Good recipe for short crust pastry ??

mumofthetwins

Hi guys
I've meal planned got my shopping in and I've decided I'm gonna make some mini curry pies with Tuesday's left over curry (only me so I'll defo have loads left) can anyone recommend a short crust pastry recipie and the best way to make the pies ...
Thanks guys x

hattifattener

I made this the other day in the blender and it worked a treat. http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/shortcrustpastry_1278

Tiglath

I just do half fat to flour with a pinch of salt eg. 8oz flour, 4 oz fat (I usually do half marge/half lard but you could just as easily do all marge).

mumofthetwins

Thanks guys ... Doesn't seem to bad x

babyshoes

I do half fat to flour, keeping everything cold - have been known to use butter and flour straight from the freezer. After rubbing in, I add a dash of lemon juice and if available I use a little cold fizzy water to bring the pastry together, which makes the pastry a little lighter. Ordinary cold water is fine if you don't have fizzy. Rest for at least 20 mins wrapped in plastic in the fridge before rolling out.

meritaten

do not put hot filling into the pastry cases - it must cool or you will get soggy pastry!

daisiegg

Half fat to flour and as for the fat I use half margarine and half Trex or white flora, bind with very cold water with lemon juice in it. Chill in the fridge for 20 mins or so before rolling out. Never fails.

Valli

Another vote for the chilling from me. It has VASTLY improved my pastry since I have done this!

mumofthetwins

Thanks guys didn't think about chilling everything ... I've got loads of trex to so handy to know I can use this
Does anyone know if I can use the trex to replace butter in any other recipes ... Never thought about this before as I'd bought it to roll inclining on so used Hadley any

Thanks Lisa x

whitesatin

Oh dear, makes me feel guilty for buying frozen pastry from M&S. Mind you, it is bound to be better than my efforts. I can cook, make cakes but not pastry for some reason.

mumofthetwins

Well I'm making my pies this afternoon ��
Quick one though ... Do I use plain flour and if I have some pastry left over can I freeze it ... I'm only making a couple of pies so not sure how much to make ...
Sorry if I sound really dim but I'm just getting into old style and I've already starting batch cooking and using leftovers for other meals (hence the pies �� x