Chunky Cornish Pasty Food

CORNISH PASTIES

Steps:

• For the pastry: Sift the flour, confectioners' sugar, and salt into a mixing bowl and add the butter and lard. Using your fingers, 2 knives, or a pastry blender, cut the butter and lard into the dry ingredients until mixture resembles fine crumbs. In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk and water together and add to the flour mixture. Mix quickly, but thoroughly, until mixture just comes together to form a dough. Knead briefly until pastry is smooth with no cracks; the trick to making this delicate pastry easy to work with is kneading it just enough so that it can be rolled out and manipulated without breaking but yet retains its lovely crumbly texture. Press into a flattened disk shape and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight before proceeding.
• Remove the pastry from the refrigerator and unwrap. Allow to soften slightly, then place on a lightly floured work surface and roll the pastry to a thickness of 1/4-inch. Using a small plate or saucer as a guide, cut out 6 (6-inch) rounds. (Scraps may be combined and reformed if you cannot get 6 rounds out of the first batch.) Stack the pastry rounds onto pieces of plastic wrap or parchment paper (with pieces between each round to keep them from sticking together) and refrigerate while you prepare the filling.
• For the filling: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Remove the pastry circles from the refrigerator. In a mixing bowl, combine the meat, onion, carrot, potato, salt and pepper and mix until thoroughly combined. Place the pastry circles on a clean work surface and place about 1/2 cup of the filling in the center of 1 side of the pastry. Using the beaten egg, brush the edges of the pastry and then bring the unfilled side over the filled side so that edges meet. Press edges together to seal and then crimp using your fingers or a fork. Repeat with the remaining turnovers and then transfer to a baking sheet. Brush the tops of the turnovers with the remaining egg and then cut several slits into the top of each pastry. Bake for 20 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown around the edges. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and continue to bake until the pasties are golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

PASTY PASTRY FOR CORNISH MINERS' PASTIES

Steps:

• Mix dry ingredients in mixing bowl.
• Cut in shortening with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Add ice water a little at a time, tossing with a fork to make a pastry-like dough.
• Add a bit more water if it seems dry and won't hold together when squeezed lightly.
• Gather into a ball, press firmly now, then wrap with plastic wrap and chill while preparing the pasty ingredients (see Recipe # ).
• Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface (or on top of a piece of plastic wrap which can easily be folded over and then peeled off once the pasty ingredients are loaded).
• Edges of pasty should be brushed with a smidgen of water and then crimped VERY firmly with a fork (and I fold them and crimp again -- so none of the liquid seeps out).
• Brush tops of finished pasties with milk to enhance the crust (it will bake to a beautiful golden brown).
• NOTE: Like pastry dough, pasty dough should be handled as LITTLE as possible to ensure flakiness. So, *handle with care* !

AUTHENTIC CORNISH PASTIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425* F.
• Combine potato, onion, meat, and seasonings; mix together well.
• Cut butter and shortening into flour in a bowl until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Add about 2 tablespoons cold water and mix with a fork to form a firm dough (add more water if necessary, until mixture just holds together).
• Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead lightly a few times. Cut into quarters, and roll each quarter out into a 6-7 inch circle. Trim by using a small plate placed over pastry and cutting around edge with a small, sharp knife.
• Divide filling between each circle of pastry. Wet edges with water and fold pastry into a semi-circle, pressing edges together. Flute edges with fingers to form a tight seal.
• Place pasties onto a baking sheet and brush with egg or milk. Bake at 425* F for 40-45 minutes, or until golden and heated through. May be served hot or cold.

CORNISH PASTIES

Steps:

• Combine ½ cup flour, shortening, 6 tbsp ice water and salt in large bowl and beat well with large whisk or wooden spoon.
• Using fingertips, blend in remaining flour until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• If too dry, add up to 2 tbsp more ice water, a few drops at a time.
• Gather dough into ball.
• Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Combine beef, potatoes, onion and herbs and season generously with salt and pepper.
• Stir in enough beef gravy to bind mixture.
• Roll dough out on lightly floured surface to thickness of 1/8 of an inch.
• Using 5-6 inch in diameter, round cutter, cut 10 circles.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Lightly grease baking sheet.
• Mound meat mixture lightly in center of each circle; brush border with milk; fold dough in half over filling, pinching edges together to seal.
• Brush pastries with milk.
• Arrange on prepared sheet.
• Bake 10 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 340F and continue baking until pasties are light brown, about 45-50 minutes.
• Serve hot or at room temperature.

CORNISH PASTY

Steps:

• Make pie crust: Mix flour by hand with 1/2 of shortening till crumbly.
• Add remaining shortening and continue to mix.
• Salt may be added to flour if desired.
• Add water- mix with fork until forms into a ball.
• Roll out into top and bottom crust.
• Or may use purchased crust.
• Preheat oven to 350.
• Put uncooked pie crust into bottom of 9" pie plate.
• Cover with a layer of sliced potatoes.
• Sprinkle with 1/3 of the onions.
• Crumble 1/2 ground chuck and spread over potatoes.
• Continue layering ending with potatoes and onions.
• Cover with top crust.
• Put a few holes in it for steam to escape.
• Bake approximately 1 1/2 hours until potatoes are soft.
• Let sit 10 minutes before slicing.
• Serve in slices as a pie with Chili Sauce on the side.