Home made pie. Why bother??

flyer

Yesterday, I thought I would do the right thing and make a steak and ale pie for the family. The ingredients cost about £5 in total and, whilst the pie was very nice, I can get the same thing at Somerfield for £1.60!!

Can someone explain to me why I should do it again?

Jet

I suppose the main reason would be that you know exactly what goes into the pie you make whereas the shop bought pie is bound to be full of additives.

Lizzieanne

Also, I presume that you didn't use all of the fat and flour that you bought to make the pie - so the pastry ingredients are 'free' on the next pie you make.
You can also jiggle around with the quantities in the pie filling. For example, a small amount of nice steak, but add mushrooms and other veg to make it less expensive (I hate the word 'cheaper'!)

You've got me thinking about pies now and I should be avoiding pastry!

shell2001

I usually make pies with the left-overs of another meal, such as roast chicken. That way its a free meal virtually, I usually just make a white sauce and add veggies too. Plus I know what is in it and frankly I find shop bought pies pastry hard and tasteless.

whatatwit

You could get one of the cheaper cuts of meat, skirt or shin and cook it long and slow.
This could then be incorporated into your pie and would work out much cheaper, you could make 2 or 3 pies, depending upon the amount of meat, this would then start to work out cheaper per unit.
And....you know what is in it.....I doubt if Somerfields pie had either the same quality of ingredients or, the same quantity.

Skint_Catt

I buy frozen cubed beef from Tescos and always have onions, mushooms etc around. I just use (frozen - sorry folks) pastry for a lid, not for the whole thing as we're both on a diet.

I've never bought and never will buy a pie from the shops - I just couldnt' bring myself to at it not knowing whats gone in!

What else could I use peeps to 'bulk' it out? Frozen peas?

Catt xx

lumpy_bum

with me being so bloomin fussy, ive tried the most expensive pies and still found something wrong with them. so i made my own
instead of buying stewing steak, id buy a healthy living joint of beef for about 3 quid then chop it all up, loads of onions and potatoes and let it stew all day, i got little pie tins from wilkos and made about 10 little pies from it all. considering i paid up to £2.50 for a little pie from m&s i saved a fortune!
plus i had the added bonus of knowing nobody had spat in it or added a bogey or two:D

mary43

originally posted by flyer
The ingredients cost about £5 in total and, whilst the pie was very nice, I can get the same thing at Somerfield for £1.60!!

Being the world worst cook I have to admit to doing the same and they are very tasty pies. Not as good as a home baked one where you can vary what and how much you put in it put they make a good meal none the less.
I've made pies from stew leftovers, turkey/chicken and leek in a white sauce.......stuff like that so I do have a go but when cost is an issue theres a big difference.

lumpy_bum

swedes good to bulk it out too:D and carrots
steak and veg pie:D shame im on a diet cos i could eat one of those lol

peb

Hmmm...
I succumbed to temptation and bought a pie from Tescos in the reduced cabinet for £2.00. It was reduced from £4.99 and was organic, special beef with a picture of the farmer etc etc. Still horrible. TBH I rarely bother making pies as I am another singleton and ny Mum does them sometimes when teh family is round. I have in the past bought pies from teh local butcher which have been much better. BUt with most things it is, like most people point out, working out what to put in to make sure it is nicer, better for you and cheaper.

Pink.

Skint_Catt wrote: »

What else could I use peeps to 'bulk' it out? Frozen peas?

Catt xx

Hi Catt,

Lidl sell a bag of frozen mixed vegetables (69p) that I keep in the freezer for bulking out pies. They have baby carrots,peas and sweetcorn in them and one bag will last for quite a few family sized pies.

Pink