English Stilton and Twice Baked Potato Picnic Pies - Pasties

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!!

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 4
• Yields: 4 Pies or Pasties

Ingredients

• 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!