English Stilton and Twice Baked Potato Picnic Pies - Pasties

French Tart's Note:

This is such a wonderful and easy recipe, especially if you are Stilton cheese and potato fans, as we are! Just slice up pre-cooked potatoes, add a slice of Stilton, season and bake in a pastry case, and there you have it......a great snack, lunch or picnic food extraordinaire! Serve them with assorted chutneys, pickles, salads or even MORE potatoes for a very tasty meal. I have stipulated ready-made shortcrust pastry, but puff pastry would also work well. Ingredients are listed for 4 people - however, this recipe is easy to multiply or reduce, according to your potato and Stilton supplies!!

• Total Time: 25 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 4

Yield: 4.0 Pies or ...

• 230 g ready-made rolled shortcrust pastry
• 3 -4 boiled potatoes, sliced into 1-inch rounds
• 4 slices Stilton cheese
• salt
• fresh ground black pepper
• 1 egg, beaten with a little
• milk

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
2. Grease and line a sturdy oven proof biscuit (cookie) sheet.
3. Cut out 8 pastry circles - about 3" to 4" in diameter - a cup is a great template!
4. Place the sliced potatoes on 4 of the pastry circles - leaving a 1/2" border.
5. Season well with black pepper, and salt if you wish - remembering that Stilton is quite salty itself.
6. Place a slice of Stilton cheese on top of the potatoes.
7. Place the remaining 4 circles of pastry over the top - bringing up the bottom pastry circle and pinching them together to make a crust - the bottom pastry circle should sit over the top of the top pastry circle as a seal.
8. Press the crust with the back of a fork to make a pattern and seal the pastry circles together.
9. Cut two 1" slits in the top of each pie - to let the steam escape.
10. Glaze the tops with the beaten egg and milk mixture.
11. Place onto the lined and greased oven tray and bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and crisp.
12. Allow to cool slightly before eating, as the cheese will be very hot!

Reviews

[andypandy]

This is so good, I did do a few things different though. Made two according to recipe. Good.. Made another two put a touch of prepared mustard on the bottom sheet, and also sprinkle green onion on. They were also very good. I can see where this simple recipe with a green salad is worth having a glass of wine with even for late lunch. Thanks

[Sussan]

FT - this was exceptional! We loved it - added some sliced mushrooms, made it into one large pie - and it made a great dinner. Thanks for posting.