Making pies for the freezer

[MrsPresley]

New year resolutions to try and not waste food and to try a new dish at least once every 2 weeks!

I have quite a bit of cooked gammon left over, cooked on Monday so really want to use it up today if possible

I've came accross a couple of nice chicken, ham and leek pie receipes so would like to try one.

I've never made a pie in my life so if I use ready made pastry can I freeze it "raw" or would I have to cook it then freeze?

I already have chicken breasts so can use them as well.

I like the look of Nigel Slaters chicken pie (would just add ham) but it is cooked on a tray, so not sure how I would manage to freeze it. There's a Hairy bikers receipe that uses a pie tin, so that might be easier.

Any ideas or does anyone have an easy pie receipe or other ideas on what to do with the ham?

[NUFC69]

I make my own pastry but I would think that if the pastry you buy is fresh it would be ok to freeze it uncooked, but if it is frozen, then you would definitely need to cook the pie before you freeze it.

Whenever we have left over ham my husband makes "Lazy but Lovely Risotto" which is a Sainsbury's recipe (it's very easy, as to be as DH always makes it). Have a look on their website, or I'll copy the recipe out if you are interested.

[SavoyCabbage]

Jumping into the pie thread....I read somewhere you can use beans instead of those ceramic beads, but does it matter which ones?

Sorry I can't answer any of your pie questions but I was thinking of making a pie with my leftover ham too.

[NUFC69]

No idea, Savoy Cabbage; but before I bought my baking beans (last year, in the sale, after 39 years of marriage - I figured I deserved some!), I used to use rice on a sheet of baking paper and it worked well. I guess it's trial and error.

[MrsPresley]

Thank you NUFC69, the pastry was chilled so should be ok.

I've made the filling but used English mustard instead of Dijon so it's a bit err mustardy!

Hoping it will be ok though. Solved the problem of how to freeze a big pie too! Just make smaller ones, why couldnt I think of that earlier

I'd love your DH receipe for his "lazy but lovely rissotto" if you dont mind. I still have lots of ham and something that's lazy and lovely sounds just up my street!

[NUFC69]

Lazy but lovely risotto

Pack of bacon (or left over gammon/ham cut into chunks)
200 g arborio rice
1 finely chopped onion
3 roughly chopped tomatoes
700 ml vegetable stock
Frozen garden peas
Chopped flatleaf parsley
Parmesan

If using bacon, chop, remove fat, and fry in a large pan for 5-10 mins until crispy. Remove from pan and set aside.
Heat 1 tblsp oil in the pan and then add finely chopped onion for 5 minutes.
Add 200 g arborio rice and 3 roughly chopped tomatoes and cook, stirring continuously for 2-3 minutes.
Pour 500 ml of the vegetable stock over the rice mixture and add the chopped bacon or gammon. Bring to the boil and then transfer to a 2 litre baking dish and bake in a preheated oven 150 degrees C, fan 130 degrees C, gas mark 2 for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and stir, increase the oven temperature to 170 degrees C, fan 150 degrees C, gas mark 3 and a half. Add some garden peas and the remaining stock, and return to the oven for 20 minutes. Stir through some parsley (husband does not do this!), top with parmesan and serve.
Serves 4

Hope this is ok as I have typed it under pressure. Enjoy!

[SavoyCabbage]

Thanks NUFC, I'll try rice.