WHAT TO DO WITH EXTRA PIE CRUST RECIPES

Steps:

• Soften the onion in the butter with the rosemary and nutmeg, then set aside to cool. Whizz the chicken thighs and 300g of the ham in a food processor until minced. Put into a large bowl and add the onion, pistachios, cranberries and thyme. Season well.
• To make the pastry, mix together the flours and 2tsp salt in a large bowl, then make a well in the centre. Put the butter and lard into a small pan with 200ml water and very gently melt. Turn up the heat and, when just bubbling, pour into the well and mix together with a flat-bladed knife.
• When you can handle it, knead the dough so it all comes together. Pull off a piece big enough to make the lid with a little overlap and set aside, covered with clingfilm. Hot water crust is tricky to roll into a big piece so roll it into a large disc, big enough to cover the base of the tin.
• Work the pastry up the sides using your knuckles to push it into the corners of the tin. You can work the pastry hard – it won’t make it tough. Push it over the sides to make a lip.
• Evenly cover the base with half the remaining sliced ham, followed by half the chicken breasts and half the mince mixture, pressing firmly to pack. Repeat with the remaining ham and chicken, then a rounded dome of mince. Roll the reserved dough to a circle large enough to easily cover the pie. Brush the edge of the pie with some beaten egg and top with the pastry lid. Press to seal the edges before trimming the excess. Crimp the edges with a fork to seal.
• Make a small hole in the middle for a pie funnel if you have one, or a large piping nozzle works just as well. Brush the top of the pie with more beaten egg, decorate with any trimmings then glaze.
• Heat oven to 180C fan, gas 6. Bake the pie for 1 hour. Very carefully remove the pie from its tin, brush the top and side with more egg and bake for another 30 minutes until browned and crisp. Leave to cool completely before putting in the fridge.
• To make the jelly, soak the gelatine in cold water for 5-10 minutes until soft. Squeeze out any excess water, then dissolve in the hot stock. Allow it to cool for 10 minutes, then slowly pour it into the pie through the small hole (you could use a funnel or small jug) until full – you may not need all the stock. Chill the pie for a few hours.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Whisk the eggs, oil and vanilla extract in a food processor or stand mixer.
• In another bowl whisk the remaining ingredients together until combined.
• Pour the dry into wet mixture into a food processor.
• Add the cold, cubed butter.
• Process by pulsing until it looks like crumbles.
• Spray a pie plate with cooking spray and place in pie plate. 
• Press with hands to form dough right in the pie plate. Alternately you can also roll out dough between two pieces of parchment paper and flip over into a 9 inch pie plate.
• Using a fork randomly make holes into the bottom of the crust.
• Bake the crust 10-15 minutes or until golden.
• Cover the crust edges with aluminum foil if using this for a savory or sweet pie that needs to be baked again, otherwise it will burn.
• Once cooled out of the oven, add your filling.