Beef Pasties (Meat Pies)

I've been trying several recipes for pasties, but never found one that tasted as good as this one. Using store-bought pie crust made this an easy weeknight dinner.

• Ready In: 3 hrs 35 mins
• Serves: 4
• Yields: 4 meat pies

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 lbs  sirloin steaks (cut into very small pieces)
• 1 1⁄2 cups  frozen peas and carrots
• 1  cup frozen hash brown potatoes (in chunks...not shredded)
• 1  tablespoon  dried onion flakes
• 1 (3/4ounce) package  brown gravy mix
• 1  cup water
• 1  bay leaf
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 (15 ounce) package  pie crusts (containing 2 crusts)

Directions

1. In a casserole, mix the cut-up sirloin steak, the peas and carrots, hash browns, minced onion, brown gravy mix, water, bay leaf and water. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 3 hours, or until meat is very tender. Taste and season with salt and pepper and any herbs you enjoy. Cool for at least an hour.
2. Preheat oven to 375.
3. Let pie crusts sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Cut each crust into halves. Put the cooled meat mixture on half of a half-circle, fold the top over and seal (using water on the edges). This will make a little pie package. cut a few slits on the top. Do this with all the crusts. Place on a cookie sheet coated with non-stick spray. Brush a bit of milk over each pastie. Place in 350 degree oven for 35 minutes or until crust is golden.