolly… I think that is all. I still have to get a Cornish pasty.

More later.

Fish Pie recipe: 

🍽️ Serves: 6

⏱️ Time: ~1 hour

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🧾 Ingredients

For the mashed potato topping:

• 2.5 pounds (about 1.1 kg) potatoes, peeled and chopped

• Sea salt

• 1 knob of butter

• Optional: a handful of grated cheddar cheese

• Optional: a little milk or olive oil for creaminess

For the filling:

• 2 large handfuls of spinach (optional, or use frozen)

• 1 cup (250 ml) milk

• 1 cup (250 ml) heavy cream or single cream

• 1 small bunch of spring onions or 1 small leek, trimmed and finely sliced

• Zest of 1 lemon

• 1 teaspoon English mustard or Dijon mustard

• 1 small bunch of fresh parsley, chopped

• 14 oz (400g) mixed white fish, salmon, and smoked haddock, skin off, boneless, chopped into chunks

• 1/2 cup frozen peas

• Optional: 2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and quartered

• Freshly ground black pepper

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🧑‍🍳 Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Boil the potatoes in salted water for about 15–20 minutes until soft. Drain, mash with butter (and optional milk/cheese), season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

3. In a deep pan, gently heat the milk and cream. Add spring onions/leeks, mustard, lemon zest, and parsley. Bring to a gentle simmer (do not boil).

4. Add the raw fish, peas, and spinach (if using) into the hot milk mixture. Simmer gently for 2–3 minutes just to begin cooking the fish.

5. Remove from heat and pour into a baking dish. Add quartered boiled eggs if using.

6. Top with mashed potato — spoon it over the fish mixture and spread gently. Rough up the surface with a fork for crispy peaks.

7. Optional: sprinkle grated cheddar on top for extra crisp and flavor.

8. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until golden and bubbling.

• You can prep this pie in advance and bake it later.

• Add prawns or scallops for extra luxury.

• Great with steamed greens or salad.

• You can also add some boiled eggs into it …some recipes do.