Jamaican Beef Patties

Servings:  Makes 10 Servings

Ingredients:

DOUGH
2 cups of flour
1/3 cup of cold water
1/4 cup solid shortening
1/4 teaspoon salt to taste
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) margarine

MEAT FILLING
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup of water
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground
-black pepper
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup beef or chicken stock
2 tablespoons margarine
1 Small white onion finely
-chopped
1/4 teaspoon chopped scotch
-bonnet pepper

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400°

In a large bowl sift the flour and salt. Cut in the margarine and shortening until crumbly. Add the cold water to make a stiff dough.
Lightly flour a wooden cutting board and roll out the dough until its about 1/8 inch thick. Cut out 8 inch circles. Use a damp cloth or wax paper to cover the dough until ready.

Melt the margarine in a heavy skillet, sauté the onion and scotch bonnet pepper until they become limp. Next add ground beef, curry powder, pepper, thyme
along with salt to taste, mix all the ingredients well. For ten minutes brown the meat occasionally stirring. Combine well the bread crumbs and stock.

Simmer in a skillet for at least 10 to 15 minutes covered, stirring occasionally. Filling is ready when all of the liquids are absorbed. The filling should be very moist not watery.

Now remove the skillet from the stove.  Uncover dough circles and place 2 to 3 tablespoons of the filling on half of each.

Use the water to moisten the edges of the dough and fold the dough circle over the meat filling. Pinch down the edges and closed with a fork and brush the pastry lightly with the egg and water mixture.

Place on a lightly greased baking sheet and bake in a hot oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the pastry is a golden brown color.