Electric pie makers and recipe ideas ;)

[KarenH]

Used my new pie maker for the first time yesterday.  I made meat pies using Tenina's beef and ale pie mixture (FFS) but cooked it in the slow cooker the day beforehand.  For chicken pies I panfried chicken, leek and mushrooms, added Uni's SOS sauce mixture, peas, corn and roasted pumpkin.  A delicious filling for the pies!

The pie maker worked really well, and I was really happy with the pies.

I have a question for others who use a pie maker - what pastry do you use for the bases?  I used commercially bought shortcrust pastry for the bases, but found that I could get only one pie base from each sheet, and there was heaps of wasted pastry.  I tried to put all the leftovers together into a ball, knead it and roll it out again, but the pastry was really tough and rubbery, and I ended up chucking it out     

I was happy with the commercial puff pastry as the top, but would like to do something better with the bases.  Any suggestions??

[Yvette]

Karen I use store bought short crust on the bottom and puff on the top. I can get four bases from the one sheet but my pie maker is small pies not sure what size your pies are they must be bigger.

[obbie]

I use store bought shortcrust with my pie maker too.

[mcmich]

From 1 sheet of pastry. I use puff on the bottom and the top, I get 2 bases and 2 tops. I cut a base circle and top next to each other and do the opposite underneath a top and then a base. So they tops and bases are on the diagonal to each other.

[Wonder]

I use store bought short crust for the bottom and puff for the top and get 4 pies from each sheet (so a total of 2 sheets, 1 puff and 1 shortcrust for every 4 pies), there is still a bit of waste but not much.

[judydawn]

I've used both and now mainly use puff for both top and bottom so that I can get through a packet of pastry a lot quicker.  I find gathering the bits and pieces to make more tops and bottoms isn't that successful either Karen and the pies made with them never seem to brown as nicely as the first lot of cut outs.  You must have the large pie maker if you can only get 1 out of each sheet.  Your pies look lovely, bet your boys enjoyed them.  These are great standbys for the freezer and it's so easy to make a dozen or so individual pies at a time.

[KarenH]

Maybe my pie maker does make bigger pies    There is just no way I can get 4 bases out of one sheet of pastry.  The cutter for the bases measures 15.5cm in diameter ....... is that the same size as yours?

Either that, or else I am buying different pastry ...... I am using Borg's brand of pastry.

[Yvette]

Mine is smaller than that Karen you must have a bigger pie maker 

[fundj&e]

KH does it make only one pie at a time ? .  i also  use 2 sheets to make 4 pies

[KarenH]

No Uni, it makes 4 pies at a time.

[Bedlam]

I dont know if everyone already does this but I freeze 1/3 cup of filling in a silicon muffin tray ( once frozen remove from tray and bag) this is the perfect size for my pie machine. Best to microwave before cooking or take out of freezer to defrost. Very convenient though.

[Wonder]

I've never thought of doing that Bedlam, I always make all the pies and then freeze the actual pie.

[obbie]

what a good idea, thanks.

[Yvette]

Great idea Bedlam thanks

[Meagan]

I do that too bedlam