Steak and banger Pie

This pie is made using cubed up steak, English banger's (Specialty stores carry these) mushrooms, leeks and homemade beef stock simmered till the steak is very tender.  To make the beef stock I use ox tails rolled in flour and simmer for hours upon hours with salt, pepper, pepper flakes and water.
I used hot water pastry for the crust.  I let the filling cool and sort of jell so it's not too runny before I put the filling into the pie.

Full day of baking savory pies.

Today I'm making steak and banger pie, and pork pies.  For the pork pies I wash and sterilize my meat grinder then grind pork butt, bacon, and ham all together.  I add nutmeg, mace, salt and pepper for seasoning.  One large onion and I grind 4 Hawaiian rolls and add them to the mixture along with 2 eggs and about 3/4 cup water.  I used the traditional hot water pastry for these.  You can find the recipe on my recipe page.  :)
Assemble the pies and cook at 375 degrees for 40 minutes...

French game pie baking pate tin mold

I found and bid on a vintage French game pie baking pate tin mold on Ebay and to my surprise I was the winning bidder.  I was shocked that it arrived in only a couple days.  I am so excited about this purchase and am busily thinking about what my first pie will be.  I'm thinking about a pork pie, then a steak pie and maybe a curried lamb pie.  Oh the options are limitless.  I purchased this pie pan because I seen the most beautiful meat pie I had ever seen.   I will show you soon my pie creations.

Puff pastry

2 1/2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, chilled
1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water

1) Combine the flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Cut in half of the chilled butter with a pastry blender until the butter/flour mixture resembles granola. Work quickly to keep the butter as cold as possible.

2) Dice the remaining butter and add to the butter/flour mixture in the bowl. Work in the new butter until it is the size of dried cranberries. You can flatten the pieces slightly with your fingers as you go along, creating leaves of butter coated in flour.

3) Sprinkle about half of the ice water over the butter/flour and work gently, adding more water as needed until the dough forms a rough mass. Knead the dough for about 30 seconds.

4) Divide the dough in half and press gently into 2 discs. You should still be able to see bits of butter in the dough. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. You can keep the dough in the fridge up to overnight if desired.

I've used the puff pastry to make this potato, sausage and egg tart.  The crust is a very flaky one that lends itself well in t his savory pie.

Hummingbird Cake

1 cup (110 grams) pecans
3 cups (390 grams) all-purpose flour
2 cups (400 grams) granulated white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup (180 ml) safflower, corn, or canola oil
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 - 8 ounce (227 grams) can crushed pineapple, do not drain
2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3-4 medium sized bananas)


Pecan Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/4 cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
8 ounces (227 grams) cream cheese, room temperature
1 pound box (454 grams) (about 3 2/3 cups) powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon (4 grams) pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (55 grams) finely chopped pecans


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place the rack in the center of the oven. Butter or spray two - 9 x 2 inch (23 x 5 cm) round cake pans and line the bottoms of the pans with a circle of parchment paper.

Place the pecans on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for about 8 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool and then chop finely.

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon.

In another large bowl, mix together the eggs, oil, vanilla extract, pineapple, mashed bananas, and finely chopped pecans. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir until combined. Evenly divide the batter between the two prepared pans and bake for about 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. After about 10 minutes invert the cakes onto the wire rack, remove the pans and parchment paper, and then cool completely before frosting.

Frosting: In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and cream cheese, on low speed, until very smooth with no lumps. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and beat, on low speed, until fully incorporated and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla extract and then stir in the finely chopped pecans.

To assemble: place one cake, top side down, onto your serving platter. Spread with about a third of the frosting. Gently place the other cake layer, top of cake facing up, onto the frosting, and spread the rest of the frosting over the top and sides of the cake. Can garnish with pecan halves. Refrigerate the cake for about one hour so the frosting has time to set.

Serves 10 - 12 large slices