My Favorite Cornish Pasties

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan became the home of many Cornish emigrants. As a result many Michiganders both living in the upper and lower penisulas grew up eating cornish pasties. My favorites are made with ground beef and with carrots instead of rutabegas. This is the recipe which is made the most often near my home. Some folks enjoy this cold...I love it best smothered in rich beef gravy. Some folks also like it served with a white Sausage Gravy. Some local churches actually make these once a year as a fund raiser. They offer them to eat on the premises and also take orders for take outs. They almost always sell out with some folks coming too late to get any.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 4
• Yields: 4 pasties

Ingredients

• 1  lb lean ground beef (uncooked)
• 1  large potato (peeled and cubed)
• 1  large carrot (cut into small cubes)
• 1  large onion (chopped)
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄4 teaspoons pepper
• 4  pie crusts
• 1⁄4 cup milk
• 1  quart  leftover  beef gravy, heated

Directions

1. Mix uncooked meat, vegetables and spices well together in a bowl.
2. Lay one pie crust flat on the lightly floured counter.
3. Put 1/4 of the filling mixture on one half of the crust, leaving at least a 1 1/2 inch area along the edge free for filling so that you can use this area for sealing.
4. Gently moisten the bottom edges on the sealing area with the milk using your fingertips.
5. Fold over the other half of the crust on top of the filling and bring the edges of the top half and the bottom half together and press to seal.
6. Fold the edges in towards the center once or twice.
7. Crimp the edges well.
8. Coat the entire top of the pastie with milk and place on a slightly greased large sheet pan.
9. Repeat with the other 3 crusts.
10. Bake for 425 degrees for about 15 minutes then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees for another 30 minutes, or until golden brown.