I like to cook. I'm not very good at it all the time, but I try. Sometimes I try make fancy things to get the family like me a bit more. Impress them and such. "See? I can totally make something other than spaghetti bolognaise. Who knew? Now you do."
Anyway, it's winter and pies are damn easy, fast and inexpensive to make. Got your attention? Good. Keep up. I made a Pepper Steak Pie this way. I don't know if it's the 'best' or 'right' way to do it, but it's all I had in the house and made sense at the time.
1. Cube potatoes, a red onion and a white onion. Fry onions first, then add potatoes. Fry a bit more until it becomes boring and seems an appropriate time to move on. (Take the frozen pastry out of the freezer at this point, to thaw)
2. Add cubed steak (I used Rump) and fry until brown / all corners of the cubes are sealed.
3.
Gooi in Tomato Paste, 2 Beef Stock Cubes, a Cup of Water,
Worcestershire Sauce (go mad), some Red Wine and a bit of Chutney if you
have. Loads of black pepper. Obviously. Do NOT add salt as stock cubes
have a surplus of it.
4. Leave uncovered for about forty minutes or when it seems okay / steak and potatoes are soft.
5.
After forty minutes, if you feel it needs thickening, you can add a mix
of flour and water paste and stir continuously until the 'stew' mixture
thickens. Put the oven on to 190 degrees now.
6. You really can add whatever else you want, like vegetables etc.
7. Put the mix in to an over proof dish. Put a layer of thawed Puff Pastry on top. In other words, it must NOT be frozen pastry. Anyway, put a layer to cover the stew mix. You can play around, make pressed corners and a shape etc. Beat an egg and coat with the egg mix. Put it in the oven for about twenty minutes or until the pastry is golden and puffy looking.
8. As this is a pretty unhealthy meal, make a little side salad so it at least seems that you have good intentions for your family. I made a Beetroot Salad, which is basically just beetroot, sundried tomatoes, lentils, onions and balsamic vinegar.
You totally just impressed your family. I'm expecting an invitation from the team at Master Chef *any* second now.