Pastie crust
2 cups A.P. Flour
1 and 1/2 tsp. Salt
6 tbs lard
6 tbs. water
Pastie Filling
2 russet potatoes, peeled and fine dice
1 cup rutabagga peeled and diced
1 mrdium size yellow onion, peeled and diced
3 cloves fresh Garlic, minced
1 lb. Diced Beef, or coarse-ground beef
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
2 tbs pork fat/grease
Place diced potatoes in a bowl of cod water to remobe some of the starch.
Melt the pork fat in a large, heavy skilit. Add the onions and garlic.
Stir over medium hest until the onions become translucent. Add meat and season with salt and pepper. Brown. Transfer the meat to a large bow and set aside. Drain, and rince the potatoes.
Place the pan back onto the stove and add rutabagga and potatoes. Add 1/4 cup water to the pan and cover. Cook for ten minutes, stirring frequently. Remove cover and lightly brown the potato/rutabagga mixture. Remove to the same bowl as the meat.
Combine the lard , salt and flour for the dough. Cut the fat into the flour Add more fat and continue cutting it in until it all looks like pea-gravel. Add water and knead lightly until the dough is formed.
Pastie crist is not supposed to be as flaky and tender as pie crust, so knred it just a little. Divide the dough into four equal portons and shape them into balls. Flatten with hands to form a round disk. Place the douh onto a floured surface and roll into 9 inch circle. In a seperate bowl, combide 1 large egg with 3 tbs water to make an egg-wash. Spoon filling onto 1/2 of the douh, leaving a 2 inch rim uncovered. Brush the uncovered rim with egg-wash. Fold the top half of the dough over the filling so that the circle edges meet. Lightly press edges together. Roll the circle edgs back to form a dough handle. Place onto parchment paprt lined bakin pan. Repeat with the other douh portions. Brush all pasties with egg wash.
Bake at 375 degrees F. for 25 minutes. Remove and serve hot with ketchup, and, or beef gravy.
Pasties were made in England by wives of miners. The douh handles gave the miners spmething they could hang onto, and discard, as they generally didn't have a way of washing their hands in the mines. The crust had to be tough enogh so that tle pastie held together while it was eaten. Enterprising wives would make a dough snake to divide the pstie inside, witjh 2/3ds filled with the meat and veggie mixtue, and the other side filled with a fruit filling to make a desert. I do this with my pasties as well. I also make a tender, flaky crust as I wiil be eating mine from a plate, handle and all.
Pasties are a Yooper specialty, but are enjoed in many other places as well. Enjoy. These things are truly heaven on a plate.
Seeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North