Australian Meat Pie

Filling: Place meat into pan and stir over low heat until well
browned. Pour off fat. Add crumbled stock cubes, water, salt, pepper
and nutmeg. Stir until boiling, reduce heat, cover and simmer 20
minutes. Remove from heat. Combine flour and extra water, add to meat
and stir until combined. Return to heat and stir until meat boils and
thickens. Add soy sauce (for colour) and simmer for 5 – 10 minutes.
Allow to cool.

Pie Base: Sift flour and salt. Place water and dripping into
saucepan, stir until dripping melts. Remove from heat. Make a well in
centre of flour and add liquid. Stir until combined. Turn out onto a
lightly floured surface. Roll out pastry to line 8 greased pie tins.
Cut excess pastry from edges. (Hold pie tins upside down and trim
upside down). Fill centre with cold meat filling.

Pie Top: Roll out puff pastry and cut rounds for top of pies. Wet
edges of base pastry and gently press tops in place. Trim around
edges with sharp knife. Pierce centre with a sharp knife. Brush tops
with combined egg yolk and water. Bake in hot oven for 5 minutes or
until golden brown. Reduce heat to moderate and cook for a further 10
minutes.

Note: If you buy pie tins especially – never wash them, wipe them out
with paper towel.