Smoked Mackerel Pastry Pie
made in no time at all, just like the big bang
Imagine a U. Imagine that at the top of one side of this U we have the Big Bang, the start of our universe. Time has travelled and traversed down our U, then up to the top of the other side, where we now sit today.
Using the James Webb telescope we can now observe further across the universe and so also farther back in time. We can look back across from our side of the U and into the very near beginning of the formation of the universe.
Already the observations made through the telescope have confounded astronomers, forcing a reconsideration of the Big Bang, and even leading a few to go so far as to question the Big Bang itself. For instance, we find that galaxies have formed much earlier than anticipated. Imagine looking for a lonely star or two, or none, and instead finding a vast number of fully formed galaxies. This is exhilarating stuff and real science, where everything you know may someday turn out entirely wrong.
Who knows what tools we will develop next and what we will then be able to see or find. Will we someday find the tools which enable us to look right back into the very beginning of the big bang itself? Were we then to lift back the cosmic veil which conceals the cradle of the universe, what would we see there? Would we see Creator gazing back upon us here on our tiny little Earth?
If so, at least in this kitchen it will observe Yatzyfood busily preparing food and surrounded by slumbering poodles. Two of these animals lie on the carpet, whilst one hangs precariously off the sofa. These soft beasts appear to sleep, but closer attention reveals that they too are in fact observing Yatzyfood. One eye is shut, but the other is open and attentive, monitoring the kitchen and beholding my works.
Looking closer, what exactly do they see? Well, they will be marvel in delight as a fillet of smoked mackerel is quickly transformed into a simple and delicious mackerel pastry pie. It is a very quick and easy lunch, particularly for those of us here in Norway who are fed up of endless sandwiches. For this recipe unless I have some left over in the freezer, I will use store bought puff pastry.
Ingredients (1 lunch pie)
fillets of smoked mackrel around 250-300g
100g creme fraiche
1 tablespoon of wholegrain mustard
some chopped parsley and chives
pepper or drop of lemon juice to season
2 pieces of puff pastry
one beaten egg (for egg wash)
Method
Fork the mackerel into small bits, mix in the creme fraiche and the mustard and the chopped herbs. If necessary season with some black pepper and a drop of lemon juice
Roll out puff pastry to approx thickness of a 10kroner/1 pound coin. Place on a baking tray and then spoon the mixture over the pastry to within 2 cm from the sides and then even out with the back of the spoon. Egg wash the side areas of pastry not covered .
Place second puff pastry sheet over the top and scrunch together top and bottom to seal the pastry pie.
Make a small slit in the top for steam to release.
Egg wash the top of the pie.
Bake in oven at 200C Fan until golden - around 35 minutes.