Manx Pasties

Serves: To make eight pasties

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Cook Time: 1 Hour

Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins

1 lb - minced beef (ground beef)

4 medium-sized - potatoes

2 medium - onions

1 teaspoon - dried mixed herbs

- salt and pepper

4 tablespoons - gravy or water

12 oz - ready to use short crust pastry

a little - milk

Peel the potatoes and cut into cubes about ½" (1cm). Soak for a moment in water to remove any excess starch then blot dry on absorbent kitchen paper. In a large bowl, mix the potato pieces with the minced beef then peel and finely chop the onion and add to the mixture. Add the dried herbs, salt and pepper and the gravy (or water) and mix well.
Roll out the pastry about ¼" (5mm) thick on a lightly-floured flat surface and cut into eight circles about 5" (12.5cm) diameter. Divide the filling between the circles of pastry, making a mound in the centre of each. Moisten all round the edge of the pastry with a little milk then lift at two opposite points and fold over to meet on top of the filling. Continue bringing the two edges over to meet each other so that you finish with an elongated crescent shape that is slightly pointed at both ends but wider in the middle.
Pinch the joins between finger and thumb to seal them (these sealed edges will stand up a little on top of the pasty (just like a Mohican haircut!). Prick the pasties three or four times with a fork then brush them with milk so they glaze nicely in the oven.
Bake in a preheated hot oven (Mk 7 - 425ºF - 220ºC) for 10 minutes then reduce the heat to moderate (Mk 4 - 350ºF - 180ºC) for a further 50 minutes.