Friday 24 November 2023

Pondering On Pastry [And Pies]

The older readers among you may remember a strange character called Mr Pastry [Played by Richard Hearne, born in Norwich in 1908] A slapstick comedian, he started his career working as an acrobat in the circus, and had 39 different ways of falling over. He was also a good friend of his contemporary, the suave Cary Grant. They had much in common. Grant, born Archibald Leach, first auditioned as a knockabout acrobat in a circus in Norwich.
I saw Mr Pastry when I was about 7, he did a show in Bishop's Stortford. Someone bought a pair of tickets for Mum and myself. I didn't think he was very funny. Perhaps I had already realised that old people getting lost and confused and falling over was not something to laugh about.
I fell down this rabbit hole of reminiscence because I had a roll of puff pastry in the fridge. I'm, not sure why it hadn't been put in the freezer [it was meant to be part of my Christmas supplies] but it needed to be used up pronto. The oven was on for something else, so I used the bottom shelf to cook two pies and four turnovers.
In the rectangular pies I put some of my own spinach from the freezer, and crumbled feta to make a sort of spanakopita.


The four triangular turnovers contain fruit. A diced eating apple, along with 4 chopped dried apricots. I cooked these briefly in the microwave and stirred in 1 tsp jam. Everything was brushed with beaten egg and cooked. These are in the freezer now. 
Bob kindly drove me to the dentist last week, as my arm was aching post covid jab.On the way back he asked if I wanted to stop for a bite to eat. "I really fancy a slice of pork pie and some pickle" I said. So we stopped at "Pickle And Pie" The food was OK, but they only serve pork pie with pickles during the summer months "Nobody eats it in the winter" she said. I settled for a toasted teacake. 
Bob reminded me that he had once gone into The Sticky Bun in Dereham and asked for tea and a sticky bun, and the waitress said "We don't serve sticky buns". Oh the disappointment!
Are you old enough to remember Mr Pastry?
If you found a pack of pastry which needed to be used up, what would you make with it?









38 comments:

  1. I always make mini quiches. They can be frozen and are my grandson’s favourite things. My ‘Nana quiches’ are much preferred to ones made by his Dad!

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    1. A bit like grandad's pancakes at Cornerstones are always The Best

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  2. I do remember Mr Pastry. If I have flaky pastry to use up I make cheese palms. Roll out the pastry, sprinkle with a little milk then sprinkle with grated cheese, any sort will do. I always use some parmesan. Fold the outside edges to meet in the middle. Roll out again gently to flatten. Sprinkle simile again, then sprinkle with more grated cheese. Fold into the middle again. Press down then slice. Lay the sliced pieces on a baking tray,not too close as they will spread.. Cook as per pastry instructions.

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    1. I like the look of Palmiers, but not the taste!

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  3. I have never made anything with pastry! C sometimes makes things with pastry though. What a shame about the pickle! Kxx

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    1. What! Never! Kezzie you really must have a go!

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  4. Mr Pastry had a television show in 1959/1960 and us the only thing I remember watching, loved it!

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    1. You seem to be in the minority this morning Jane. We had far fewer shows to choose from back then though

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  5. I absolutely hated watching Mr Pastry, I suppose we did because it was the only thing on TV?
    I still don't like any sort of slapstick humour

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  6. Like you I found Mr Pastry (on television) disturbing rather than funny but I felt like that about clowns too. Adults mocking the less able? Who knows! I still find clowns uncomfortable, despite the wonderful Tweedie at Giffords Circus.
    I’d put the puff pastry as a base for a roasted tomato and feta tart.
    As ever a thought provoking blog entry Angela. Thanks for all your wonderful entries.
    Jill x

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    1. Oh that tart sounds good. Thanks for the kind comments

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  7. I have a roll of puff pastry in the fridge! I have been meaning to make some curry puffs or something with it, but, haven't made the curry! Maybe some apple turnovers might be tasty.

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    1. A sweet treat - you could do a swap with your baklava friend!

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  8. I never found Mr Pastry very funny nor Norman Wisdom. As a child I didn't find Laurel and Hardy very funny but watching as an adult I love them.

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    1. I think our tastes change as we grow up. The Albanians regard Norman Wisdom as a hero - somehow hus films were shown on their TV in the communist era. When I visited the country, I spoke very little Albanan but when I said "Norman Wisdom, Pitkin?" They laughed and clapped

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  9. Mr Pastry is a blast from the past, I didn’t find him funny either. As for pastry, probably something with cheese or jam.

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    1. Store cupboard staples which are so useful

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  10. Can vaguely remember Mr Pastry but didn't find him funny. I have never been keen on slapstick type comedy and hated pantomimes as a child. Do you remember the faces at the front of Kirby community centre? They made me cry! I would make an open Mediterranean veg and feta pie with the pastry.

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    1. Oh yes- those faces either side of the stage, theatrical tragedy/comedy masks. They were utterly gruesome!!! Open tarts are very popular

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  11. I don't remember Mr Pastry, but it sounds as though he was a bit Mr Bean-esque. I loathe Mr Bean (although find Rowan Atkinson's Blackadder very funny) but the French seem to really like this humour. If I have pastry to use, I would usually make some kind of pasty with chicken, mushrooms, leeks & a bit of cream. Love FD xx

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    1. Mr P much worse than Mr B imho. RA & Bob were in the dramatic society together as students. The chicken pasty sounds very French

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  12. I found Mr Pastry quite scary and not at all funny. I would have grated some strong cheese and made cheese straws-yummy. Catriona

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  13. I didn't find Mr Pastry funny either, but my friend Sue used to be helpless with laughter watching him!
    As for 'found' pastry, it'd be used as corned beef and Branston pickle turnovers for husband! X

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    1. Corned beef and pickle turnovers sound delicious

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  14. I remember hiding behind the sofa when Mr Pastry was on the TV and having nightmares after an episode where the washing machine flooded the kitchen with suds. I didn't find it funny at all.
    As for real unused pastry, I would usually make sausage rolls or a quiche with it.

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    1. I've noticed lately that a lot of places are putting more meat and less pastry in sausage rolls. I think that is an improvement

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  15. I remember Mr Pastry and like you, did not find him funny. As others have said, I think we watched because of limited choice, how times have changed.
    Thank you for your blog, I read everyday, first time to comment. Pam.x

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    1. Thank you Pam, I'm glad you commented! I cannot believe how many choices my grandchildren have watching children's TV. The black and white, stilted actors in the 60s are world's away from the multicoloured, highly animated adventures they see now

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  16. I've never heard of Mr Pastry, but I doubt I would have enjoyed him as a child, I have always hated any sort of slapstick or clownish comedy.

    If I found a roll of pastry in my fridge I think I would have to turn it into a couple of pasties and a few cheese straws ... now you've got me craving pastry, I'm easily swayed. :-)

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  17. I have a roll of puff pastry in the fridge ear-marked for Nigel Slaters cheese puffs from one of his Christmas programmes- 12 tastes of Christmas. But I'll use a different cheese as I'm not keen on blue Stilton.

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    1. I love reading NS cookbooks. They make my mouth water

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    2. They sound so good that I looked up the recipe and I shall certainly make them! Thanks for the tip!

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  18. I don't remember ever seeing a show with Mr. Pastry, but I do remember that the physics master at school was nicknamed Mr. Pastry because he looked like him.

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    1. Our Physics teacher was Mr Trow. We always referred to him as Mr Trow Sir , and found it childishly amusing (he was a great teacher though)

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