Sunday, January 23, 2011

Blue Peter Special Recipe

Growing up, I was a pretty poor eater... in fact, my hubby would say that I still am... My mum was 'old school,' in that everything was baked from scratch and nothing went to waste. There were no meal choices... meals were dished up and eaten... no questions. I remember coming in from school during the winter months with the kitchen windows steamed up from the pots bubbling away on the stove top... On asking what what was for dinner, my mum would reply, "Dinner"... to which I would respond "Dinner?  What, dinner, dinner?"... you see, I hated 'Dinner' mid-week... dinner being 'meat and two veg'... When my mum would confirm that it was in fact 'Dinner, Dinner', my bottom lip would tremble and I would burst into tears... Can you imagine crying over meat and two veg? Ahhh, the troubles of an eight year old...
Anyhoo, when it was my birthday, my mum would cook an evening meal of my choice (no fancy eating out for me)... I had to wait a whole 365 days to chose the meal that I actually wanted, and it was always 'Blue Peter Special'... Now, what's this, I hear you ask? Well, to anyone not brought up in the 70's in the UK, Blue Peter was a kids show on the BBC... My mum felt that is was more educational than other children's television shows, and so, deemed it appropriate to watch... there were all sorts of craft segments (like making spaceships from washing-up liquid bottles) and a cooking segment... the poor hosts would cook live and would generally hash it up... burning or dropping something mid-scene... 
Anyways, I would furtively scribble down the recipes and ask my mum if we could make them... some we did... most we didn't, but this recipe stuck... it's my go-to meal... my 'had a bad day' meal... 'I need comfort' meal... This recipe, as stood me in good stead, and still does to this day, being an all round family favourite... and, it's even better now that I don't have to wait until my birthday to eat it.
So, if you want a quick supper meal, give it a try (it tastes delicious with a dash of Worcestershire sauce)... It sure would make me smile to know that others are eating my birthday meal!
Here's to the start of a great week!
Lx


A Recipe for Blue Peter Special



Ingredients
2lb potatoes peeled & diced small (I usually use approx. 4 baking potatoes)
1 large onion (chopped)
4 tomatoes chopped
1 tablespoon flour
4oz cheese (you can use more if you like it cheesy like me)
salt & pepper 
1 1/4 cup (300ml) of warm milk 
2 tablespoons butter chopped into small cubes
4 teaspoons of chopped parsley (I add a little more)


Method
Preheat the oven to 375F and grease an ovenproof dish. Add the diced potatoes, chopped tomatoes, chopped onion, grated cheese, chopped parsley and flour, and mix together.


Pour the warm milk over the top. Season with salt and pepper.
Place the pieces of butter on top of the mixture.


Cover with foil and pop in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and cook for a further 40 minutes or until the top has nicely browned and the potatoes are cooked through.


This dish tastes delicious with a dash of Worcestershire sauce and is great reheated for a bit of supper... Mmmmm....

26 comments:

  1. What a great story! The recipe looks so yummy too. I must make it :)

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  2. Many thanks for stopping by and introducing yourself. What a fabulous blog you have! I too was a big Blue Peter fan. Its still on today, but its not as good. I'll have a go at the recipe - I was more into the sticky backed plastic back then! xxxx

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  3. A Blue Peter Special - love it! I think I might just have to pop one of these in the Aga tonight! xx

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  4. Yum, will give that a go, even though I've sworn off carbs at the moment...have to get into a bikini in 2 weeks when I go home to Melbourne...but I will make an exception! Robx

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  5. A dinner, dinner I must admit that is what we had most nights and I really didn't mind - there is not much that I don't like food wise not keen on butter beans but I can manage to avoid those. I loved Blue Peter and always longed for a badge although I don't think I actually ever tried to get one. Happy days. I do sometimes go to Newark Antiques Fair and I love it - I normally don't spend very much if anything at all but it is just great for a good look around. TTFN.

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  6. This is a very sweet story and probably has a great impact on what you serve for dinner these day! The recipe sounds delicious...potatoes and tomatoes...yum! Thanks so much for sharing, Laura!

    XO,
    Jane

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  7. brilliant! i love that - we waited for our special meal too....and all meals from scratch!!

    we had a show not dissimilar....and like your house- it was deemed fine to watch...ie- more educational....i'm sure they may have whipped up something like your bday dinner on it...but with lashings of *tomato sauce*!

    my kids are going to love your bday meal!!

    melissa xx

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  8. Can you believe I actually read the whole recipe? Me, the challenged cook.... I think this is something I can actually do (right?) I will let you know Laura! Hugs,
    Maureen x

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  9. The recipie is already in my recipie folder and will definely make it, looks so tasty!

    Bee happy x

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  10. So lovely to stop by and see this wonderful recipe. This looks sooo comforting. thank you for the recipe.

    I am a follower of your lovely blog.

    Lisa @lesapea xx

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  11. Well, that's a be good to you day! What a wonderful memory.
    Brenda

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  12. Ok Laura, I really tried....
    After reading this post, I went to the supermarket and bought all the things I didn't have in my kitchen (mind you, that was quite a lot..) Then I planned to make it as a suprise, you know, me not so good at cooking and then, tadaaa! A delicious meal from the oven, with your help. But.... I came home to a sick sweetheart, my youngest who had an anger attack and screamed the whole building together, my oldest was so grumpy and hungry and started to eat a yoghurt... So you can imagine, I was not amused or happy... So with the ingredients now in my cupboards and fridge, I will try it again, tomorrow, when there is another day, with no sick, mad or grumpy people to feed...
    Nightnight sweet Laura!
    Mxx

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  13. Laura, I love visiting your blog you write about so many thinks that bring back wonderful memories. I haven't thought about Blue Peter for years...
    The other 'suitable' children's programme in our house was Jackanory. remember that? Before the day of pausing or recording TV, what a pain it was if we missed a chapter of the book!
    I'll have to whip up this receipe it sounds delicious, thank you. X

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  14. That meal sounds delicious to me. I was just at the store...I wish I'd bought a few more items because then I would probably be trying out your go-to meal.

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  15. Everybody has their own version of comfort food. Yours looks delish! Ours was an easy Shepherd's Pie, probably much simpler than your English version but good nontheless and we all loved it!
    Thanks for the recipe and delightful story!!!

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  16. Looks hearty and delicious! That program sounds amazing - I wish it were still on. XOL

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  17. Good morning, Laura! So glad I found you today (through Suzanne--Privet and Holly). Love your "Blue Peter Special" and the story that goes with it--so charming! Being a great lover of comfort food, I think I'll be giving this a try!

    I'll be following along...looking forward to getting to know you better!

    Hope your day is wonderful...

    Julie

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  18. I love this story and I think my kids (and I) would love this recipe too. :)

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  19. I enjoyed taking 5 minutes to read that. I too loved Blue Peter and jackanory. Do you remember Crackerjack? Trying to hold all the toys and cabbages?!!!

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  20. Wurzal gumage was another I was allowed to watch. I had won on blue peter for my Mums healthy recipe called Honey health candy, iv lost my cook book & badge I won :-( but still have my little cooking apron 40yrs later, which my 26 yr old wore when she was little too :-)

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  21. My mum often made this for me but lost the recipe. So pleased I found you today looking forward to hearing it again 😀

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  22. OMG.. I was searching for this recipe and came across yours. As soon as I saw the photo I knew it was the right one. I new it as Blue Peter Pie. I was at boarding school and the nuns made it for us. It was a huge favourite of everyone and we all had seconds!!! Can't wait to make it.

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    Replies
    1. I knew this as Jon Noakes Savoury Surprise- exact same recipe without the meat.

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  23. You have just saved my husbands 50th birthday. We were booked for a meal today and because of lockdown He ordered a cheese and onion platter from a local caterer. Our son will only eat the filling and our daughter will only eat the pastry he got quite upset when I explained it would be a waste...saying it's my birthday tea it's what I want. Anyway he donated it to a less fortunate family, we sometimes pay for meals for those struggling by way of donation. He then said I want Blue Peter potato surprise, which I have never heard of. My husband grew up in a very poor family where occasionally there genuinely wasn't a meal some days. He talks of this with such sadness. No matter what gets put on his plate or how much, he will always clear the plate. He has just nipped out so I am going to make this for him.....thank you.

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  24. when I say we are having Blue Peter Special, guaranteed every plate will be as empty as my bank account as soon as wife heats I've been paid. This is our family goto dish, especially today being father's day. My mum made for me after I pleaded after watching John Noakes make it 40+ years ago. So happy other family's know it ....the only difference is no foil and 1.25 hrs....the burnt / crispy bits we fight for.....

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    Replies
    1. This was the best meal ever Steve, mum made it to a t, something so simple but so tasty x

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