Baked Eggs Melange - 1980s

This time of year is definitely tomato time.  We, like many households across the nation have lots of organically grown, home seeded tomatoes that we've been given by friends and family, and also ones we've grown ourselves.  The common thing is to put them in salads or make them in to chutney, but this eighties recipe from my favourite Tomato themed cookbook  published in 1987, shows you something a bit unique you can do with your Tomatoes.



Melange means a blend or a mess, a cacophony, and this is very much the case.  For this recipe I would definitely recommend free-range organic eggs, as they have much more taste to them.  This recipe serves 8, and is originally made with a can of chopped tomatoes.  However it can easily be converted to use fresh ones.

You need:

12 hard-boiled eggs, shelled.
810g can of tomato pieces (or lots and lots of tomatoes).
120g butter
1 onion, chopped
1 capsicum pepper, seeded and chopped.
1 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons flour
salt and pepper to taste
cayenne pepper to taste
1 cup White Sauce (Schwartz mix is an easy option)
365g can champignons, chopped (mushrooms).
half a cup of breadcrumbs
half a cup of grated cheese
finely chopped parsley

1. Chop the eggs roughly.  Strain tomatoes, reserving the juice.  (If using fresh tomatoes it might be good to chop the tomatoes and scoop out the insides and use the insides for the juice.)

2. Melt half the butter in a pan and gently fry the onion, capsicumand celery until tender.  Add the flour and tomatoes stirring until the mixture thickens.  Add the reserved tomato juice and seasonings, then bring the liquid to the boil.  Stir in the White Sauce, chopped eggs and champignons.

3. Spoon the mixture in to individual serving dishes or an oblong cassorole dish, then top with breadcrumbs and dot with the remaining butter.

4. Bake in an oven pre-heated to 220C for 10 minutes or until brown and bubbling.  Sprinkle with grated cheese and parsley to serve.

Iced Cheese and Pear Salad - 1960's

Mad Men themed party? Perfect party dish.




3 level tablespoons
1 red pepper (chopped)
4 oz crumbled Cheshire cheese
One eighth pint of double cream
2 large pears
4 lettuce leaves
Sprigs of watercress

1. Either turn up your refrigerator up to maximum or make sure you have access to a clear freezer.
2. Mix mayo with the Cheshire cheese, chopped red pepper, double cream and spread in an ice tray.
3. Place in a freezing compartment/refrigerator and stir every 30 minutes until mixture is frozen which should take 1 - 1.5 hours.
4. Wipe pears (peel if skins are tough) and cut in half and remove core.  Place each half pear on a lettuce leaf, pile iced cheese mixture on pear and garnish with watercress sprigs. Serve immediately.

Cheese Straws

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4 oz. Flour
2 oz. Margarine
2 oz. Processed Cheese (Cheddar will be fine)
teaspoon of water
Worcester Sauce
Cayenne Pepper

1. Rub some butter or fat into flour, add sieved processed cheese, pepper and Worcester sauce.

2. Mix with water until dough holds together.

3. Roll out one eighth inch thick. Stab with a fork and cut into fingers and put on greased trays or sheets of baking paper.

4. Bake in a very hot oven (200 to 180 celsius) until golden brown.

This cheese pastry can be used to make cheese biscuits too.

Related articles

• Cheese and Sweetcorn Fritters (recipevintage.wordpress.com)

Cheese and Sweetcorn Fritters

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4 oz Plain Flour
Salt and Pepper
1 egg
Quarter of a pint of milk
6 oz. Grated Cheddar Cheese
6 oz. Sweetcorn

Sieve flour and seasoning into mixing bowl.  Graudally beat in milk and lightly beaten egg, stir in cheese and sweetcorn.  Place dessertspoonful in hot fat and fry until crisp and golden brown.  Drain well and serve as a main dish, a cocktail savoury or as an accompaniment to chicken.