national Pie day! (friday)

[Glaucus]

National Pie day 23rrd of Jan
I know it's american, but still what a great joyous day.
Having some mates round on Friday and going to watch a dvd..

I will hopeful be having a medially of pies if I can find something light enough for starters. Thinking of some sort of scallop with a puff pastry circle.
Had an idea, a couple of pan fried scallops with a creamed leek and bacon sauce, assembled on a plate with a puff pastry circle..

vegetable oil
Butter
leeks, finely shredded
garlic clove
dry white wine
double cream
juice of 1 lemon
Smoked streaky bacon
Scallops
Puff pastry disks

Steak and pickled onion pie.
Serves 4
1 tbsp olive oil
4 rashers smoked streaky bacon
750g cubed casserole or braising steak
4 tbsp plain flour
75cl bottle red wine
1x 450g jar baby pickled onions drained and rinsed
2 fresh thyme sprigs
handful of baby button mushrooms
375g pack ready-rolled puff pastry
salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 Heat the oil in a large casserole pan cut the bacon into 1 cm wide strips, and add to the pan.

2 Season the flour with salt and pepper then toss the steak in the mixture. Shake off any excess flour then add to the pan and cook for 7-8 minutes, turning from time to time until nicely browned.

3 Add the wine, pickled onions, mushrooms and thyme. Bring to the boil, partially cover and simmer for at least 1 hour.

4 Preheat the oven to 200c / gas 6. Open out the pastry and cut to about
2cm larger than the pan, rolling out slightly thinner if necessary. Place on top of the steak, tucking in the edges to enclose the filling. Brush with milk then bake for 20 minutes until golden and puffed.

Obviously use shortcrust and do a base if you want, a good tip is to put a thin layer of semolina on the base to help keep the pastry crispy. This is what i will be doing.

Chocolate Marshmallow Pie
Ingredients:

175g Sweet Shortcrust Pastry Dough
90g plain chocolate (about 70% cocoa solids)
15 marshmallows (either standard marshmallows or vegan marshmallows)
2 tbsp water
1 egg, separated
300ml double cream


Method:
Roll out the pastry until thick enough to line an 18cm diameter flan ring or pie plate. Cover with greaseproof paper and baking beans then place in an oven pre-heated to 180°C and blind bake for 15 minutes, or until the pastry is golden.

Meanwhile add the chocolate, marshmallows and water to a bain-marie (double boiler) and leave until the mixture melts. Tale off the heat, allow to cool slightly then whisk-in the egg yolk and set aside until cold.

Whisk the double cream until it forms soft peaks. In a separate bowl whisk the egg white until it becomes stiff (but not dry) then fold the beaten egg white into the cooled chocolate mix. Now mix in half the cream into the chocolate mix, folding gently.

Turn into the pastry case and leave to set completely. Once the filling has set decorate with the remaining whipped cream and serve.