Pies Please

[welsh wizard]

As it is National Pie Week (1st - 7th March) and I make an inordinate amount of pies which I sell at Farmers Markets, I was wondering if anyone had any recipies which shall we say were a little left of centre?

The pies I produce are:

Cold Cutting Pies, which as it happens are fantastic eaten hot - but I would say that wouldnt I.

> Pheasant and Apricot
> Wild Duck and Quantro (sorry I know its the wrong spelling)
> Mixed Game with port soaked sultanas / cranberries
> Pork and local apple
> Pork and smoked Bacon
> Venison and Port
> Chicken and cider

Hot cooking pies are mainly as above.

I would be interested in ANY pie recipe both sweet and savory.

What is a Pie - Is shepards / cottage pie a pie? - Do you have to have pastry around the pie or does it just sit on the top? - whats American Pie?

A topic of its own I suppose................

Cheers WW

[aris]

I quite like a spinach and feta pie like my mum makes. Also nice cold and hot.

I don't have an exact recipe at hand - but the inside of the pie consists of pre-blanched spinach, fresh mint and dill, feta cheese, some chopped onions gently cooked down until translucent and slightly brown, salt, pepper.

You need a fair bit of herbs here - this is what makes the pie so nice - not just a sprig - like a good hand full of each.

For the pastry, you can use puff pastry like a regular pie, or do a rustic greek type of pastry which is basically a mix of flour, water, and olive oil.

[saucisson]

As it is National Pie Week (1st - 7th March)

What is a Pie - Is shepherds / cottage pie a pie? - Do you have to have pastry around the pie or does it just sit on the top?

Cheers WW

Why not make them into a pie for pie week? A good shortcrust base, but with the mashed potato topping, not a pastry one: I'd buy one right now

Dave

[wheels]

Boring I know, but within less adventurous people's comfort zone:
Steak and Kidney
Steak & Mushroom
Steak and Ale
Chicken and mushroom (could add leek also)
or to be really traditionally British:
Tandoori Chicken!!

Phil

[Paul Kribs]

I'm with wheels.. a good traditional 'Kate and Sidney'..

Made a couple last weekend and froze one for later consumption.

Blade steak (and a bit of topside) with ox kidneys and mushrooms, onions and some diced carrots, braised in some beef stock made with half a pint of speckled hen on and off over the course of 24 hours.... meat was falling apart.
Was going to make just the one, and some pasties for me and my mate for fishing the following monday.. only had enough filling left for one large pasty...

Regards, Paul Kribs

[welsh wizard]

Thanks one and all - great ideas, please keep them coming. Steak, Kidney and local ale (Boiling Well) will be done.

any ideas on cutting pies?

Cheers WW

[Maryhillgull]

I liked the one they did on Great British Menu, which was Rabbit and Crayfish, I have made it and used prawns instead and it was lovely. I also love Steak and Oyster (bit of a surf and turf thing going on here) but prefer it as a pudding, which is really still a pie just a different recipe for the the crust bit. Rhubard and Strawberry Pie is my favourite sweet pie.

Love Fish Pie made with smoked and fresh haddock (Jamie Olivers Recipe is good). Yes in my book cottage/shepherds/fish are still pies even though they are covered with mash not pastry.

[Paul Kribs]

Used to make bacon, leek and onion pudding... no doubt that would translate to a pie quite well..

Regards, Paul Kribs

[welsh wizard]

Does anyone know when a pie becomes a pie?

I used to think a pie had to have pastry all the way around but cottage, fish and sheppards pie have mash. The pubs steak and ale pie has just a puff pastry topping (what a swizz).

Anyway I would be interested if anyone knew - cheers WW

[TJ Buffalo]

WW, the most general definition of pie fits all of those pies that you mention:

pie (pī)
noun

1. a baked dish made with fruit, meat, etc., and having either an under crust, an upper crust, or both

It doesn't really seem to matter what the crust or covering is made of.

[welsh wizard]

Thanks TJ

I used to get dissapointed at Christmas time when I was a child when asked "would you like a mince pie"? I always assumed that I would be given a tasty little treat with gravy and mince oozzing out of delicate crusty pastry.

But alas sweet meats were in there and I didnt like sweet foods at the time so I had to find a way of disposing of the offending article.

Thank god for a good labrador................

Cheers WW

[georgebaker]

Hi
not to sure about what makes a pie, especially those that have puff tops and short case, but I know tarts do not have a top on, then there are Lattice pies as well.
George

[Ianinfrance]

Hi George...

Hi
but I know tarts do not have a top on
George

I'm biting my tongue here....

[johnfb]

[saucisson]

What he said