Cajun Mini Meat Pies Recipes

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat 1 teaspoon oil and cook beef and pork, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 to 6 minutes.
• Add onions, bell peppers, celery, salt, cayenne and black pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are wilted, about 10 to 12 minutres. Add the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Dissolve the flour in the water and add to the meat mixture. Stir until the mixture thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and add green onions. Mix well and let cool.
• In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in the shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal. In a small bowl, beat the egg with the milk. Gradually add the egg mixture to the flour mixture, working it to make a thick dough.
• Pinch off a medium size ball of dough. Roll out ball of dough on lightly floured surface until you get approximately 5 inch cirlce. Place about 1/4 cup of meat filling in the center of each round and brush edges lightly with egg wash. Fold edges together and crimp closed with a fork.
• Heat oil in a deep pot or electric deep-fryer to 360 degrees. Fry the pies, in batches, until golden. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.
• Instructions for Cajun Tartar Sauce:.
• Place the egg, garlic, lemon juice, parsley and green onions in a food processor and process for about 15 seconds until pureed. With the processor running, pour the oil through the feed tube in a steady stream. Add the cayenne, mustard and salt.

Steps:

• Filling:.
• Brown ground meat only till all brown.
• add the rest of ingredients and simmer till all are cooked down.
• drain in a strainer let sit in strainer to cool down set aside.
• Crust:.
• Mix all dry ingredients in large bowl.
• Mix eggs and milk.
• add to dry ingredients slowly while stiring.
• add shorting and cut in with pastry cutter or two knives.
• when well mixed form balls about the size of a tennis ball.
• roll out ball with rolling pen.
• cut out in about a 6 inch circle.
• use wet paper towle to wet around outer circle.
• put about 2 tablespoons of meat filling in center.
• fold over crust to form like a half moon
• press edges to seal with fingers.
• use a fork to repress edges and give a decortive look.
• when all are done put in fridge for at least an hour or till ready to fry.
• fry in very hot oil.
• turn when golden brown and fry other side.
• frying is very fast do not over fry meat is already cooked.
• can freeze unfried only.
• wrap indivdually in wax paper put several in zip lock bags freeze flat.
• after frozen then can stack as will.

Steps:

• Combine sugar, butter, and salt in a food processor or with an electric mixer, beating at high speed just until mixture is creamy (about 30 seconds).
• Add the egg, vanilla, and milk and beat until blended.
• Add 1 1/3 cups flour and beat just until blended (do NOT overmix).
• With floured hands, shape the dough into a round, flat patty.
• Lightly dust with flour, cover, and let sit for at least 1 hour before rolling out (will keep for several days).
• In a large skillet, melt the margarine over high heat; saute the onions and celery until wilted, stirring occasionally (about 4 minutes).
• Reduce heat to medium and add the pork, garlic, and seasonings.
• Cook for 4 minutes, stirring often; breaking up any large chunks and scraping the bottom of the pan (lower the heat if the onions start to turn dark brown).
• Add the beef and mix thoroughly.
• Lower the heat and let simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Mix in the potatoes and the stock.
• Cook for 10 minutes over med-low heat, stirring often.
• Strain the mixture very well and let cool at least 15 minutes before filling the pie shell.
• On a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin, roll out the dough to fit a 1.5" deep/8" round cake pan (dough should be 1/4" thick) or divide dough into 4 equal parts and then roll each out to 1/8" thickness.
• If making one large pie, grease and flour the cake pan and fit the dough inside, firmly pressing the bottom and the sides; trim the edges even with the top of the pan.
• Refrigerate dough for 15 minutes.
• Arrange pie weights or dried beans evenly on top of the dough, and bake at 350F for 20 minutes.
• Remove weights and bake just until the crust on the bottom part looks dry (15 minutes).
• Let cool for 5 minutes.
• In a small bowl, mix the ingredients listed under topping until smooth and thoroughly blended.
• Spoon the meat filling into the pie crust and spread the cheese topping evenly over the filling, being careful not to mix the two.
• Bake at 350F until the crust is golden brown (40-45 minutes).
• Let cool 10 minutes before serving.
• If making individual pies, place a plate upside down on each section of dough and trim around the edge to make it perfectly round.
• Place 1/4 of the filling to one side of the circle and spread the filling evenly over that half to within 1/2" of the edge.
• Fold the circle in half over the filling and seal by pressing the edge with a fork.
• Trim the edge to 1/4".
• In a deep pan or deep fryer, heat at least 2 inches of oil to 350°F.
• Hold the pies under the surface and cook until a rich golden-brown (1 1/2-2 minutes), then drain on a paper towel.
• Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Divide the mashed potatoes in half, returning one half to the bag to refreeze, thaw the remaining half and set aside.
• Thaw and drain 1/2 bag (about 8 oz.) of the peas and carrots, and place in a medium bowl.
• Over medium heat cook the sausage (the meat having been removed from the casing) and the onion in a nonstick skillet, stirring, until the sausage is browned and the onions are translucent, about 8 minutes. Drain off the grease and pour the meat-onion mix into a large bowl, set aside.
• In the same pan, with any residual grease left in the pan, cook the peas and carrots for another 2 minutes.
• Pour the peas and carrots into the meat mixture, then fold in the thawed (10 ounces portion) of the mashed potatoes.
• With a rolling pin, roll out the biscuit dough and cut into 12 (3-inch) rounds.
• Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
• Put a generous tablespoonful of the filling in the center of each round, brush the edges with water, and fold in half. Seal the edges with a fork. Cut 2 small slits in the top of each meat pie.
• Put the mini-pies on an un-greased baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes until they are golden brown. Remove, let cool slightly, and serve.