Beef and Guinness Pie

A delicious steak pie with a good helping of Guinness for an extra boost of flavor!

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons Odlums Cream Plain Flour
3 Tablespoons Oil
750g/1 ½ lb Rib or Round Steak – well trimmed and cut into cubes
2 Onions, thinly sliced
3 Carrots thinly sliced
1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
500ml Can of Guinness
Pinch Mixed Dried Herbs or Teaspoon Fresh Thyme
Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper

Pastry
225g /8 oz Odlums Cream Plain Flour
125g/4oz Butter/Margarine
4 tablespoons Water (approx)

Method:

1.Set oven to 160° C/325° F/Gas 3
2.Heat the oil in a saucepan. Brown the beef, a few pieces at a time.
3.Remove the meat, as it browns, to a casserole.
4.Add the onion and carrot to the saucepan and cook for a few minutes.
5.Sprinkle in the sugar, herbs, salt, pepper and flour. Stir it around to soak up the juices; then gradually add in the Guinness, stirring all the time.
6.Bring to the boil and pour it over the meat in the casserole.
7.Put the lid on and cook in the oven for 1 ½ hours, or until the meat is tender. Approximately 30 minutes before the end of cooking time, roll out the pastry and place on top of the casserole.

Pastry
1.Rub the margarine/butter into the flour to form a crumble. .
2.Add sufficient water to make a soft dough. Lightly knead, then cover in cling film and leave to rest in fridge until ready to put on the casserole.