December 14, Homemade Mince and Cheese Pies

This is a kiwi classic and I've put my own twist on it. I plan on taking these tomorrow for our shared lunch at work, hopefully they'll go down well.

Ingredients

400-500g mince
2 Tbsp gravy powder (I used Bistro's)
1 cup of water
A handful of cubed cheese
A pack of golden flaky pastry sheets
Grated cheese to top

Method

Preheat oven to 220C.
Brown mince in a medium-large sized frying pan over medium heat.
Mix gravy powder with 1/4 cup of water whisk until smooth.
Heat 3/4 cup of water in the microwave for 2 minutes on high.
Mix gravy paste and hot water then whisk until smooth.
Pour gravy into saucepan then sift flour over top. Mix in well.
Throw in cheese cubes and lower heat.

Pastry

Cut pastry sheets to size (cookie-cutters may come in handy). Then use to line greased muffin trays (you can use whichever size you want I went with the regular sized muffin tray this time round).

Putting It Together

Scoop a spoon full of mince mixture into each pie.
If your a cheese lover like me you may wish to add a slice of cheese on top of the mince.
Then top with pastry lid, poke fork holes into the lid so your pies can breathe and top with more cheese (grated this time).
You may also like to try topping the pies with a frozen potato medallion instead of the pastry lid.
Cook for 15 minutes or until golden.
(makes 12 pies in a regular muffin tray)

December 12, Individual Lasagna

This is a spin off of last nights meal plus if you have fussy eaters in the house you can cook one meal with potato and one with pasta the same night with out too much hassle.

Ingredients

4 Tbsp margarine
2 Tbsp plain flour
1 cup milk
1 cup grated cheese
1 tsp mixed herbs
400-500g mince
Rich Tomato Soup or jar of pasta sauce
Fresh lasagna sheets, cut to shape
Grated cheese and herbs to top

Method

Preheat oven to 180C

Cheese Sauce
Heat margarine in a small saucepan then mix in flour once melted.
Add milk, lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add cheese heat till melted

Mince Sauce
Brown mince.
Lower heat.
Mix in pasta sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.

Layer and Cook
Half fill small ceramic bowls (ie. creme brulee bowls)with meat sauce, add sheet of lasagna top with layer of cheese sauce, add sheet of lasagna fill rest of bowl with meat sauce, add sheet of lasagna. Top with grated cheese and herbs then cook for 10 minutes.
(serves 4-5)

December 11, Individual Shepards Pies

Ingredients

400-500g mince
Rich Tomato Soup or jar of pasta sauce
Frozen potato Medallion
Grated cheese and herbs to top

Method

Brown mince.
Lower heat.
Mix in pasta sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
Spoon mixture into small ceramic bowls (ie. creme brulee bowls) top with potato medallion.
Cook for 5 minutes then top with cheese and herbs and cook for a further 5 minutes.
(serves 3-4)