New Years Eve or Hogmanay as it’s known in Scotland is bursting with traditions such as the customary “First Foot”. As the clock strikes midnight there is a chorus of “Auld Lang Syne and then comes the “First Food”. “The “first foot” is the first person to cross the threshold into a house after the chimes of midnight. Usually the “first foot” brings gifts of salt, coal, bread or shortbread and whiskey and if it’s a tall dark stranger then that’s good luck. ”
I always loved New Years Eve when I was growing up in Scotland, it was so exciting as a child going out to visit family in the middle of the night!
On New Years Day every year we’d go to my grandmother’s house and tuck into a big hearty plate of steak pie without it New Years Day just isn’t the same. In accordance with this I decided to make a steak pie for us to enjoy this year on New Years Day, this is my recipe..
STEAK PIE (serves 5-6)
INGREDIENTS
- 1Kg Lean good quality stewing steak cut into 1? cubes
- 1 Large onion, chopped finely
- 250g Mushrooms, quartered
- 3/4 Can Guinness
- 1 Beef Stock Cube
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tsp English Mustard
- 1 Tbsp Dried Thyme
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1 1/2 L Water
- Olive oil
- Salt and Pepper
- Shop bought, pre-rolled puff pastry
PREPARATION
- Using a large pot brown the meat well in batches in olive oil and set aside.
- Add the onions to the pot used to brown the meat and allow to soften gently.
- Add the stew back into the pot with the onion, followed by the Guinness, stock cube, thyme, bay leaf, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, mushrooms and water.
- Bring the ingredients up to the boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer.
- Simmer the stew for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until the meat is very tender and the sauce has reached the desired consistency.
- Pre-heat the oven to 190°C.
- Pour the meat into a large pie dish, cover with the pastry and brush with milk.
- Bake the pie in the oven for 15-20 minutes until the pastry is golden and crisp.
- Serve and Enjoy!
