A sticking problem in beef handout

by Peter Stanford WHAT to do with 55 pounds of clod and sticking? This was the dilemma that faces the diocesan organisers of the EEC handout to the elderly and needy of surplus butter and beef this week.
And where to cook it — the average oven being just a little small too accomodate such hunks of beef. Brentwood and Westminster dioceses have decided to draft in Anchor House, the East End Seamen's hostel, for their butter and beef depot — but denied any links with New Zealand.
The giant nationwide organisation got under way this week, and it is hoped that by the weekend those who have suffered most from Britain's artic winter will be settling down to a tasty meal of beef.
EEC regulations have demanded that the beef he cooked before distribution, but similar conditions do not apply to the butter (contrary to our report of last week), George Scott, head of the UK Office of the Commission of the European Communities told the Catholic Herald.
Caritas, the international Catholic charity, and the Red Cross are sharing the responsibility for the great beef and butter handout. Diocesan organisers have been appointed this week — a full list is published on page three — and have begun contacting parish priests and welfare organisations like the Saint Vincent de Paul Society to identify needs in their The beef will be released from "intervention board" stores in 55 pound lots today, organisers hope, and will then be distributed through the network of Salvation Army depots nationwide. The butter will make a detour via the butter packers before arriving at the distribution points.
One diocesan organis.er, Mgr John Hull of Arundel and Brighton, described his task this week. "Its going to take a lot of initiative and imagination" he predicted, "particularly when faced with the prospect of cooking 55 pounds of beef."
Although he was acquainted with topside and silverside and rump, he admitted to a, little confusion when dealing with "pony", "pony parts" and "clod and sticking".
A spokeswoman for high street butchers, Dewhursts, however, came to the rescue, Clod comes frcim the forequarters and sticking from the neck. Pony, not to be confused with the equine variety, she stressed, is the shoulder.
She recommended that Mgr Hull and his colleagues cook these cuts of beef slowly, casseroling for about two hours per pound to make a tasty stew. Otherwise put them through a mincer and make a nutritious shepherds pie.
"Faith moves mountains" Mgr Hull stressed this week, and he anticipated using convent and church catering facilities to move the particular mountains he will be faced with. area.