Steak and Ale Pie

This post isn't a recipe but a celebration, of my mother's gorgeous Steak and Ale Pie which won the diamond cup at this week's prestigious Smithfield Awards, out of a staggering 400 entries. Although she knew that she had won 5 gold awards for some of the other pies and some quiche, it wasn't until the awards ceremony lunch that she was presented with the award by the Guardian's food critic.

I'm so pleased, as I know how hard she has worked for the past year to get that pastry perfect and how she's strived to create something she's proud to say is good as the meat side of the business. She gets up at 5.30am each day to go down to that kitchen and work without a break and until she comes home in the afternoon to do more office work for the business... She's always exhausted when I give her a ring or see her, so for sheer hard work alone this woman really deserves it! Everyone else in the shop are a great support, providing that delicious meat, helping with the washing up, and Kelly and Luke give her a helping hand during the morning... But that cup wouldn't have been won without her!!!

Enough gushing over one of my mother's many talents, here are a few pictures from the event, and her in the kitchen... And if you haven't seen it yet here's a great article on the EADT website with more info and a little video of my dad and Daryl in the shop talking.It's been a crazy week celebrating with Mum even interviewed on BBC Suffolk radio on Friday , so if you're a local get down there to buy one and see what the fuss is all about!