PotatoPie06

You’ve read the book … now eat the recipe !

Here’s the recipe from the book that’s put Guernsey on the map for millions of American’s who seem to have lapped up the book and it’s intriguing story (see below for a synopsis if you haven’t actually read it yet)

Prep Time : 20 minutes
Cook Time : 2 hours
Total Time : 2 hours 20 minutes
Serves : 2-3
PotatoPie02

Ingredients

  • 450g (1lb) Potatoes
  • 1 onion
  • 125ml (1/2 cup) of milk
  • 2 tbsp of breadcrumbs
  • 7g (1/4 oz) butter
  • A little flour
  • Salt and Pepper
 

Preparation

  1. Peel the potatoes thinly (retaining the peel) and slice them.
  2. Place a layer of potatoes in a pie dish followed by a layer of thinly sliced onions and repeat until the pie dish is full.
  3. Mix together the peel, flour and seasoning and sprinkle on top of the mixture.
  4. Pour over the milk and finish with breadcrumbs.
  5. Dot the butter over the surface and bake in a moderate oven for about 2 hours

Book Synopsis

The_Guernsey_Literary_and_Potato_Peel_Pie_SocietyThe Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society begins in January 1946, when popular author Juliet Ashton, much like her fellow British citizens, is emerging from the dark days of World War II. As Juliet exchanges a series of letters with her publisher and her best friend, readers immediately warm to this author in search of a new subject in the aftermath of war. By the time Juliet receives an unexpected query from Dawsey Adams, we are caught in a delightful web of letters and vivid personalities and eager for Juliet to find the inspiration she seeks.

Dawsey, a farmer on the island of Guernsey in the English Channel, has come into possession of a book that once belonged to Juliet. Spurred by a mutual admiration for the writer, the two launch an epistolary conversation that reveals much about Dawsey’s Guernsey and the islanders’ recent lives under Nazi occupation. Juliet is especially interested to learn about the curious beginnings of “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society,” and before long she is exchanging letters with its other members — not only Dawsey but Isola the vegetable seller, Eben the fisherman, and blacksmith Will Thisbee, creator of the famous potato peel pie.

As Juliet soon discovers, the most compelling island character is Elizabeth, the courageous founder of the society, who lives in the memories of all who knew her. Each person who writes to Juliet adds another chapter to the story of Elizabeth’s remarkable wartime experiences. Touched by the stories the letters deliver, Juliet can’t help but travel to Guernsey herself — a decision that will have surprising consequences for everyone involved.

Drawn together by their love of books and affection for each other, the unforgettable characters of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society collectively tell a moving tale of endurance and friendship. Through the chorus of voices they have created, Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows have composed a rich tale that celebrates the power of hope and human connection in the shadows of war.