More pie!

Looking forward to this - mince, onion, carrot, celery in oxo gravy. Change from mash on top - grated the potatoes and onions, egg wash and finished off under the grill. Having it with sprouts shortly!

Cottage Pie take

So I like to dabble with sprouts - not always a success, it's down to what we do about it! I had some sprouts at the ready so I chopped some onions and added various spices including curry, chilli and paprika. Microwaved and added the sprouts and a tin of chopped tomatoes - didn't taste that good TBH so I added a tin of chunky steak and some oxo gravy. Sliced some potatoes, microwaved and just as I was about to layer each of the potatoes and the meat/veg mix I spotted a tin of jackfruit so I chopped it up and added. layered alternate potatoes/meat mixture and cooked through. A mighty meal - sufficient for 4 generous servings, ie 2 nights here served with mushy peas.

Pies

Few things are more comforting than pies. Whilst many would think they are inappropriate when trying to lose weight there is a huge selection of pastry alternatives we can use.

Pastry alternatives include pease pudding, vegetables, noodles and rice to name but a few. I was amazed at the versitility of these ingredients, so here are a few takes.

Cowboy Pie

 If there was EVER a recipe I would encourage people to try it has got to be this one. Basic good honest cooking....no spices, no curries as some don't like - a take on a shepherd's pie, but what a take! Absolutely delicious and healthy too, complying with the conditions I set myself and Jon had to like it and I can tell you he wolfed it down.

Last Wednesday at Slimmingworld we were discussing meals we had enjoyed during the week. One of the gals, Carol had made this and her enthusiastic report made me want to try it asap - which I did on Friday. I hope my enthusiasm encourages others to give it a go - you will thank me for it I can tell you. Personally - this is the way forward for pies. Forget shepherds - give me cowboys!

Fry Light (Very low calorie cooking oil/spray
500g pack extra lean mince beef (Vegetarian option could be quorn mince or something similar)
6 spring onions, white bulb thinly sliced and green leaves finely chopped
900g fresh diced carrot and swede
415g can baked beans
300ml beef stock
2tbsp worcestershire sauce
1tsp dried mixed herbs
salt and pepper
2x107g packs instant mash potato cheddar and onion flavour ( I made my own and sprinkled a small amount of cheese on top)
2 eggs, beaten

1) Place a pan sprayed with Fry Light over a medium heat.
Add the minced beef and stir fry for 3 minutes
Then add the white spring onions to the mince and stir fry for a further 2 minutes or until the meat is browned.

2) Add the carrot and swede, baked beans, beef stock, worcestershire sauce and
herbs, then season. Bring to the boil, cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Mine looked like this.

3) Preheat the grill to medium. Make the mash according to packet instructions or make own.
Add the spring onion greens to the mash with half the egg and beat well. Divide
the mince mixture between 4 ovenproof pie dishes, then spoon over the mash. Roughen up the tops of the pies with a fork, then brush with the remaining egg. I added a sprinkling of cheese.

4) Grill the pies for 3 minutes or until browned.

 I made 3 individual deep dishes approximately 5 inches in diameter and one tin foil double helping  (takeaway container size)


Serve with vegetables. I added salad too.

Quick Steak Pie

One tin of chunky steak is sufficient for 2 pies. Whilst there are other syn-free tins of steak out there I prefer M&S for the simple reason I know I can use it with confidence and not have to sieve out the fat.

1 tin of chunky steak

Additional seasoning of choice

Stock cube.

Chopped onion

1 tub of pease pudding 

1 beaten egg

1 tin of mushy peas.

Prepare the crust first - beat the egg into the pease pudding, add any dry seasoning - chilli flakes is a favourite of mine, plenty of pepper too and a dash of salt.

Set to one side.

Microwave the chopped onion for 5 minutes in about half a mug of boiling water. Stir in the chunky steak and add any stock cubes, stir well.

Spoon into oven dishes. Add a layer of mushy peas and spoon the pease pudding mixture on the top. Baste with beaten egg and grill until golden brown.