Finnish Meat Pie Food

CORNISH FINNISH MICHIGAN PASTIES

Steps:

• Whisk together flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut shortening. Make a well in the center of the mixture, and quickly stir in ice cold water. Form dough into a ball. Set aside.
• Dissolve the bouillon cube in the hot water. Combine uncooked vegetables, uncooked meats, salt, pepper, monosodium glutamate, and bouillon.
• Roll out pastry dough into 6 x 8 inch rectangles. Place about 1 1/2 cups of filling in the center of each rectangle. Bring 6 inch sides together, and seal. Cut a slit in the top of each pasty. Place on dull, not black, baking pans.
• Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 45 minutes.

FINNISH MEATLOAF/FINNISH MEAT PIES

Steps:

• In frying pan add margarine, mushroom, onion and bread. Fry until onion, mushrooms and bread are slightly browned.
• In large bowl, mix meats together, add vegetables,bread pieces, parsley and 3/4 cup cheese. Mix together.
• Add evaporated milk and pepper and mix.
• Place in loaf pan.
• Add remaining cheese on top.
• Preheat oven 350*.
• Bake one hour. Makes 8 large slices.
• For: Pies.
• Roll out pie crust pastry for each slice.
• Place slice or half slice on one half of pastry.
• Add tomato, then onion, then sour cream.
• Fold over. Seal edges with the tines of a fork.
• Make as many pies as desired.
• In a cup, beat egg and water.
• Brush egg wash over the pastries.
• Preheat oven 425*.
• Bake until golden brown about 20 minutes.
• This is a basic satisfying taste recipe, no heart stopping spice, or zesty tomato or zingy hot pepper. You will taste the cheese and that is the idea. My personal addition is to add 1/2 tsp creamy horseradish sauce before I seal the edges of the pastry but it is not called for in the recipe.

FINNISH MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Place shortening in a large bowl. Add boiling water; stir until shortening is melted. In a small bowl, mix flour and salt. Add to shortening mixture; stir until a soft ball forms. Cover and refrigerate until cooled, about 1 hour., Preheat oven to 350°. Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll 1 dough portion into a 17x13-in. rectangle. Transfer to an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Press onto bottom and up sides of dish. Trim pastry to 1/2 in. beyond rim of dish., In a large bowl, combine filling ingredients. Spoon into pastry. Roll out remaining dough into a 13x9-in. rectangle. Place over filling. Fold bottom pastry over top pastry; press with a fork to seal. In a small bowl, whisk egg and milk; brush over pastry. Cut slits in top. Bake 1-1/4 hours or until golden brown.

KARELIAN LANTTUKUKKO (FINNISH MEAT AND RUTABAGA PIE)

Steps:

• Combine yeast and warm water, stirring to dissolve yeast, then combine with enough of the rye flour for the consistence of porridge; cover loosely and set aside for one hour.
• Meanwhile, peel and slice the rutabaga and cook in salted water until soft, about 20 minutes.
• Once the yeast has been activated, stir in enough all purpose flour to form a dough (the dough will leave the sides of the bowl); cover with a clean towel and set aside to rise for 1 hour.
• Add a small amount of oil to a skillet and fry the meat, onion, salt and pepper, and chopped parsley; remove from heat once the onions begin to caramelize and are a light golden.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• After an hour the dough should have doubled in size; turn out onto a work surface dusted with rye flour.
• Knead dough; roll out dough to either a square shape or circular shape to be stuffed with the rutabagas and meat mixture.
• To the dough, place a layer of rutabaga, then meat.
• Fold over the sides to cover filling and seal.
• Transfer to a greased baking sheet and bake until crust is golden and filling is cooked through, about 1 hour.
• Brush the top with butter and let cool slightly before slicing.
• NOTE: The original recipe called for the pie to be wrapped in grease-proof paper, then newspaper, then a plastic bag. It was allowed to rest, at room temperature, for 3 hours to soften.