Wednesday, April 8, 2009

You Want Pies with That - April


The You Want Pies With That theme for April was Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. It took me a lot of thinking to come up with my pie for this theme, but I was really pleased with the results. Be warned, there is a big story that follows.

For those of my overseas readers who don’t know the history of my country, New Zealand was colonised by the English in the early nineteenth century and was part of the British empire (and now part of the Commonwealth). The Queen is still our reigning monarch and I think she is one of the world’s rich and famous. Now, back in 2004 my husband and I spent some time in Europe and part of that was about three weeks in total staying with friends in London. One particularly memorable, trip we took was to Windsor, a beautiful village just outside of London which is home to Windsor Castle. Going to Windsor Castle was just amazing. The history is incredible (incidentally I have a history degree as well as my law degree – history is my passion). But one of the other incredible things about Windsor was the fudge.

There is the most amazing fudge making shop in Windsor. Actually, I think that there are these fudge shops all over England – we spotted one in Bath as well. The varieties are delicious and you can actually see them making the fudge on a huge marble slab – there is an amazing technique which you have to see to believe. But the taste! Honestly, this is some of the best fudge I have ever tasted. So good that we spent 12 pounds on a box of fudge (roughly NZD $36). So, whenever I think of Windsor castle (where the Queen resides at Easter I think), I think of the fudge we ate in Windsor!

So, my pie for this month is Fudge cheesecake pie with a toffee sauce. I made 4 little individual pies but you could do 3 times the mixture to make a large 22 cm round pie. See how others interpreted the theme here.

Windsor Castle Fudge cheesecake pie

125g crushed wine biscuits (Graham crackers)
75g melted butter
80g cream cheese
80g natural yoghurt
120g white chocolate, melted
50g chopped Russian fudge (make your own or cheat and buy it like I did)
80g brown sugar
50 extra grams butter
80ml cream

· Heat cream, second measure of butter and brown sugar together, stirring until the sugar has dissolved, then simmer for 5 minutes until thick. Set aside to cool
· Combine crushed biscuits with melted butter, and press into the base of 4 muffin sized moulds. Chill
· Beat cream cheese and yoghurt, then beat in melted chocolate
· Stir in diced Russian fudge and swirl through caramel sauce, reserving some for the topping.
· Spoon cream cheese mixture over the biscuit bases and chill for at least 3 hours
Serve with extra caramel sauce over the top of each pie

17 comments:

Sally E. said...

O M G! That is one of the scrummiest things I have seen in ages.

Elyse said...

What a fabulous story, Tammy! Your experience in Windsor sounds fantastic--as does that fudge! And your pie just sounds deliciously fabulous! Great inspiration!

Anonymous said...

Sinful,and right on Easter when I am already very naughty (in a dietary sense).I spent a happy day in Windsor in 2000 and wish I had found that fudge shop.
A very interesting post.

Madam Chow said...

What a great story, and what an amazing flavor combination! Tammy, out of curiosity, it it tough to immigrate to New Zealand? A few of us have been talking about it for years!

♥Rosie♥ said...

Oh my goodness this is just one awesome pie!!

I am pleased to read you visited the U.K. I hope you will visit Lincolnshire next time which has Lincoln City with a very old cathedral, castle, roman archways and one still being used today. The magna carter housed in the cathedral from King John's time...and much more.

Bath is one of my favourite places in England to visit.

Sara said...

Wow, this sounds fantastic! What a great story!! :)

Jen H said...

I LOVE the story behind your pie and the pie itself looks too delish for words!

Lysy said...

What a cute story, and a very ingenious idea for your theme! I'm glad you liked British fudge shops - there's one in the town where I used to live and they were always giving out free samples :)

Mermaid Sews said...

What a great story and that pie looks deadly. I love mini pies.

Tammy said...

Hi Madame Chow

here is a link to what you need to do to migrate to NZ http://www.immigration.govt.nz/

It works on a points system. Feel free to e-mail me tammydotmcleodatdavenportsharbourdotcodotnz with any questions you have about NZ. It is the most wonderful place to live!

suz said...

That looks all kinds of ooey, gooey, and rich! I loved reading the story behind it too. Great food comes from great inspiration :)

Alpineberry Mary said...

Oh, so decadent! Wish I could have a a slice right now.

Libby said...

Now I'm not sure which I want to visit first, England or NZ for your pie! Wish I hadn't missed the fudge shops in England. (Did find the pubs, though.) Libby

TeaLady said...

That looks amazing. Bet it was delicious - sure looks like it.

Cakelaw said...

OMG! This looks and sounds fabulous!!!!

Chris said...

Looks delicious.What are wine biscuits or graham crackers-sweet or savoury?TIA
Chris

Tammy said...

Hi Chris

wine biscuits are sweet - like a very plain digestive I guess. I think graham crackers are similar.

Tammy