If ROSS POLDARK were Vegetarian...

The Cornish saga, Poldark, gripped the nation when on TV in the seventies. The novels are gripping tales of an 18th Century power struggle between Ross Poldark (second in many minds only to Mr Darcy) and the fabulous and, in opinion, infinitely sexier George Warleggan. Maybe I'll find something vegetarian for him another time.

VEGETARIAN PASTIES

350g/ 12oz plain flour
pinch of salt
85g/ 3oz vegetarian cooking fat (such as Cookeen)
85g/ 3oz cooking margarine (such as Stork)
150g/ 6oz Quorn beef-style pieces (or chopped up veggie burgers)
4 medium potatoes
1 large onion
100ml veggie stock
20ml milk
1tbsp olive oil

Makes 3 large or 6 small

Heat oven to 220C/ 425F/ Gas 7
Heat the olive oil in a pan and gently fry the Quorn pieces. Add the stock, a small amount at a time so that the Quorn takes in the moisture. Take off the heat and allow to cool.
Dice the onion and potato and mix together in a bowl. Add the cool quorn mixture and mix roughly.
Cut fats into small pieces and rub into the salt and flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add enough cold water to make a firm pastry.
Divide into portions and roll out into circles about 2-3mm thick.
Put filling on one half of circle. Season well and fold over. Crimp the edges to seal and brush with milk. Repeat to make the other pasties.
Place on a baking tray and cook in hot oven for 15 minutes.
Reduce oven temperature to 160C/ 325F/ Gas 3 and cook for a further 45 minutes.