Breville Mini Pie Maker: Love It!

[pjrose]

Those look so good - and the salads also look great!

I've googled the sunbeam one and also looked on target and amazon, and can't find it.

 

[LLW]

Crusts:
One package Pillsbury rolled refrigerated pie crusts (use for bottom crusts)
One package Pepperidge Farms frozen puff pastry, thawed (use for top crusts)

I can't seem to find the Pepperridge Farms frozen puff pastry at Safeway. What stores carry it? Your pictures look so much better than other pictures that I have seen which I think use the Pillsbury for both top and bottom - it must be partly due to the Pepperridge puff pastry.

 

[heathpack]

I can't seem to find the Pepperridge Farms frozen puff pastry at Safeway. What stores carry it? Your pictures look so much better than other pictures that I have seen which I think use the Pillsbury for both top and bottom - it must be partly due to the Pepperridge puff pastry.

For some reason, Breville specifically recommends puff pastry for the top, they don't explain why. However, one day when I decided to roll out my puff to "stretch" it (calorie-wise), the pies came out with pale, unappealing crusts, which gave me a clue as to why the puff tops. I am pretty sure when I rolled the dough out, I overworked it and melted the butter in the dough (the dough circles lost all ability to be handled, too sloppy and soft, had to be chilled before using). If the butter melts in a puff pastry, you lose flakiness and final height in the cooked dough. In the pie maker, this means your upper crust is not in contact with the (concave) cooking surface of the upper cooking plate. So the puff pastry is pretty essential I think.

As far as buying frozen puff pastry, this is a normal grocery item that has been carried in every store I've shopped in as an adult, multiple "regular" grocery stores in many states. It is usually stocked near the frozen pie crusts, cool whip, fruit. I would be completely shocked if Safeway does not carry it. However, if you can't find it, I know Whole Foods and Trader Joes also carry puff pastry.

I am generally opposed to anything like purchased crusts or doughs, I am a bit of a cooking purist. However, making puff pastry is so time consuming, even high-end restaurants buy it frozen. I have come across a recipe for a homemade substitute that is not a true puff pastry, but supposedly is an acceptable substitute. The person who came up with the recipe calls it butter puff, I will post it in a little while. If you use it, can you post a pic? I'd love to see how it comes out.

H

 

[lily28]

sstug, I found the sunbeam mini pie maker on sale for $24 at a target store in Chicago. I did not see it in its sale flyer.

 

[bjones9942]

I also can not find the Sunbeam unit on the Target website. Every google result has pointed to aussie reviews ... seems to be pretty popular down-under! I have found two Sunbeam models however. One is a 2 pie maker and the other makes 4.

 

[persia]

Aussies probably eat more meat pies per capita than the rest of the world combined.

I also can not find the Sunbeam unit on the Target website. Every google result has pointed to aussie reviews ... seems to be pretty popular down-under! I have found two Sunbeam models however. One is a 2 pie maker and the other makes 4.

 

[sstug]

sstug, I found the sunbeam mini pie maker on sale for $24 at a target store in Chicago. I did not see it in its sale flyer.

Thanks, I may just have to check out my local store to see if they have it. Just what I need...ANOTHER kitchen appliance...but the pictures look so good I can't resist.

 

[Elan]

As much as I abhor 'dedicated' kitchen appliances, this one seems as though it would be kind of fun to own. Especially with kids in the house.

 

[heathpack]

As much as I abhor 'dedicated' kitchen appliances, this one seems as though it would be kind of fun to own. Especially with kids in the house.

Hahaha, I have a coffee maker, coffee grinder, blender, food processor, stand mixer, waffle maker, crock pot, rice cooker, panini press, vacuum sealer, electric tea pot, ice-cream maker, and now a pie maker. Except for the vacuum sealer they are all completely essential, IMO!

H

PS, did I forget to mention juicer and meat grinder?!

 

[Passepartout]

Aussies probably eat more meat pies per capita than the rest of the world combined.

(slightly off topic) I wonder if this is because of the origin of the English who settled (forced or otherwise) Australia. The Cornish have a great tradition of wrapping meat, potatoes, veggies in crusts called 'pasties' (short 'a', doesn't rhyme with tasty) to be eaten underground by the coal miners as lunch. No need to wash hands when wrapped in paper. An early 'convenience' food. Many Cornish miners were among the convicts sent to Australia to ease the (debtors) prison overcrowding in England.

Anyway, these look delicious. I just abhor single-purpose appliances though, and have limited storage space in my kitchen/pantry.

Awaiting an invite to eat at your place....

Jim Ricks

 

[heathpack]

Butter Puff Recipe

Top Crust Butter Puff:
1 1/4 Cup sifted AP flour
1 stick of salted butter
2-3 Tablespoons of ice water

Cut the butter into the flour until it is a fine crumb. Gradually add the water until the dough is soft and incorporated. Roll, Cut shape, repeat. Makes about 8 Flaky crusts.

Disclaimer: I have not yet tried this.

H

 

[Elan]

Hahaha, I have a coffee maker, coffee grinder, blender, food processor, stand mixer, waffle maker, crock pot, rice cooker, panini press, vacuum sealer, electric tea pot, ice-cream maker, and now a pie maker. Except for the vacuum sealer they are all completely essential, IMO!

H

PS, did I forget to mention juicer and meat grinder?!

Humorously enough, we own all of those things as well, with the exception of the electric tea pot (and our panini press is stove top cast iron). I can't say, however, that they were all my idea.

Oh, we have a meat slicer and a single serve coffee maker w/frother to boot!

 

[rickandcindy23]

My favorite appliance, my egg cooker. I love that darned thing. It boils eggs that are easier to peel. I use it almost daily on my high-fat, low-carb diet.

 

[sstug]

I just got back from Target with my new mini pie maker! Couldn't find it at first since it wasn't on display with the other appliances. They just had them on the end of an aisle.

I must admit, I also have all the other appliances mentioned (except the panini maker) as well as the Express 101 (if anyone remembers those infomercials)...and I really like my vacuum sealer...and think I gave my SIL the juicer (way to much effort to clean up).

 

[heathpack]

I just got back from Target with my new mini pie maker! Couldn't find it at first since it wasn't on display with the other appliances. They just had them on the end of an aisle.

I must admit, I also have all the other appliances mentioned (except the panini maker) as well as the Express 101 (if anyone remembers those infomercials)...and I really like my vacuum sealer...and think I gave my SIL the juicer (way to much effort to clean up).

You know we all need to see some pics!!!

 

[mecllap]

(slightly off topic) I wonder if this is because of the origin of the English who settled (forced or otherwise) Australia. The Cornish have a great tradition of wrapping meat, potatoes, veggies in crusts called 'pasties' (short 'a', doesn't rhyme with tasty) to be eaten underground by the coal miners as lunch. No need to wash hands when wrapped in paper. An early 'convenience' food. Many Cornish miners were among the convicts sent to Australia to ease the (debtors) prison overcrowding in England.

Anyway, these look delicious. I just abhor single-purpose appliances though, and have limited storage space in my kitchen/pantry.

Awaiting an invite to eat at your place....

Jim Ricks

I love Cornish pasties -- decades ago I ate them at the Calif. State Fair every day -- but never found them anywhere else in the States. Finally got to have another one in Bath a few years back. There was a time I was thinking about starting a small restaurant to make them -- can't believe no one has a chain of such places here to this day.

I have limited space also, or I'd be tempted to try this appliance. Barely have room for the indoor small grill/panini gadget.

 

[bjones9942]

I just got back from Target with my new mini pie maker! Couldn't find it at first since it wasn't on display with the other appliances. They just had them on the end of an aisle.

Me too! I was nearby my local Target and thought I'd just pop in and see if they had it ... was on an aisle end behind a building support - but I found it and it as $24 as well! Mmmm. Pie!

Cooking appliance wise, I stick to my steamer/rice cooker, and a crock pot. Oh, and the one 'splurge' that was actually a gift - my Bunn coffee maker that takes 3 minutes to make a pot of coffee/tea/hot water. I use my Kitchen-aid 6qt stand mixer for making hamburger, sausage and my weekly loaf of bread. I think I have almost all of the attachments for it, so I don't need multiple machines.

 

[bjones9942]

I love Cornish pasties -- decades ago I ate them at the Calif. State Fair every day -- but never found them anywhere else in the States. Finally got to have another one in Bath a few years back. There was a time I was thinking about starting a small restaurant to make them -- can't believe no one has a chain of such places here to this day.

In addition to pasties, there are pierogies and samosas. All very similar and tasty in their own way!

 

[heathpack]

First Apples of the Season....

....at the farmers market this past weekend, you know what that means: apple mini pies!

Apple Mini Pies
Makes 4

12 ounces apples, I used a combo of Jonathan and Jonagold, peeled & diced into 1/2 inch pieces
2 T butter

Sauté apples in butter until softened, about 10 min.

Meanwhile, mix together:
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp cloves
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
Dash salt

When apples are soft, add sugar mixture to skillet and stir until glazed, about 1 minute.

Remove from heat and add 3/4 tsp vanilla extract and the juice of 1 lemon wedge.

Set aside a few minutes to cool. Cut 4 piecrust bottoms and 4 puff pastry tops.

Assemble pies in pie maker and bake 8-10 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes or so before eating.

 

[heathpack]

Freezing mini pies

We finally froze some pies, after eating six beef short rib pies in 3 days, we decided to pop #'s 7 & 8 in the freezer. Defrosted them overnight in the fridge and reheated 15 minutes in a 425 degree oven. They were perfect, tasted like they had just come fresh out of the pie maker.

We were also surprised to realize how far the short ribs went. I braised 8 short ribs and the two of us ate 4 of the ribs the first night. Then we took the leftover ribs, removed the bones, minced the meat and mixed the meat, some frozen peas and carrots, some parboiled diced potatoes and a nice amount of gravy together. The remaining short ribs wound up making 8 mini pies, or 4 meals, out of what would have normally been 1 meal. I only bring this up because so many of us are trying to watch what we are eating and pies are not the healthiest sounding entree. But a mini meat pie, salad and maybe a light soup is a quite satisfying meal, and really not too bad calorie-wise.

I made and froze 16 bottom crusts today and will report on the first of these pies.

How about the Sunbeam crowd? Any pie quality feedback?!

H

 

[sstug]

How about the Sunbeam crowd? Any pie quality feedback?!

H

Well, it took me a couple days to get to the store for pie crust (boy, it's a bit more expensive than I remember) then I used what I had around the house. I made taco pies using hamburger, taco seasoning, taco sauce and cheese. They turned out wonderful. I also used a small can of peaches to make a couple of peach pies for dessert (and to use up the other 2 pieces of pie crust). I actually took photos but haven't had the time to attempt to upload.

Over the weekend I was running out of the house without breakfast and I remembered I had one taco pie leftover so I ate it in the car on my way out...it was even tasty cold!

Good to know they reheat well.

 

[DaveNV]

I found the Sunbeam pie maker at Target today. As the ultimate non-cook, I liked the idea of the Sunbeam's $29.99 price, compared to the Williams-Sonoma $99 "sale" price.

Now, to figure out what I'm doing to use this thing. Should be fun! I eat in restaurants a lot, and always seem to bring home leftovers. This pie maker may actually mean those leftovers will get eaten!

Does anyone who owns the Sunbeam version have any comments or lessons learned to share? Is it really that much different from the Williams-Sonoma gadget?

Dave

 

[sstug]

Does anyone who owns the Sunbeam version have any comments or lessons learned to share? Is it really that much different from the Williams-Sonoma gadget?

Dave

Since you say you are a non-cook, I'd like to point out the need to use a little flour when working with pastry. It came with a plastic piece to push the bottom crust into the pie well and shape it - be sure to use a little flour so it doesn't stick. Also use flour on the cutter when you cut the pastry circles so they don't stick.

I think it's time to play with mine again...I want to try to make some breakfast pies (eggs & canadian bacon). I think I will need to cook up the filling before making the pies, seems to me the eggs wouldn't cook through if I don't.

 

[SDKath]

My favorite appliance, my egg cooker. I love that darned thing. It boils eggs that are easier to peel. I use it almost daily on my high-fat, low-carb diet.

Which one do you have? I really could use an egg cooker because I always blow the soft-boiled eggs. Hard boiled ones I am an expert on.

You are on a high FAT diet? I could use one of those diets too! JK. I am sure you meant high protein/low carb, which is what I am doing these days...

Katherine

 

[bjones9942]

I'm still experimenting with my Sunbeam mini-pie cooker ... Here are a few things I've discovered so far:

1. Do not overfill, especially with anything containing cheese (very messy to clean up)! If you're using something ground, use a 'scant' 1/2 cup of filling.
2. Do not underfill. If you're using pie crust instead of puff pastry for the top, the top won't cook properly.
3. Seal the top crust to the bottom, with some water and a fork. Make sure it's sealed pretty well. Messes & detached-top pies ensue when you skip this step.
4. It's easier to remove the excess dough from outside the mold before you cook the pies.
5. If using frozen pie crust dough - save the scraps and combine with the next batch. You'll get a couple more pies out of it.
6. Pie dough is fairly easy (and inexpensive) to make yourself, and you can freeze it until needed - just like what you buy in the store. I just bought some pie dough - $2.49 a box ON SALE. That's not so cheap ($0.50/mini-pie if you get 5 mini-pies out of it, just for the crust).