Pasties Out Of Crescents Food

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* !

CRESCENT ROLL PASTRY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 deg.
• Grease 9x13 pan.
• Pat out 1 can of crescent rolls on bottom of pan, pinching seams together.
• Cream the cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla together until well mixed.
• Spread over layer of rolls.
• Pat out second can of rolls on wax paper, pinch seams together and cut into strips.
• Place, latticelike, on top of cheese mixture.
• Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
• While cooling just a bit, mix together the powdered sugar and lemon juice.
• Add enough milk to make mixture a thick syrup consistency.
• Dribble over top of still warm pastry.
• This is very pretty at Christmas to decorate with sugared cranberries and mint leaves.

CRESCENTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Cream sugar and butter. Add flour, vanilla and nut meats. Roll a small piece between your hands and form into small crescents. (2 1/2 inches) Bake 20 to 25 minutes. When cool, roll in powdered sugar. These are better the second day.

CORNISH PASTIES

Steps:

• Mix together the flour, salt and baking powder in a large bowl. Add the shortening, cutting it in with a pastry blender. Add the ice water, a little at a time, adding more if necessary until the dough is easily handled. Divide the dough into six pieces, wrap in wax paper, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• For each pasty, roll out a piece of dough into an 8-inch circle. On one half of the circle layer about 2 heaping tablespoons each of the potatoes, beef and onions, and about 1/4 cup each of rutabaga and carrots, adding salt and pepper to taste. Dot each batch of filling with 1 teaspoon butter, and fold the dough over, forming a half-moon. Moisten the edges with water, and seal the edges, crimping them with a fork. Place on a greased baking sheet. In the top of each pasty, cut several small slashes with a sharp knife.
• Bake in a 425-degree oven for a half-hour. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees, and bake for another half-hour or until the pasties are nicely browned. Serve hot or cold.

FAVORITE CORNISH PASTIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the round steak, potatoes, carrots, onion, parsley, salt and pepper. Add butter and toss to coat; set aside. , For pastry, combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut in shortening until mixture forms pea-size crumbs. Sprinkle with water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Toss lightly with a fork until dough forms a ball. Do not overmix. , Divide dough into fourths. Roll out one portion into a 9-in. circle; transfer to a greased baking sheet. Mound about 1-1/4 cups of meat filling on half of circle. Moisten edges with water; fold dough over mixture and press edges with fork to seal. Repeat with remaining pastry and filling. , Cut slits in top of each pasty. Brush with beaten egg if desired. Bake at 375° for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown.