Coffee Breakfast

The full English in a pie (Picture: Hazel Paterson)

There may be a general election fast approaching but I’ve discovered that if you REALLY want to rile people’s passions then simply question their choice of components in a ‘full English breakfast’.

Yes, like death and taxes the full English breakfast both unites and divides us. Bacon, sausage and egg are classed as mandatory by overwhelming consensus from all (meat eating) parties but thereon things get somewhat hotly contested.

Are you beans or tomatoes? Hash browns or fried potatoes? Black pudding? Mushrooms? Toast? As to the beans versus tomatoes debate well I’m a spaghetti hoops girl myself but this seems to only fan the flames of hellfire from the swivelled eyed loons of opposing parties.

Build your own utopian breakfast pie! Vote with your tastebuds! Create the dream!

(Picture: Hazel Paterson)

However…*stern politician face*…if you ARE going to go renegade, defect to another party and not follow this manifesto then just do make sure you are not adding in extra liquid as your pie crust will become soggy, it’s been designed in this order to soak up any excess moisture.

In order to help eliminate too much moisture use dry cure bacon, roast your mushrooms and use good quality sausages, and if you are going to use tomatoes then roast them in the oven first and definitely don’t fry them.

Full English breakfast pie: (makes a 1.4kg pie approximately)

(Picture: Hazel Paterson)

Pastry: (This makes excess so you can get creative with decorating if you’re so inclined)

• 200g lard (plus a bit extra for greasing the tin)
• 220g water
• 570g plain flour
• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• a big pinch of freshly ground black pepper
• 1 beaten egg to glaze