Tuesday 14 October 2008

Steak pie

I am a huge fan of pies of every type, from shepherds pie to apple pie and everything in between, you name it I love it! There is nothing like the smell of a pie baking, or the satisfaction that comes from breaking through the crust to reveal the delicious filling.

I don't tend to eat pies during the summer, but when the weather turns cooler pies are exactly the kind of food I crave, warming, comforting and tasty!

I am always disappointed with ready made pies, normally the filling consists of masses of gravy and hardly any meat. What meat there is is in tiny pathetic little pieces, I like big chunks of meat in mine, the only way to get that is to do it myself.

So I made my all-time favourite pie, steak and kidney. At least it was going to be steak and kidney except, it turned out that the kidneys that I had in the freezer weren't in the freezer. after a long search empying the freezer, my hands going blue I gave up! I think someone must have stolen them!

So here it is kidney-less steak and kidney pie AKA "Cow Pie"This pie is made in two stages, the first stage is basically a casserole, braising steak is perfect for this but it needs long slow cooking. I prepared it in the morning and left it to simmer for hours on a very low light. the next stage is when it becomes a pie, the meat gets a pastry lid and is baked until golden delicious.

Steak pie

I was planning to make steak and kidney pie but ...

See Steak pie on Key Ingredient.

16 comments:

Beth (jamandcream) said...

My hubby would love this - he complains I don't make enough pies!

Joie de vivre said...

That does look very homey. I've never seen one of those things you placed in the center of your pie. A new kitchen gadget! Oh no, I'm in trouble.

Hopie said...

I love pies but I hardly ever think of making savory ones. That steak pie looks great! I love how you wrote cow pie on it -- in case you forget what it is when it comes out of the oven ;-)

Anonymous said...

love the COW PIE! this is so funny. my stepdad would go nuts over this. everyone loves shephard's pie in my house (I used to before I stopped eating meat).

Andrea said...

Cow pie?! ha ha, I hope your readers aren't too literal! Seriously does anyone do a meat pie like you Brits? I think not. The thing I love about pies like this is when you push the crust in on top and it starts to absorb all of those great juices. Yum!

Amanda said...

Sam, you've got my tummy rumbling now! That meat pie looks fantastic.

BTW, I love the changes I'm seeing on your blog! Looks great!

Laura Paterson said...

Sam, your pie looks wonderful! Even if it doesn't have sausages in ;)

Sam said...

Beth: You can never have too many pies!

Joie de vivre: It's a pie funnel shaped like a blackbird!
It's supposed to let the steam out from under the crust.

Hopie: Believe it or not I did meet someone who dis forget, she poured gravy on her apple pie ;)

Joanna: Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.

Andrea: Yeah we do make a mean pie here in England;)

Cooking and the city: Thanks!

Amanda: Thanks, and I'm glad you like the changes!

Kittie: I did think of taking your advice and adding sausages, but I only had pork ones, not too sure about that combination!

Abitofafoodie said...

Nothing beats a good pie. Love the picture with the steam escaping!

Alicia Foodycat said...

I have a blackbird pie funnel too - must put it to use! As a firm believer that pastry is one of the essential food groups I just love this!

Sylvie said...

I'm a pie lover as well and had my 'first one of the season' last week. Mine was only shop bought though, so nowhere near as good as yours.

Mike of Mike's Table said...

I'm also a fiend for pies, especially of the savory variety. Also, rofl about "cow pie"--I don't think I could have picked a better name. It sounds delicious, even with the name ;-)

Anonymous said...

I have also bought the ingredients to make this Steak pie! I dont like kidney anyway, so it is perfect for me. I will let you know how it turned out. Im not good with my own pastry, so hopefully frozen pastry will not go wrong on me :)

The ingredients look good..ale and worcester sauce :)

Joie de vivre said...

Thanks for your comments about my "casserole". I would probably call this pie of yours a "casserole" and your description of "casserole" a "stew". :) Thank heavens for pictures. They enable two speakers of the English language to converse when they don't know what the heck each other is saying. :)

Anonymous said...

Made the pie and it was a success story in our house! My girls and hubby loved it...packed with meat and the pastry worked out fine! Definately a recipe 'keep' for me and will be used alot, especially in the winter.

Maggie said...

Fabulous! Love the photo.