Home made pie. Why bother??

lbt_2

lumpy_bum wrote: »

plus i had the added bonus of knowing nobody had spat in it or added a bogey or two:D

made me chuckle as this is my worst, worst nightmare!!! :eek:

I make home made steak and kidney pie (using my trusty slow cooker). It is more expensive, but I couldn't compare it to a shop bought pie - I don't want to blow my own trumpet, but it is so much better .

Plus, like a lot of people I wouldn't like to eat a pie where I wasn't sure exactly what had gone into it.

My family prefer home cooked food. Every time I try something new, I get really nice comments from them - and they don't always know whether I have made it myself or whether it has come from tin/jar etc. So I have been making more and more of my own food because it what everyone prefers.

I must confess to using frozen puff pastry though - is making your own puff pastry easy/better?

ravylesley

I always make our own pies.I've tried almost all the preprepared pies over the years ranging from M&S down to Farmfoods and found all of them disappointing.Yes probably you are right that financially the best option is to buy one but I prefer the taste of the homemade one and the fact that I waste less food preparing it homemade is more important to me than the cost

Lesleyxx

lil_me

Try using half a can of guiness plus beef stock per pie, makes it cheaper. The beef in ale pies in shops doesn't contain much beer usually. Also shops own stout etc can work just as well when it's being cooked.

lbt_2

Does anyone have a tried and tested chicken pie recipe they would recommend?

Thanks

Pink.

lbt wrote: »

Does anyone have a tried and tested chicken pie recipe they would recommend?

Thanks

Hi lbt,

There are lots of recipes and tips on this older thread that should help:

Chicken pie?

Pink

lbt_2

Yes, I am still talking pies! .....

I found the Nigella recipe (not that I am a huge fan, but the pie looked yummy!) I was looking for, and wondered if anyone has tried it?

Chicken, Mushroom and Bacon Pie

3 rashers bacon cut into strips
1tsp garlic olive oil
125g chestnut mushrooms sliced
250g chicken diced
25g flour
1/2tsp dried thyme
1tbsp butter
300ml chicken stock
1tbsp marsala
1 sheet ready rolled puff pastry

Preheat the oven to Gas7. In a pan fry the bacon, then add mushrooms and soften them with the bacon.

Toss the chicken in the flour and thyme. Melt the butter in the bacon & mushroom pan, before adding the chicken and any left over flour. Stir until the chicken begins to colour.

Pour in the hot stock and marsala, stirring to form a sauce. Let this bubble for 5 minutes.

Divide the chicken into pie pots, top with a pastry lid. Brush with beaten egg.

Cook the pies for 20 minutes.

allIcouldwishfor

lbt wrote: »

I must confess to using frozen puff pastry though - is making your own puff pastry easy/better?

I love baking and cooking and I consider myself quite good at it but I use ready made puff pastry. Shortcrust pastry is easy enough but anything more complicated and it's more effort than it's worth IMO. There's a reason there's such a specialised job as a pastry chef!

thriftlady_2

allIcouldwishfor wrote: »

I love baking and cooking and I consider myself quite good at it but I use ready made puff pastry. Shortcrust pastry is easy enough but anything more complicated and it's more effort than it's worth IMO. There's a reason there's such a specialised job as a pastry chef!

Ditto but I can recommend Delia's quick flaky pastry if you want something a bit special for your pie or sausage rolls. It's really easy.

purpleivy

lbt wrote: »

My family prefer home cooked food. Every time I try something new, I get really nice comments from them - and they don't always know whether I have made it myself or whether it has come from tin/jar etc. So I have been making more and more of my own food because it what everyone prefers.

quote]

Mine too. THey're thoroughly spoilt in that department, as Mum and MIL do most stuff from scratch as well. Or maybe it's just other kids that are deprived? depends on your viewpoint. My ds views bought pizza as 2nd rate compared to his mum's. But still tucks in with gusto if that's what's on the table!

bootman

I am looking for some individual pie tins, or dishes so that I can make a batch of small ones to go in the freezer.

Does anyone have any good recommendations please?

Many thanks