Dear LF,
Yep, I'm a Brit. Left the Isle's in '62. Best move we ever made....*BG*

Anyway I'll hazard a guess that "pies" may refer to mince pies as mentioned or even pork pies, another favorite. "Meat pies" generalizes much of this, including "kidney pie."

Which reminds me of an old joke...(quite 'bloody' old, I might add) - Know the best way to make a good Kidney Pie?

...cook the p-ss out of it!

I'll go now a'for JC busts me....

Jeremy (wink!)