Field mushroom pies

Method

1. Melt the butter in a frying pan. Fry the mushrooms with the herbs and spices over a medium heat until soft. Drain in a colander.
2. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4. For the pastry, sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Heat the milk, 50ml water and the suet in a pan until the suet has melted, then bring to the boil. Pour into the flour and mix with a wooden spoon to form a soft dough.
3. Knead the dough quickly until smooth, then divide into 8 even pieces. Reserve a quarter of each piece for the lids (keep these pieces covered with a tea towel, or they’ll dry out), then press the larger pieces into 8 holes of a muffin tin.
4. Add the cheese and Tabasco to the drained mushroom mixture and season well with salt and white pepper. Divide the mixture between the pie bases. Roll out the pastry lids and press on top of the pies. Brush with egg, then cut small steam holes in the lids. Bake for 45 minutes, until golden. Serve with pickled onions and cold beer.