Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Eating and Drinking => Kitchen Natter => Topic started by: Lardman on December 12, 2016, 15:14

Title: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Lardman on December 12, 2016, 15:14
http://www.salterhousewares.co.uk/salter-deep-fill-2-pie-maker.html (http://www.salterhousewares.co.uk/salter-deep-fill-2-pie-maker.html)

Im busy trying to justify buying one.  :closedeyes:   :blush:
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: New shoot on December 12, 2016, 17:10
Well I'm not going to talk you out of it.  I just looked at the Amazon reviews (the vast majority all glowing) and am wondering why I haven't seen them before either  :lol:

Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Paul Plots on December 13, 2016, 02:23
Would it be cheaper to run than putting the oven on? (taking into account the cost of the appliance as well).

Looks good but we are not having one.... (final last words) as the kitchen is full to bursting with all of my daughter's cooking bits as well as ours.

Willing to let you know if you want me to compare your pies cooked a) in the conventional oven b) pie maker.


I can let you have my home address via a personal message... and will supply reusable containers  :lol:
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Lardman on December 13, 2016, 08:39
Would it be cheaper to run than putting the oven on? (taking into account the cost of the appliance as well).

You're probably looking at an hour at least to heat it up and then cook - I expect they'll be around the same. I've ordered it, a lot of my CBA at dinner times stems from not wanting to put the oven on or wait an hour.

I can let you have my home address via a personal message... and will supply reusable containers  :lol:

I'm sure there's an EEC directive to prevent the transportation of pies ... they're a health hazard you see.  :D
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: mumofstig on December 13, 2016, 08:53
 :D :D
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: New shoot on December 13, 2016, 10:42
Yes nice try Paul, but I think you'll get little joy here as well.  I mentioned buying one to OH and his face lit up.

I wouldn't want to get between him and a fresh cooked pie when he gets home from work starving hungry and knackered  :lol:
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: mumofstig on December 13, 2016, 11:05
It's a shame they won't make the pastry as well - wishful thinking ;)
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Paul Plots on December 14, 2016, 01:04
Foiled again (not tin-foiled though I guess)...

1) No stopping the go-ahead and purchase of more marvellous kitchen paraphernalia gadgets

2) Despite my best offers to help.... no pies for the tasting winging their way through the mail

Can understand the reasoning behind the pie producer though. Good luck with it.


This evening (Mrs Plots away) so I "did" two big baked potatoes in the oven for my daughter and me..... Boy they took ages!! It seems "we" prefer (so I'm told) oven baked jacket potatoes.

I did stick a flan in the oven too but... no more oven baked jacket potatoes. (The electricity bill!!!)

And "No" we do not need a microwave because "we" do not like jacket potatoes that have soft skins and we can't be doing with putting them in a microwave and then the oven....so I am told.  ::)

Personally I like mash.....so I'll have to put my foot-down with a firm peeler..  :wacko: when Mrs Plots gets back. (She does not like mash and I've almost forgotten what it's like  :(

Enjoy those pies....  ;)
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Lardman on December 14, 2016, 17:04
I have to admit I was sceptical... after unboxing and priming the none stick I thought that'll never work.

There's a cutter with the machine it makes the exact sizes for both the top and bottom. The bottom one creating nicks in the pastry to make it easier to put the pastry in the machine.  It heats up quickly ... very quickly perhaps 3-4 minutes.

For the test, shortcrust pastry (50/50 butter/lard) I had in the fridge with some mince , a few spuds and some mushys, everything was already cooked apart from the mushys.

Getting the pastry in isn't the easiest thing in the world although it may get better with practise. There didn't appear to be a lot of space for my filling - I jam as much in a think is safe without overfill the pastry bit it could have taken more.  Lids on - no milk or egg wash and start the timer. There was a bit of an uneven cook, the right side lid was hanging about but overall around 15 mins from cold to steaming hot pie.

I turned the machine off and upside down with a bit of a shake to unstick things and then lifted the pies out.

They lack the beauty of a thumb mushed hand crimped edge but they're very passable pies.

Pie B I've left at full res so you can get a clear look at how the pastry has cooked (no soggy bottoms here). That and to make people hungry.  :D

Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Paul Plots on December 14, 2016, 20:55
I can smell it from here and it looks blinking good too.

And there was me contenting myself with cold pork pie for my evening meal.  :(

Here's wishing you many happy pie making days....... delighted to hear they are free of soggy bottoms  ;)

Boxing Day - Turkey Pie Day?
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: New shoot on December 15, 2016, 09:40
Pie B I've left at full res so you can get a clear look at how the pastry has cooked (no soggy bottoms here). That and to make people hungry.  :D

Its a bit early for pie, but they do look more than passable  :lol:  I'll let the Christmas rush go by and I think I might be investing  ;)
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Lardman on December 15, 2016, 11:09
Boxing Day - Turkey Pie Day?

Why wait ?  :tongue2:

I've seen some tv adverts for pre-cooked jacket spuds that you just nuke, they're currently in the "Im not paying that" category but for a treat it's always an option. Mash is always a bonus done nicely (butter and milk), the older I get the more I appreciate it.

I must remember to get a packet of frozen berries to do a few apple & berry pies.
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Paul Plots on December 24, 2016, 01:30
Fruit pies? Wow

Custard or ice-cream with them = heaven!!

Great for an extra pudding over Christmas / New Year if someone drops in for tea unexpectedly.

(Foiled again.... I can't get there - no buses running over the holiday period ;) )
 :lol:
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: sunshineband on December 24, 2016, 10:03
They do look excellent, Lardman, and now I am hovering.. birthday coming up in Feb... could I justify the kitchen storage space, how often would we eat a pie? I think maybe far too often if we had one of these!!
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: New shoot on December 24, 2016, 10:45
how often would we eat a pie? I think maybe far too often if we had one of these!!

I think that may be the case here as well, but I'm still planning on buying one  :lol:  It was the apple and custard pies that tipped it for me.

My reasoning (and this is New shoot logic, so bear with me here) is that if you only make 2 small pies and eat them up between the 2 of you, there is no leftover pie in the fridge tempting you back to eat more. 

If I make a plate pie, it worries OH until he has scoffed the lot, so this will be a quick, easy fix for pie cravings and less calories overall  :unsure:   I just need to hide the machine inbetween times  :lol:
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Paul Plots on December 24, 2016, 21:35
New shoot - I think you've cracked it!

Sounds very sensible and sound reasoning to me.

(Pleased you liked the apple pie & custard idea........my favourite. Almost anything with custard sounds a good idea.)
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Lardman on December 26, 2016, 13:51
My reasoning (and this is New shoot logic, so bear with me here) is that if you only make 2 small pies and eat them up between the 2 of you, there is no leftover pie in the fridge tempting you back to eat more.

Perfectly reasonable - along with the "there's no point saving that little slice" argument  :closedeyes:  I also reasoned that the pastry to filling ratio would be higher so I wouldn't need to waste so much of the expensive part of a pie.  So not only was it less fattening it was cheaper.  :D  (If you think that's tenuous, you should see how I justified buying 32 apple trees  :lol: )

I've just finished 2 Christmas dinner pies ( Turkey, stuffing, sprouts, carrots, cranberry sauce and gravy) and Im waiting for the next batch of pastry to relax so I can do a couple of apple and custard (custard goes inside the pie :tongue2: ). Not sure if I should add a little mince meat to make them seasonal ?

Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: wighty on December 26, 2016, 18:10
oh go on, why not, be a devil and through caution to the wind, it's Christmas after all.  :D
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: wighty on December 26, 2016, 18:11
That should  have been throw not through!  (*, can't blame the fizzy stuff tonight!)
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Paul Plots on December 26, 2016, 18:24
And I got it wrong. Probably didn't read carefully enough:

Lardman said: "...the custard goes in the pie" not as I had thought with the pie.

Sounds lovelier still.... but Mrs Plots would not be doing with any more gadgets or equipment in our kitchen she tells me.

Our daughter, who lives with us at present, is a confectioner and baker for a big food-store. She is also on a uni course so our place kitchen has lots of "essential" (?) equipment and herbs and extras as well as my bread-making corner.

I wonder what the "essential" kitchen equipment really is? Different things for different people I suspect.
A new thread needed? Maybe not. 
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: jezza on December 26, 2016, 20:18
hi I remember some thing like that at school many years ago we used it for sterilizing small batches of top soil we damped the soil then put it in for 10 minutes it stunk but made good topsoil  jezza
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Paul Plots on December 29, 2016, 00:20
hi I remember some thing like that at school many years ago we used it for sterilizing small batches of top soil we damped the soil then put it in for 10 minutes it stunk but made good topsoil  jezza

Mud pies?  :lol:
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Mrs Bee on December 29, 2016, 09:44


Our daughter, who lives with us at present, is a confectioner and baker for a big food-store. She is also on a uni course so our place kitchen has lots of "essential" (?) equipment and herbs and extras as well as my bread-making corner.

I wonder what the "essential" kitchen equipment really is? Different things for different people I suspect.
A new thread needed? Maybe not.

This thread is unkind.... got to investigate pie makers now. :ohmy:

And essential kitchen gadgets would be a good fan assisted oven, hob with knobs, ice cream machine with build in freezer, bread maker, to knead dough and save hand joints, , kitchen aid, hand held mixer, food processor, and a good set of knives and pans.

Muitters to self do not look at pie makers......you know you batch bake to utilise the oven heat, and freeze pies,

Do not look at pie makers,  just off to google pie makers just to be sure I really don't need one. :ohmy:
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Paul Plots on January 01, 2017, 00:40
Mrs Bee - your essential list looks a bit like ours...

       So, have you added Pie Maker or managed to resist?  :lol:
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Mrs Bee on January 01, 2017, 14:14
I have managed to resist. Some of the reviews said that you have to heat the pie maker before using and I could see problems with that.

I think I will keep the traditional method and batch bake.

Besides the snowdrops catalogues are dropping through the door and I think I will be spending on them instead. :D
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: jaydig on January 01, 2017, 17:42
I tend to make pastry in large batches, wrap portions ready for use and then put them into the freezer, duly labelled either 'sweet' or 'savoury'.  It wouldn't take any effort to produce a couple of pies using the pie
maker, as long as a bit of forward planning was done, and said pastry removed from the freezer in time to defrost.
Now, can someone tell me how to sneak one in without hubby seeing it.  Once smuggled into the house I could always lose it amongst the slow cooker, pressure cooker, food processor, sausage machine, yogurt maker, bread maker...............oh dear, I hadn't realised how many gadgets I already have, but I do use them all on a regular basis. 
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: New shoot on January 01, 2017, 21:20
Mine is ordered and I have a plan. 

If I am working that night, the box will be spirited out of sight, if not ..... I will have pastry on standby and a filling, so when OH walks through the door that night, there will be pie cooking for tea.  He'll be so in awe of the general domestic goddessness of it all, I expect no questions at all about where said machine appeared from  :lol:

Can't fail  ;)
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: mumofstig on January 01, 2017, 23:47
Sounds like a plan - good luck!
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Paul Plots on January 04, 2017, 04:16
With the gradual spread of pie making machines and steadily increasing ownership I am beginning to think of a competition title:

"Best pie filling competition - Sweet and Savoury Classes"

Hands up for judging / tasting!!!   :)

Can it be done by post?  :unsure:

Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Lardman on January 04, 2017, 13:07
Some of the reviews said that you have to heat the pie maker before using and I could see problems with that.

My fingers aren't made from asbestos so I don't do that. When I've been making a wet pie I've turned it on after putting the base in though to sort of blind bake it a bit.

Besides the snowdrops catalogues are dropping through the door and I think I will be spending on them instead. :D

Why ? You can't eat those.... Wouldn't you like a nice fruit tree or two instead.  :D

Filling suggestions welcome  :tongue2: as at the moment I'm using mine essential to wrap leftovers in pastry.   If the chickens were still laying I'd be leaving the tops off and trying a quiche and I bought some gelatine to try a doing some watercrust pastry pork pies.

Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: mumofstig on January 04, 2017, 13:16
Quote
When I've been making a wet pie I've turned it on after putting the base in though to sort of blind bake it a bit.

No soggy bottoms there then  :lol:
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Mrs Bee on January 04, 2017, 15:57


Besides the snowdrops catalogues are dropping through the door and I think I will be spending on them instead. :D

Why ? You can't eat those.... Wouldn't you like a nice fruit tree or two instead.  :D

I can have both you know.  :D Besides the snowdrops are ordered and I am allowed to go to snowdrop sale at the end of January too. A galanthophile's paradise.

I have a mulberry and an apple tree already.

And plans for some fruit trees and a quince at the allotment.

Besides, If I make pies I usually make a large batch and the pie makers wouldn't make enough. It would be a false economy of time for me.
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: New shoot on January 04, 2017, 21:21
With the gradual spread of pie making machines and steadily increasing ownership I am beginning to think of a competition title:

"Best pie filling competition - Sweet and Savoury Classes"

Hands up for judging / tasting!!!   :)

Can it be done by post?  :unsure:

You've got to love a tryer   :lol:

I've already been thinking about fillings.  Lardman's potato, cheese and onion pie got me thinking about dry potato curry, paneer and then incorporating the caramelised onion idea.

A curry and pie mega mash-up to sort 2 cravings in one hit  :D



Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Paul Plots on January 07, 2017, 01:03
Caramelised onion....... wow I love it! Often wait until the jars of it are on special offer then buy several but have to hide them when I get home or they are gone before I can find a slice of bread and lump of cheese!

One fine day (ignoring pies for a minute or two... excuse me please) I must find a recipe for carramelliised onion and try with my own onions. Love the stuff.

GO for it New shoot :)
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Mrs Bee on January 08, 2017, 19:42
Caramelised onion....... wow I love it! Often wait until the jars of it are on special offer then buy several but have to hide them when I get home or they are gone before I can find a slice of bread and lump of cheese!

One fine day (ignoring pies for a minute or two... excuse me please) I must find a recipe for carramelliised onion and try with my own onions. Love the stuff.

GO for it New shoot :)

I think you will find my recipe is on this forum.  Lost count of the jars of these I have sold, given away and eaten.

Although I say so myself as shouldn't, my recipe is rather good. Must be by the amount of folk who come back for more.
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Val H on January 08, 2017, 19:56
Is that the Onion Marmalade Mrs Bee? If so it can be found here http://www.allotment-garden.org/recipe/2106/onion-marmalade-recipe/.

There is also a recipe for Caramelised Onion Chutney in the Recipe section.
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Mrs Bee on January 08, 2017, 20:17
Yes, that is the one.
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Paul Plots on January 10, 2017, 23:41
Thank you all very much - Brilliant!
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: gobs on April 17, 2017, 14:41
You should be called Pieman now.

One nice gadget.
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Paul Plots on April 26, 2017, 00:53
How goes the Pie Maker.... still a-making pies I hope?

Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: New shoot on April 26, 2017, 10:50
I am  :D 

Pie on the menu tonight  ;)
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Lardman on April 26, 2017, 20:24
I too had pie on the menu for tonight with the filling made from yesterdays leftover beef stew. Unfortunately the stew didn't make it past yesterday tea time  ::)

Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Paul Plots on April 26, 2017, 22:33
Coincidentally I had pie tonight too. Chicken pie made by my trusty pie maker as she was making a large batch of pastry and had cooked chicken the day before.

Lovely.... as is my pie-maker... (Mrs Plots)  ;)

Pleased to hear you two are still finding success with yours.
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: azubah on July 15, 2017, 09:19
https://www.tjhughes.co.uk/quest-deep-fill-twin-pie-maker-p8550/s21748?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Electricals%20Shopping&utm_term=4575205322481490&utm_content=(SC)%20Electricals

these any good?
Title: Re: Why haven't I seen these before ?
Post by: Paul Plots on July 23, 2017, 00:24
Thanks azubah but I'll stick to my very own pie maker and the oven. :)