Poverty Pie Recipes

THREE BERRY PIE

Steps:

• Combine the flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in the shortening until the pieces are the size of small peas. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the water over part of the mixture, then gently toss with a fork. Push moistened portion to the side of the bowl. Repeat, using 1 tablespoon of water at a time, until all is moistened. Divide the dough in half. Form each half into a ball and flatten slightly. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Transfer one piece of dough to a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough from the center to the edges to form a 12-inch circle. Wrap the crust around the rolling pin. Unroll it onto a 9-inch pie plate. Ease the crust into the pie plate, being careful not to stretch it. Trim the bottom crust evenly with the rim of the pie plate, and return the pastry-lined pie plate to the refrigerator.
• In a large mixing bowl, stir together the sugar and cornstarch. Add the strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries; gently toss until berries are coated. Allow fruit mixture to stand for about 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place a baking sheet in the oven to preheat.
• Roll out the remaining pastry for the top crust. Stir the berry mixture and pour the filling into the pastry-lined pie plate. Place the top crust over the pie and trim the edges, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Fold the top crust under the bottom crust, pressing lightly to seal. Crimp the edges of the crust and cut vents in the top to allow steam to escape. To prevent over-browning, cover the edge of the pie with foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven on the baking tray for 25 minutes. Remove the foil.
• Bake for an additional 20 to 30 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling and the crust is golden. Cool on a wire rack.

POVERTY PIE

Steps:

• Mix all the flour and butter together with your fingertips until you end up with something that looks like breadcrumbs.
• Gradually, add enough cold water to form a dough; refrigerate for an hour (optional).
• While the dough is chilling, boil the cubed potatoes till very soft and fry the onions and garlic together in a little oil.
• Drain potatoes.
• Add the soy sauce and black pepper; mix onions with the potatoes, plus with a little of the potato water to make the mixture really creamy.
• Add half the cheese.
• Roll the pastry to about one cm or 1/4" thick and put in a lighty greased pie pan.
• Spread the mixture out in the pastry lined pan and top with the last of the cheese and the parsley.
• Bake in an oven preheated to gas mark 5/190C/375F for 40 minutes.

POVERTY PIE - 1940'S

Steps:

• To make filling.
• In a large saucepan bring stock, water, onion and bouquet garni to the boil and then turn down heat and add rabbit and gently simmer, covered for 45 minutes.
• Remove rabbit and cool and then pull meat from the bones and cut into bite sized chunks.
• Meanwhile return liquid to heat and boil briskly to reduce to 1 1/2 cups, this usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.
• In a saucepan melt butter and then add leak, mushroom and celery and sweat until soft and then add flour and cook for a further minutes and then gradually add warm stock, stirring well until sauce boils and thickens and then stir in cream and check for seasoning, fold rabbit through the sauce and allow to cool slightly.
• To make the pies.
• Roll out the shortcrust pastry and line small pie tins, filled with meat mixture and then cover with puff pastry. sealing edges with egg wash.
• Cut a slit in the middle of the pastry top to let steam escape and brush the pies with egg wash and put into the oven for 15 minutes at 220C and then turn down to 200C for a further 10 minutes.