A Pasty has become one of my favorite quick suppers! You can make use of your leftovers and transform them into a pastry shell and create your own unique shapes! ;)   Next you pop them in the oven for 35-40 minutes, while your tossing a Salad or making a quick soup and then sit down and enjoy, while imaging yourself across the big Pond in  jolly old England!

 The Pasty above was stuffed with leftover steak and veggies from a barbecue and the others chicken and veggies. You can make them with virtually any filling all vegetable or even lentils or beans. Don't make them to saucy as the sauce will drizzle out the sides while cooking and take away from the appearance.
​ I know this as I've been there done that more than once! 

I know I can hear from where I'm sitting the gasps of breath for putting a picture of Lard as an ingredient. First off my defense is less is more and your not going to eat all 6-8 pastys yourself, that called for 1/4 cup lard .....no Butter. Now you could use all butter or half and half lard to butter or my last choice Crisco. I did my research and unless your vegetarian there is a good argument out there that animal Fat=Lard is actually a better choice than Veg lard due to the processing.  If you find lard offensive use a little Crisco or all butter or bacon fat or as I like to create for Britalia Way recipes is a pastry using pancetta that you have cut small and chopped in a mini processor to make it smooth. The flavor is fantastic and of course for Britalia Way it combines an Italian ingredient with an English recipe! ;) ...Not to mention people" Do Not" equate Pancetta to lard rather a delicious product you pick up at an Italian Salumeria!  Seriously pasty's are something you don't have every night and the fat content is probably less than store bought processed pie and bread products eaten far more often. 
               I've made all different types of stuffing and I really like leftover Escarole and beans or Escarole and Sausage. Vegetarians could use cabbage, carrot, peas and parsnips and add cream of celery soup to bind together. Tuna fish , red peppers , onions and capers and bind with a little mayonnaise and chili sauce. I've tasted many from Myers of Keswick in Manhattan and they have beef and onions with delicious mushrooms etc.  There are endless ideas just use leftovers and try them some evening and possibly pour a pint to serve as your beverage!

           This past weekend we took a drive to Mt. Dora to celebrate our Wedding Anniversary and enjoy some Antiquing in this lovely town. The little shops along Main street are so inviting and each carry so many unique items made by local artists. The town also boosts a wide variety of great Restaurants as well.  I was truly excited when I learned that the Annual Garden Show was being held this past Sunday at Rennigers Antique and Flea Market!  Aw yes a trifecta for me  staying at the lovely Heron Cay Lakeview Bed and Breakfast, Antiquing at the Garden show and then enjoying the local restaurants celebrating our Anniversary for a few days! There's always room for another Martini!:) 
          We headed up Sunday morning and went straight to the Garden show and was amazed how large a show it was. Needless to say I had to take it all in and we spent 4 hours meandering both inside and outside at all there was to see. The top picture was the first booth as we walked in and I bought some lovely dried lavender there. My other great finds included an old sewing machine drawer pictured below that I put some potted plants in that I had at home. I also purchased some lace that day as well as a metal wall vase. I finished off the show with two ceramic boxes that have crowns (my favorite thing) on them. Another store in town called Piece of Mine brought a purchase of the lovely flower pot that I put the lavender in and I added moss! Little pretty things make me happy!  ;) Next we enjoyed cocktails at the Lost Parrot in town and then headed over to the Bed and Breakfast to check in.
         

          It was truly a beautiful three day get away with all the bells and whistles! As always we love to talk with everyone we meet and while having Dinner at Pisces Rising a Florida Steak and Seafood Restaurant we met Maggie and Kevin.  Our tables were back to back and Kevin heard me asking about dessert and he said don't count calories just do it! Well five minutes later they joined us at our table and we shared lots of good conversation, laughs and the beautiful evening breeze sitting on the patio overlooking the Lake with music to boot! 

               Monday morning we met Laura and Dave that were staying at the Bed and Breakfast as well. We started talking and then set off in different directions. We stopped at the Olive Branch Restaurant to check out the menu for dinner and they were there having a drink. Once again lots of talk and then we decided to meet them there later for dinner and celebrate our Anniversary's together !  We had such a lovely evening and really got to know each other and plan on meeting up again soon.  
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             Once again sharing special moments with two special couples made our get away all the more memorable. Thanks to our innkeepers Margie and Randy for a delightful stay at your gracious home and the delicious Breakfast served each morning!