RIGHT PROPER COMFORT FOOD

Many moons ago when I was a bossy young madam I used to spend a lot of time with my dear nana Beatty...driving her to distraction with my finicky ways regarding the cooking of eggs and probably being rather rude about it all but she still loved me ;) She made all manner of home cooked goodness that was most comforting and brings back a flood of memories including the most delicious dish - Suet Bacon Roll.

Now my dear readers what is more comforting than a dumpling or spotted dick or steak & kidney pudding all dripping with tasty goodness and the base of this suet pastry....

Quick, simple and so easily made suet is often cast aside nowadays as being heart stopping evilness but once in a while when you need a foodie hug there is nothing better.

It also works out as a pretty cheap meal too as just a few ingredients are needed to create this dish.

Suet Pastry

225g self raising flour
85g suet full fat or vegetarian
a good gulg of warm water to mix

Bacon Filling

Smoked streaky bacon or bacon lardons (needs a good layer of fat none of this lean filled with water nonsense)
a red onion finely sliced
2 tomatoes chopped
1/2 a pepper colour to your liking diced

A greased oven proof dish

What next...

1. Turn on oven to about 200c/gas mark 6/400f 
2. Mix your flour, suet, salt & pepper in a bowl and add enough warm water to make it a soft pliable pastry.
3. Roll Pastry on a well floured board into a rectangle about 20x40cm and then lay your rashers along the short edge until the pastry is covered. If you are using lardons just add them evenly over the pastry. 
4. Cover pastry with the rest of the ingredients, a shake of salt & pepper along with a sprinkle of herbs
5. Brush all sides with water and roll up tightly with the join on the underside tucking the ends well under to make sure everything is sealed shut.
6. Place on the baking tray and bake for 40mins 
7. Serve with a hot gravy* and fresh veggies...

* add a dollop of redcurrant or cranberry to a veg stock gravy....perfect 

A vegetarian option would be to replace the bacon with a strong cheese but I would include some reduced tinned tomatoes or pesto to make sure it doesn't dry out too much.