before yet another evening of high quality music (i have only just discovered the wonder of sydney in summer – where was i the rest of my life?) i made a pie that i like to call ‘butterfly pie’ – a tribute to the sticker that will never make it to the back of jane’s car. it is also spectacular in that i didn’t have to leave the house to make it. under that layer of flaky pastry is everything i could find in the cupboard and (new!) fridge.

- boil a couple of cups of brown lentils in water, drain
- boil anther pan of water, add a cup or two of tvp (mmmm) and 4 or 5 dried shiitake mushrooms. boil till the mushrooms are soft and tvp suitably resembling meat. drain
- fry up some spices (cumin & paprika) with whatever veges you can find – for me it was just carrot, cubed, and mushrooms, sliced. then add the lentils, tvp and chopped soaked mushrooms, stir through and add a tin of tomatoes and enough water so it doesn’t dry out.
- add some fresh thyme, a handful of leftover rocket , fresh tomatoes and some liquid smoke (mmmm again), stir through and let simmer for a bit
- put into a casserole dish and top with a sheet of puff pastry, decorated in an artistic response to a topical issue of the day. hence the butterfly. use food colouring and other decorative techniques if required.
- bake in a hot oven until golden, serve with tomato chutney