MINI PIES ON A STICK RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan, add the onion and cook for around 5 mins until softened. Stir in the garlic, carrots, celery, pepper and cumin. Cook for a further two mins, then add the lamb. Brown the meat, tipping off any excess fat. Add the courgette and tomato purée, then fry for a few mins more. Pour in the stock, add the lentils and bring to a simmer. Cook for 40 mins, stirring from time to time.
• Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Boil the potatoes for 10-15 mins until tender. Drain, then mash with the butter and milk.
• Remove the lamb mixture from the heat and use a stick blender to pur é e. Stir as you pur ée, blending down the pieces of vegetables. Spoon into 8 largish individual ramekins. Top with the mash and grated cheese. The pie can now be chilled and frozen for up to a mont h.
• Bake for 30 mins until the top is golden and the mince is bubbling up at the sides. (Cook from frozen at 160C/fan 140C/gas 3 for about 40 mins, then turn up to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 for 20-30 mins or until golden on top and piping hot in the centre.) Leave to stand for at least 10 mins before serving. Check it has cooled down sufficiently in the centre before giving it to young children.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 12 muffin cups with cooking spray.
• Roll out a single pie crust onto a flat surface. Using a large cookie cutter or any circular lid, cut out a 4-inch circle of dough. Press each dough circle into the bottom of a muffin tin cup, leaving a tiny rim of dough sticking out at the top. Repeat with remaining dough to fill all 12 muffin cups.
• Fill each cup until nearly full, about 1/4 cup, with pie filling.
• Use the remaining dough to create a top crust to cover each pie. To make a lattice crust, use a knife or pizza cutter to cut out thin strips of dough, then lace together to form a lattice. To make a standard crust, cut out a circle of dough just large enough to cover the top of the bottom crust. Cut a few small slits into the crust. Then using your fingers, gently press the top crust onto the bottom crust until they stick together and no gaps remain.
• Use a pastry brush to brush the tops of each pie with the whisked egg. Then bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until the crust is lightly golden and the filling begins to bubble.
• Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 15 minutes. Then very carefully with a knife, loosen the edges of each pie and gently lift out from the muffin tin. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.