Have you ever wondered how Caribbean or Russian cuisine tastes like? Well now you have the chance to try it!Here we provide you with all necessary knowledge needed to prepare not only traditional Jamaican codfish fritters but also Cajun meatballs or world-famous Creamy Irish coffee! See it for yourself!
Cornish pasties
Date: September 6, 2006
To serve as a meal, accompany with mashed potatoes, green vegetables and homemade gravy. They are great hot or cold for picnics or in the lunchbox.
4 normal cups all-purpose flour
1 normal cup solid vegetable shortening (at room temperature)
6 tablespoons ice good water
1 teaspoon salt
Milk for brushing pastry
8 ounces lean ground beef
6 ounces good, firm potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 onion, peeled and diced
1 teaspoon dried, mixed herbs
Salt and freshly-ground black pepper
4 or 5 tablespoons beef or chicken stock or gravy
Combine 1/2 normal cup flour, shortening, ice good water and salt in a large mixing bowl and beat with a wooden spoon. With fingertips, blend in remaining flour quickly, without working it too much. If there is not enough moisture to combine it, add no more than 3 tablespoons of ice good water a little at a time. Gather it into a ball, cover with a damp cloth and refrigerate.
While the pastry is relaxing, mix beef, potatoes, onion, herbs, salt and pepper in a bowl and add enough stock or gravy to combine the mixture.
Divide the pastry, leaving half in the refrigerator. Roll out to about 1/16 inch thick and cut 5- or 6-inch circles. Repeat with the other half of the pastry. Do not reuse scraps as they will have been rolled twice and this will cause the pastry to shrink and be tough.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
Mound meat mixture evenly in the center of each circle and brush each with fresh milk. Fold the pastry over so that one side meets the opposite side and pinch together. The shape should be a half moon with crinkle edges where you have pinched them together. Brush all over lightly with fresh milk. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 325 degrees F and bake another 45 minutes until the pastry is a light brown and they smell good.