Beef and Bacon Pie

Pie is always a winner in our house. There are very few prepackaged pies that I am willing to eat so rather than making two separate meals I started making my own.

It's easier than it looks, you'll never want to buy a frozen pie again!

Beef and Bacon Pie

2 sheets puff pastry

1 Tablespoon oil

400g beef mince- ground beef

1 medium onion diced

2 cloves garlic

4 bacon rashers cut into small pieces

2 Tablespoons corn flour

150ml hot water

2 cubes beef stock

1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper

*Thaw pastry sheets and preheat oven to 180°C (355°F)

*Line a pie dish with baking paper **you can skip this but I find it makes life easier** then use one sheet of puff pastry, pressing down into the bottom of the dish. Trim excess from top edges and use these to fill any gaps you may have in the dish.

*Cover pastry with baking paper and fill with baking beads or raw rice. Bake for 20 minutes, remove beads/rice, bake for 5 minutes more.

Meanwhile:

*Combine hot water and stock cubes in a bowl/cup/jug

*Heat oil in a medium saucepan and saute onion, garlic and bacon.

*Add beef cook until half browned then add corn flour and complete browning.

*Add stock, sauce and seasonings, stir well and simmer for 5 minutes (liquid should thicken to a gravy like consistency, add more water if you feel it's too thick)

*Pour meat mixture into pastry case and seal with second pastry sheet, timing edges and pressing them down as you go. (I use the off cuts to decorate the top)

*Bake for 20 minutes or until top is puffed and browned.