The book, the film, now the potato peel pie recipe
GUERNSEY cooks are being encouraged to dream up a tasty potato peel pie.
The initiative has been launched by the Guernsey Botanical Trust, which looks after the Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden at Saumarez Park.
The garden has the theme of living off the land for this year’s Guernsey Heritage Festival, which is looking at all aspects of the Occupation and Liberation. That led to the idea for a potato peel pie competition.
Competition event co-ordinator Joy Liggett said the trailer for the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society film had shown the pie to be unpalatable due to the limited ingredients available during the war. They were keen for their competition to show it could taste good.
‘It doesn’t have to be an individual effort,’ she said. ‘It can be a group effort. It’s all about going back to the spirit of the Occupation and sharing.’
There is no set recipe, but potato peel must be included. Mrs Liggett said if she was entering, she would be interested to try a sweet potato pie.
She added that she hoped people would be adventurous.
Steve Bacon from the College of Further Education is one of the competition judges. He had a go at his own recipe, which included sliced beetroot, streaky bacon, spring onions and grated cheese.
His main tip was to use a starchy potato, like a Maris Piper, because that would mean flour would not be needed in the recipe.
Cathy Morgan, from the trust, also tried her own recipe, with thick-sliced potatoes forming the outside of the pie, with mash, suede and parsnip in the middle.
Entries must serve four people and have a diameter of up to 20cm.
The pies will be judged on taste and presentation.
The recipe must be included with the entry and entry forms have to be completed by 14 April. Finished pies must be ready for judging at the kitchen at the College of Further Education Coutanchez campus at 11am on 27 April.
Ovens in the college kitchen can be used to cook the pies, as long as they are baked by 11am.
Entry costs £1.
Prizes include a meal voucher for the college restaurant and cinema tickets donated by the Mallard.
Entry forms are available by calling Cathy Morgan on 07911 732912 or emailing events@walledgarden.gg.
