The Coal Miners Fast Food Cornish Pasties

CORNISH MINERS' PASTIES

Steps:

• Prepare pastry according to Recipe #230316 , set aside; preheat oven to 350.
• Mix meat, vegetables and salt in large bowl; divide into 6-8 portions; set aside.
• Divide pastry into 6 (large) or 8 (medium) equal pieces; roll each into a large circle, about 1/4-inch thick.
• On one half of each circle, place equal amount of meat-veg mixture.
• Carefully lift and fold pastry over filling (half circle); moisten edges of pastry with water & pastry brush; use a fork to crimp the edges to prevent liquid (added later) from oozing out. If there is a thin edge of crust, fold it over on itself to make a nice crust.
• Transfer each pasty to a large baking sheet (I use two).
• With a paring knife, poke a hole straight into JUST the top crust, shaped like an X, each leg should be about a half-inch long, then fold the little corners back (like a flower).
• Melt butter and water in the microwave; pour equal amounts into each pasty (through the little flower-hole you've created in the previous step).
• More butter-water can be added about half-way through the baking, if you didn't use it all at this point.
• Brush tops of pasties with the milk.
• Pop it all into the oven; bake for one hour; tops should be GOLDEN BROWN (you won't be able to let them in there much longer anyway--as the aroma is BEYOND this world!).
• Serve with gravy made from the soup & a bit of milk; add your favorite herbs (thyme & tarragon are our favorites); just heat the soup & milk, sprinkle in the herbs & spoon over the pasty or into the little hole.
• ALSO -- you might want to let these "rest" for a few minutes before eating---the insides will be VERY hot!
• TIPS ON EATING THESE: Miners would've carried these in a lunch pail (wrapped in a dishtowel!) -- we serve 'em on plates and slather on the gravy AFTER cutting them open to release the steam & heat; the crust is especially delish with the gravy!

COAL MINERS PASTIES

Steps:

• Place the flour, 2 teaspoons of salt, and the lard in a bowl. Quickly rub the lard into the flour with your fingertips until it resembles small peas. Pour in the ice water, and form into a ball. Add more water if it feels too dry. Divide the dough into 6 balls, and wrap in plastic. Chill one hour.
• In a bowl, combine the meat, turnips, potatoes, onions, remaining 1 tablespoon salt, and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
• Roll out one of the balls on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Using a cake pan, trace a 9 inch circle in the dough; cut out the circle. Place about 1 1/2 cups of the meat mixture into the middle of the circle. Fold the edges of the circle up to meet along the top of the meat filling, and crimp the dough along the top to seal. Repeat until all dough is used up. With a spatula, transfer the pasties to an ungreased sheet.
• Bake the pasties for 45 minutes, or until golden. Serve hot or at room temperature.

THE COAL MINER'S FAST FOOD - CORNISH PASTIES

Steps:

• Pre heat oven to 400 F (200 C) (gas mark 6).
• Rub the shortening into the flour and salt and add just enough water to make a firm pastry dough.
• Divide the pastry into 4 equal pieces and roll each piece out until is about 7 inches (18 cm) around. Cut the meat into small very cubes, removing all of the fat.
• Cut the potatoes, swede and onion into very small pieces and add to the meat. Place 1/4 of the mixture into the centre of each of the pastry circles and add salt and pepper to taste. Top each with 1/4 of the butter.
• Use a little water to dampen the edges of the pastry and bring the sides of the pastry circle up to meet each other so that the weight of the filling flattens out the bottom a little and you can crimp the edges together at the top.
• Pinch the edges firmly together and the result will look like a little pie with a Mohawk !
• Cook on a floured baking tray for 45 minutes.

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* !