Beef and mushroom pie recipe
 Make this simple pie recipe even easier by cooking the filling in a slow cooker the day before you want to serve it. 500g/1lb 2oz beef stewing steaksalt and pepper2 tbsp vegetable oil1 tbsp cornflour1 onions, chopped2 carrots, chopped2 sprigs thyme, leaves picked160g/5¾oz whole button mushrooms1 beef stock cube, dissolved in 400ml/14fl oz water1 free-range egg yolk, beaten100g/3½oz puff pastry, rolled to 5mm thick 500g/1lb 2oz beef stewing steak salt and pepper 2 tbsp vegetable oil 1 tbsp cornflour 1 onions, chopped 2 carrots, chopped 2 sprigs thyme, leaves picked 160g/5¾oz whole button mushrooms 1 beef stock cube, dissolved in 400ml/14fl oz water 1 free-range egg yolk, beaten 100g/3½oz puff pastry, rolled to 5mm thick Method Season the beef with salt and black pepper.Heat an ovenproof casserole until hot. Add the vegetable oil and beef in batches and fry until browned. Return all the beef to the pan.Add the cornflour and stir to coat the beef, then add the onions, carrots, thyme and mushrooms. Gently fry for 2-3 minutes.Add the stock and bring to a simmer. Cover with a lid and simmer for 2-3 hours, or until the beef is very tender.Season, to taste, with salt and black pepper, remove from the heat and set aside to cool.Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.Spoon the cooled meat mixture into a large pie dish.Brush the edge of the dish with the beaten egg and then lay the pastry over the top of the filling and dish.Crimp the edge to seal, then brush the pastry with more beaten egg and cut two slits in the top of the pie to let the steam escape.Place on a baking tray in the oven for 25-35 minutes, or until the filling is hot and the pastry crisp and golden-brown. Season the beef with salt and black pepper. Season the beef with salt and black pepper. Heat an ovenproof casserole until hot. Add the vegetable oil and beef in batches and fry until browned. Return all the beef to the pan. Heat an ovenproof casserole until hot. Add the vegetable oil and beef in batches and fry until browned. Return all the beef to the pan. Add the cornflour and stir to coat the beef, then add the onions, carrots, thyme and mushrooms. Gently fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the cornflour and stir to coat the beef, then add the onions, carrots, thyme and mushrooms. Gently fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a simmer. Cover with a lid and simmer for 2-3 hours, or until the beef is very tender. Add the stock and bring to a simmer. Cover with a lid and simmer for 2-3 hours, or until the beef is very tender. Season, to taste, with salt and black pepper, remove from the heat and set aside to cool. Season, to taste, with salt and black pepper, remove from the heat and set aside to cool. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Spoon the cooled meat mixture into a large pie dish. Spoon the cooled meat mixture into a large pie dish. Brush the edge of the dish with the beaten egg and then lay the pastry over the top of the filling and dish. Brush the edge of the dish with the beaten egg and then lay the pastry over the top of the filling and dish. Crimp the edge to seal, then brush the pastry with more beaten egg and cut two slits in the top of the pie to let the steam escape. Crimp the edge to seal, then brush the pastry with more beaten egg and cut two slits in the top of the pie to let the steam escape. Place on a baking tray in the oven for 25-35 minutes, or until the filling is hot and the pastry crisp and golden-brown. Place on a baking tray in the oven for 25-35 minutes, or until the filling is hot and the pastry crisp and golden-brown.