Meat Pie in a Jar

I love traditional meat pies, but sometimes getting them to keep their shape can be a pain. This method is perfect for both keeping the shape and storing in the freezer for another day. I've used a beef stew to fill mine, but you can use whatever filling you'd like. It works well with chicken or pork too. To make the pie crust I use a basic lard pastry recipe, this give you a really nice crunchy outside to your pie.

To make the pastry:

200g lard

220g water

575g flour

pinch of salt

1 beaten egg (to finish)

In a small sauce pan bring the water and lard to a simmer (or until all the lard has melted) sift the flour and salt into a large bowl and carefully pour in the water, lard mixture. combine together with a wooden spoon and set aside until the mixture is cool enough to handle this pastry needs to be worked warm so do not allow it to cool too much. Roll out on a floured surface and cut to fit your mason jars. oil and lightly flour your jars and begin to assemble your pies. Fill with your meat stew mix, lay a pastry lid on top and brush with the beaten egg, before cooking pierce a hole in the pastry top to allow the steam to escape. Bake @ 375f for 35 minutes, allow to cool slightly before turning them out of their jars or if you're like me, eat them straight out of the jar.

Chocolate Cupcakes

Chocolate Cupcakes:

¾ Cup unsweetened Cocoa Powder

¾ Cup all purpose flour

½ Tsp baking Powder 

¼ Tsp Salt

¾ Butter (softened)

1 Cup Sugar 

Zest of 1 orange

3 Large Eggs

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

½ Cup Plain yogurt 

¾ Cup of Chocolate chips

Mix together the cocoa, flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl (or mixer) mix the butter and sugar until fluffy then add the yogurt and zest. Add the eggs in slowly while mixing. Mix in the dry ingredients until well combined. Put into a muffin tray about ¾ full, lick the bowl. Bake in a preheated oven @ 350f for 25 minutes. 

Buttercream Icing:

½ Cup of Butter (softened) 

½ Cup of Goats cheese

4 cups of Powered Sugar 

¼ Cup Milk

1Tsp Vanilla Extract

Cream together the Butter and goats cheese until smooth. Keep mixing and add in half the sugar, the milk and vanilla, and then the remainder of the sugar.  Mix until soft and fluffy.

Put into a piping bag and pipe onto the cool cupcakes. Add a garnish to decorate, or some sprinkles for some cupcake bling. 

Pizza oven

              

My cousin back in Ireland has built a wood fired pizza oven in her back yard, so on a recent trip when she invited me up for an evening of pizza and beer with a few friends, she didn't have to ask twice!  

Using the ancient method of hut building using straw and clay, she constructed this amazing wood fired oven, or cob.  It is highly durable, easy and fun to make (it requires getting dirty, but who doesn’t like to get a little dirty).

As the fire crackled and began to die down to the perfect glowing embers needed to cook the pizza without burning, we prepared all our toppings everything from our homemade tomato base sauce to olives, onions, peppers and even black pudding. Everyone made their own specialty pizza and within minutes (this over get seriously hot and can cook a pizza in 4 minutes) we were enjoying perfectly cooked pizzas, the way they were meant to be baked!