Ready made pastry.

Trisha57-I’ve got one of those wood and wire ones too! Makes lovely pastry. No idea where it came from. It was getting a bit manky, and I bought what I thought was the modern equivalent, one like Auntieflo’s, but couldn’t get on with it at all, and went back to the old one. Keeps the pastry from getting under your nails! I think it makes the pastry lighter, because there are slightly bigger bits of fat left in the flour, so when you roll it out it is rather like a fine flaky pastry. And you are not handling the pastry to rub it in if your hands are hot. Works for me anyway.

I hardly cook at all since Mr M retired - I have to clear everything up though but I’d have to do that if I cooked plus he’s rubbish at loading dishwasher despite several lessons haha. He shops too as I’ve my fair share of chores. We shouldn’t feel at all guilty at using ‘shortcuts’ - Shirley Conran said Life’s too short to stuff a mushroom!

I make my own by hand as 1. it’s dead cheap, 2. I can choose my own ingredients (always use vitalite) and avoid palm oil and 3. I make just the right amount I need. Did it from cost perspective from when I was poor young mum, and it’s second nature now. Appreciate it’s not everyone’s bag but I have had LOTS of practise. ?

pastry is so easy and is part of the slow mo vibe, taking my time, not rushing to get it done

I make mine all organic, rub in at room temperature by hand lifting to get the air in, mix with very cold water, with a knife. Quick gathering into a ball and into the fridge until I am ready. It is the most divine flaky pastry, very much nicer than ready stuff. I tried ready stuff only once

I make tarts and cases,small and large and freeze them. ready to pop into the oven

Why should using something which makes your life easier make you feel guilty? That just doesn't make any sense to me. Pastry making isn't a service you give or a donation to charity which if you withdrew it someone would lose out by it. Just enjoy the baking you have done and enjoy the extra time you have earned by not having to clear up the mess!

Even worse ‘sin ‘ to confess …..?Not only do I use ready made pastry. I stick it on top of tinned stewed steak and …lo and behold ….ready made meat pie!, ( I do sometimes mix a few button mushrooms in the meat ??

Oh no, Megs36, prepared to be crucified by those who have not only made their own pastry, but reared their own cattle to produce the steak for the pie - and probably grown their own mushrooms too!

Blondiescot. Got broad shoulders (and broad everything really). ?

Megs36

Even worse ‘sin ‘ to confess …..?Not only do I use ready made pastry. I stick it on top of tinned stewed steak and …lo and behold ….ready made meat pie!, ( I do sometimes mix a few button mushrooms in the meat ??

I can beat that, Megs36!

Although I do nearly always cook from scratch, now and then, when I’m feeling particularly lazy, dh and I will have a whole Fray Bentos tinned pie each, just with frozen peas.

Which reminds me, I don’t have any in for very-lazy-day emergencies - must rectify that on the next shopping trip.

Witzend. Luv em, my husband calls them gravy pies! Not much meat…Pastry’s Ok!!!

Yes, but we don’t care, either, Megs36!

Never made pastry, but I rarely cook with it either, sometimes filo, if I need it, I buy it. I don’t own a mixer either.
No GSM I don’t iron any sheets, all fitted, so the creases disappear, nor pillow slips, dried over an airer and on full pillows, they’re fine.

Megs36

I saw your post yesterday and i thought Im trying that, i bought some more ready-made pastry, potatoes and all important tin.

I might made this wondrous pie today goodness knows i will have to do something besides sewing and writing my book, at the moment i have writers block, so thats put paid to that. So it looks like the ready-made pastry is going to be the entertainment for today ( can't abide to have nothing to do in a day, its a definate NO NO.

Frey Bentos pies!!! Now that has brought back memories! I loved eating those with tinned carrots and tinned new potatoes. Loved the way the pastry was burnt to a crisp on top, while still staying soggy and slimy underneath. Delicious. What a shame my food order has been sent in and it is too late to add to it. Maybe next week!

They do cheese and onion ones, now.

Spot on beswitched.

Not sure about the slimy bit Lizbethann

Well, yesterday i swept another ready-made pastry off the refrigerator shelf quicker than rat up a drain ooooo sheer joy today after making another large cornish slab.....

The guilt and feeling lazy has VANNNNISHED as i look upon the simplicity, the ease, the lack of mess, mess, mess... whooaaaaaaa. 1 happy Yorkshire lass ......

I loved Fray Bentos pies too! The soft, soggy pastry under the crisp top. I bought one in the Poundshop a few months ago. Still the same taste as I remember but it looked considerably smaller. Never think to look for them when I'm shopping.

AreWeThereYet ohhhh yes, Fray Bentos pies, i haven't had 1 for years but now you mention them, i can 'taste' them... yummy..

Megs36

Even worse ‘sin ‘ to confess …..?Not only do I use ready made pastry. I stick it on top of tinned stewed steak and …lo and behold ….ready made meat pie!, ( I do sometimes mix a few button mushrooms in the meat ??

Ooooh that sounds really clever. I’ve never bought steak in a tin. What brand is best?

Espee. All supermarket brands OK, just got a couple of tins from Morrisons. Works for me…Back to Fray Bentos pies,*Lizbe*. Reminded me with tinned veg. as well.?????

I remember Heinz did coleslaw and russian salad in tins. I do like tinned cream that you have to shake like mad to thicken up. When I was a kid most food was tinned or perhaps it was cheaper than fresh we were a family of 10.

Sarnia

Life is to short to faff about making puff pastry. Ready made every time.

I'm with Sarnia and if Mary Berry uses ready made then it's alright for the rest of us!!!

Esspee

Megs36

Even worse ‘sin ‘ to confess …..?Not only do I use ready made pastry. I stick it on top of tinned stewed steak and …lo and behold ….ready made meat pie!, ( I do sometimes mix a few button mushrooms in the meat ??

Ooooh that sounds really clever. I’ve never bought steak in a tin. What brand is best?

I used to buy M&S tinned mince when visiting an old aunt of dh who wouldn’t eat anything tinned or even frozen. (You would sicken and die!). So I used to decant it into a Tupperware, add a few sautéed mushroom slices, and pretend I’d made it myself.

She lived nearly a 2 hour drive away and ‘had’ to have her lunch on the dot of 12.30 (failure to stick to absolutely regular mealtimes were another cause of sickness and death) so the instant I was in the door I was boiling the kettle to get the (pre peeled) spuds going.

I also gave her frozen peas, decanted into a plastic bag, which thawed en route.
She never twigged about either.

We had formerly been in the habit of taking her out to lunch, but it was invariably a litany of, ‘Too hot, too cold, too tough, too sloppy, they don’t know how to make pastry any more,’ you name it, so M&S tinned mince it was!