Electric pie makers and recipe ideas ;)

[Halex]

JulieO, hand held pie book, i have made  a few things from it. I dont have it wth me right now. For $9 I dont think you can  go wrong, but will look through it when ?i am home & will give you an idea of whats in it.

Sorry just seen your question this morning.

I use shortcrust home made bottoms & bought puff in my pie maker.

H

[JulieO]

Thanks Hally, I think for $9 I'll just get the book. 

Judy, the tops were easy, like you say I just put them on top and the machine did all the work.  It was the bases I was slow at as I just plonked them in un-formed and pressed them together in the hot machine with my fingers.    I will pre-form them first next time to make it easier and quicker. 

That filling I made last time was really good in these and I've taken the rest out of the freezer to make into pies today.  Am looking forward now to using it more especially with left overs.  I will give it a try with all puff at some stage too.

[judydawn]

Yes you will notice a big difference by forming the cases first Julie - I don't know how you even managed to form them in the hot machine, ouch 

[Halex]

Frm the cases How

I form them in the pie maker too.

[judydawn]

You press them out Hally then where the cuts are, you sort of pleat them into a little basket.  Do you know what I mean? You then pick up the 'basket' and place it into the pie maker. Doesn't it tell you to do this in the book or have I just presumed this is the way to do it?  It is so easy.

[Halex]

Thanks JD

Never read instructions, too boring, much more fun to have a go , lol

[Meagan]

Yes JD I press them together before putting in the machine.

[mcmich]

You press them out Hally then where the cuts are, you sort of pleat them into a little basket.  Do you know what I mean? You then pick up the 'basket' and place it into the pie maker. Doesn't it tell you to do this in the book or have I just presumed this is the way to do it?  It is so easy.

rather than try and pleat them, I cut from the outside of the pastry circle into the centre of the circle and then overlap it to fit into the required space.

[obbie]

love my pie maker

[judydawn]

Using this template as a guide Michele?

[Yvette]

Judy I use he cutter thingy too to form the base so easy

[JulieO]

I made my own shortcrust for the bases which was just enough for 4 but I think I rolled it too thin as it was hard to form into shape without it falling in on itself, but I managed to get them in there okay and they turned out fine.
 
I had enough filling for 2 more and had 2 sheets of puff in the freezer, so after cleaning up I used these for tops and bottoms.  How much easier it is to use that.        The thickness of the pastry and getting it at the right time of defrosting made for easy forming etc.

Whether I'd use it all the time as I need one sheet of puff per pie because of the size of my pie maker but it sure made an easier job for me. 

[LucyW]

I just scored a $3 pie maker from one of the larger convenience marts, it only does 2 at pies at a time. My only issue is using the store bought pastry. I usually try to buy the butter one, but this time there was only the vegetable oil one

Not sure if I am brave enough to make my own puff pastry!

[Jamberie]

Give it a go Lucy! I've not made the puff pastry, but the shortcrust was so quick & fabulous I'll never buy it again! I'm sure someone with a pie maker will advise you of a good TMX recipe

[judydawn]

I use the ready made puff pastry sheets Lucy, often on the bases and tops to save time and they are great.