Pasties ... was food.

[hamster8 at hotmail.com]

Jen said ... in response to something Joy said ...

"A pasty is like a pocket sandwich, pastry crust filled with meat,
potatoes, root vegetables (turnips, e.g.).  I think it's 
traditionally a Cornish food?  It's popular in the northern states 
(the really northern ones, Michigan and so on)...  I can't say that 
I've ever actually had one, though, so someone else'll have to 
testify as to whether they're good or not..."

They are.  They are very good, especially if you have just got in 
from the pub and are quite drunk.  But they need ketchup to taste, 
and plenty of spices, otherwise they are bland as hell.  *Proper* 
Cornish Pasties are traditionally filled with the entire meal, so 
meat and potatoes at one end, moving on to apple turnover at the far 
end (or so I'm led to believe) however the vast majority of them are 
just meat and potatoes.

And it is true they guzzle them in the upper peninsula of Michigan, 
of all places (not a place I've been) - they were brought over around 
150 years ago by Cornish tin miners, and stayed.  The Michigan pasty 
has evolved though - whilst it is a Cornish pasty, just like the 
Cornish ones, it is apparently as big as a good sized American 
football (rugby ball ... tch), and is served with enough ketchup to 
drown Rhode Island.  They are meant to be very bland and insipid, 
more so than the Brit versions.  I have never tried an American one, 
I just remembered Bill Bryson going on about it in 'The Lost 
Continent'

As for pumpkin pasties, well, I can't begin to imagine what they 
might be like.  The combination sounds ... icky at best, and as I 
have a severe revulsion of pumpkins anyway, *I* would not eat one.  
Perhaps someone brave could try making one, and get back to us with 
the results  ...  now there's a challenge.

*Al saunters vaguely westwards*

PS - Ooh, btw, I think I may have a Tom Swiftie for you.  I checked 
the file and it doesn't *seem* to have been done before, but it is 
such an obvious one I'd be amazed if it hasn't, so if this tramples 
on anybody else's patch, then I apologise and will hide for a week or 
so ... anyway ...

"I defeated Voldemort seven days ago," said Harry, weakly.

Well *I* liked it :-)