[DollyCali]

Thank you Eleanor for that recipe. I can tell you I am so very impressed that you do so much scratch cooking/baking. I know I can only speak for myself here, but BELIEVE can speak for many.... We don't do much scratch cooking ... packaged, mixes, pre made pie shells, cake mixes & of course the easiest ... buying the stuff already prepared.

Are most English women avid cooks/bakers? or are you an exception?

[DollyCali]

Pinging specifically the NE Ohio folks who might know of this restaurant & thus specifically know Pam

In Brecksville Ohio is a famous & long standing restaurant named Simons. It is a New York type deli/restaruant with very good food & a nice clientele

My friend Pat & I do a doggie walk each monday & then eat somewhere. The past two weeks we ate at Simons, as it is midway between our homes & very close to the Metro park where we walked.

As I was going to the bathroom I noticed on the tables, various carved pumpkins. I took some pix (they are the two in the body of the thread that I have added my sig on). In asking around found out that they were done by the chef/husband of one of the server's /bartender.

She and her hubby at one time owned a deli in nearby Richfield

Here is a pix of Pam with the one pumpkin that was very clever. Martini glass, bear mug .. all folded out with the carving.

This pix does not show it well, but my friend & I think Pam is a YOUNG Jamie Curtis Look alike

[snugs]

I am exception most people tend to buy pre made not even mixes are that popular in Britain though if you have ever tasted a British mix you would understand why. They are not up to a Betty Crocker one though there are a few are now available in the UK.

Our supermarkets are full of cakes, biscuits, desserts etc even several different types of sconces.

We also have a great local bakers shop that sells both sweet and savoury pies, cakes, sandwiches, bread rolls with various fillings and of course bread.

Our cleaner at work is a from scratch baker and she makes bead pudding (recipe I posted last week on the Dose and singles thread) and a wonderful Victoria sponge cake.

Regarding pastry cases yes you can buy them premade I have seen them recently but up until then a lot of people bought frozen pastry instead. I prefer to make my own though. Which is basically half fat to flour and water for mixing, I tend not to do a sweet pastry I find the filling is sweet enough for me.

Our bakers