Macaroni Cheese Pies

Ingredients

For the macaroni cheese

• 2 TBS butter
• 2 TBS plain flour
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/4 cup Heavy Cream
• 1/2 pound grated cheese (a good strong Cheddar, Red Leicester, Parmesan)

Healthy splash of hot sauce (Tabasco, etc.)

• Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

• 1 1/2 cup macaroni, cooked as per package directions, drained and rinsed

For the pastry

• 2 1/2 cups plain flour
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 50g of solid white shortening, or lard
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• More grated cheese to top

Directions

First make the macaroni and cheese.

1. 1 - To make the sauce place the butter into a saucepan over medium heat.
2. 2 - Melt and whisk in the flour.
3. 3 - Continue whisking for about a minute.
4. 4 - Slowly whisk in the milk and cream, whisking constantly until the mixture bubbles and begins to thicken.
5. 5 - Whisk in the cheeses a bit at a time, allowing each addition to melt before adding the next.
6. 6 - Stir in the hot sauce and seasonings.
7. 7 - Taste and adjust as necessary.
8. 8 - Stir in your cooked and drained macaroni.
9. 9 - Cover with a piece of cling film and set aside to cool completely.
10. To make your pastry:

Preheat oven to 400F

1. 1 - Measure the flour into a bowl along with the salt, whisking both together.
2. 2 - Drop the fat in bits over top.
3. 3 - Pour the boiling water in all at once and stir quickly together with a fork until well blended.
4. 4 - Once you can easily handle it, tip it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it gently until smooth.
5. 5 - Cover with the bowl and allow to rest for five minutes.

To assemble

1. 1 - Take 6 metal pastry rings, about 4 inches in diameter, and place them onto a baking tray.
2. 2 - Roll your pastry out on a lightly floured surface until it is 1/4 inch thick.
3. 3 - Cut out rounds large enough to fit into the metal rings with a bit of overhang.
4. 4 - Carefully fit the pastry into the rings, pushing it into the sides at the bottom all the way around with your knuckles to fit.
5. 5 - Once you have them lined properly, take a rolling pin and roll it across the tops to cut any excess pastry away.
6. 6 - Fill each of the rings with a portion of the macaroni cheese, filling them to just below the pastry edge.
7. 7 - Sprinkle each with some more grated cheese.
8. Bake in the heated oven for about 35 minutes, or until a rich golden brown. Loosen the edges of the metal rings with a sharp knife and allow them to cool for 5 minutes before removing the metal rings to serve.
9. Best served hot or warm with some tomato ketchup and chips (French Fries) on the side.