Pasties Entree Appetizer Recipes

BEEF PASTIES

Steps:

• Cook Savoury Mince following the instructions in this post.
• Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F and a line two baking trays with baking paper or silicone mats.
• Remove puff pastry sheets from the freezer, seperate and allow to thaw partially.
• Use a round cookie cutter or a wide mouth mug to cut 4 rounds into each pastry sheet.
• Spoon a tablespoon or so of savoury mince into the middle of each pastry round, brush the edges with the egg wash then bring the edges together to form a semi-circle. Crimp the edges together with your fingers to seal the filling inside.
• Place pasties upright on the baking trays, and bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until golden, puffy and cooked through.

PASTIES ENTREE / APPETIZER

Steps:

• Crust:.
• Pulse flour and salt in food processor; add shortening and lard. Pulse until it looks like coarse meal. Add 1/4 cup ice water, pulsing 10 times, then add 1 tablespoon at a time using only enough water for dough to just come together. (To make this the old-fashioned way: use 2 knives to cut shortening into flour; mix in water with a fork). OR substitute 2 packages refrigerated pie crust.
• Pat dough into a disk, wrap in foil; refrigerate while making filling. (I don't know why foil, it's what my grandma used).
• Filling:.
• Cook the beef, drain and set aside. (You can substitute 1# leftover roast beef cut in 1/4" cubes, reduce seasonings).
• Don't use food processor to cut potatoes or onions.
• Cut the onions, place in strainer.
• Cut the potatoes, add to onions, rinse and drain well. If you don't rinse them, the onion flavor will be too strong and the potatoes will discolor.
• Combine filling ingredients adding salt and pepper.
• Pre-heat oven to 450°F.
• Break off a third of the dough, (return remaining dough to refrigeraor) shape into a ball and roll out on lightly floured surface into a 12" square.
• Using a saucer, cut out 4 circles.
• Brush the edges with glaze, spoon 1/3 cup of filling onto one half of the dough, avoiding the glazed edge.
• Fold over the other half of the dough to encase the filling and make a half moon shape.
• Dip a fork in flour and press the edges to seal.
• Transfer to a greased baking sheet.
• Brush with glaze.
• Cut 3 slits in top of pastie to allow steam to escape.
• Repeat with remaining dough circles.
• Bake, 1 baking sheet at a time, uncovered 15 minutes at 450°F.
• REDUCE heat to 350F and bake uncovered 30 minutes longer.
• Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• Remember to increase oven temperature for next batch.
• FOR APPETIZERS:.
• Cut with a biscuit cutter. Fill and seal. Bake 10 minutes at 450F, then 20 minutes at 350°F.
• TO REHEAT:.
• Place in 350F oven 10 - 15 minutes for entree size; 5-10 minutes for appetizers.

PASTIE

Steps:

• Put the vinegar in a 1-cup measuring cup and fill the remainder with water. Add the beaten egg to a small bowl and add the vinegar and water and mix together. In a large mixing bowl cut the lard into the flour. Add the liquid and mix together. The less you handle the dough the better the crust will be.
• When the mixture is totally combined into the dough cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place into the refrigerator until you will be putting the pasties together.
• Trim all of the fat from the steak and dice into 1/2-inch cubes. Peel and dice potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes. Peel and dice rutabaga into pieces smaller than the potatoes. Peel and dice carrots into pieces smaller than the potatoes. Place all ingredients into a very large mixing bowl and combine thoroughly with your hands. Be sure to start with clean hands and nails. Add the salt and pepper and mix the ingredients to combine. My mother used enough pepper to turn the entire bowl black before mixing the ingredients.
• Roll out the pie crust and place bottom crusts into 2 (9-inch) pie tins. Do not grease the pie tins before adding the crust. Next, fill the pie tin with the meat and vegetable mixture. It should be heaping since the mixture will cook down. Before placing the top crust in place, add a large pat of butter to the top of the pie filling. Remember we cut off all the fat on the meat earlier. Place top pie crust and trim to finish. You can use the finger-and-thumb method to finish the crust, like Grandma did, or you can use a fork to finish the crust. Before placing into the oven, cut 2 slits in the crust for steam to leave the pastie while cooking. Also using the egg and a little water, make an egg wash to brush on the crust. This will give the crust a golden, shiny finish.
• Bake the Pasties in a preheated 350 to 375 degree oven, middle rack for 90 minutes. Watch the crust so that it doesn't get too brown in the cooking process.