Once upon a time ago, I worked as an extra in movies. I had just come back from overseas and was looking for something to do that passed the time and paid well while I sought more regular work. I signed up to an agency and luckily for me, they were casting for a movie called “The Matrix 2 and 3″ which was being shot at Fox Studios just near where I lived. Even luckier was that as the plotline went, it was set sometime in the future and their vision was for a whole lot of people of mixed race and of colour.
So off I went to an audition. I asked my agent what I needed to wear or do. His advice was simple.
“Maaaake looove to the camera” he said. I was surprised. We were supposed to be fighters so didn’t I need to look tough?
“Nope, just maaaake loooove to the camera” he said definitely. Then added “I mean it, that’s what they want, even for this role. And for every other role after that. Seduuuce the camera…”
So off I went with the advice “seduce the camera” echoing my head. I kept thinking that it was a shame that I don’t find square metal objects a turn on but there you go. Staring at a camera while hundreds of people are standing around you watching and watching the camera footage is nerve wracking stuff. Making love to it is even weirder. But somehow I managed to do something, I don’t remember exactly what and I got the green light to become one of the “special extras” – a term for nothing really, although it meant steady work for 3 weeks shooting a couple of scenes.
As you can see my acting career didn’t really take off although I do love watching the show “Extras”…
Anyway, what does this have to do with these Lil’ Lamb and Mint Sauce pies? Well these little things will give you a come hither come eat me look like no other. After I made a big batch of these, I ate one, and then another, and then unable to resist the rich, soft meat and the sweet mint sauce and buttery pastry I ate another. The filling is from Wednesday’s slow cooker lamb recipe and as I squirrelled away a container of lamb just to fill these pies. They definitely nailed the seduction factor…
So tell me Dear Reader, have you ever had a dream to work in movies or television? Which would you rather and is there a television show that you’ve always wanted to be in? For me, it’s True Blood, Dexter or The Big Bang Theory! 
Lil’ Lamb & Mint Sauce Pies
An Original Recipe by Not Quite Nigella
Makes 12 individual pies
- 300g slow cooker spiced lamb (from this recipe is ideal)
- 2 sheets of shortcrust pastry, thawed
- 1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed
- Butter for greasing tin
- 1 egg, beaten for egg wash
Mint sauce
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint leaves (about 1 bunch)
- 8 tablespoons caster or superfine sugar
- 1/4 cup boiling water
- 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
1. First make the mint sauce as the lamb is already cooked. In a jug, measure out the sugar and water and stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the mint leaves and white wine vinegar and allow to sit for 10-15 minutes-you can use this time to thaw out the pastry and preheat the oven.
2. Preheat the oven to 225C/437F. Allow the pastry to come to room temperature. Butter a muffin tray (round or whatever shape you like) and with a small, sharp knife, cut up the shortcrust pastry into shapes to fit in the tin and line the bottom of the tin with the pastry.
3. Fill with the lamb meat and then top with the mint leaves from the sauce spooning a bit but not too much of the liquid into it (about a teaspoon should fine and it should be soaked up in the meat). Cut the puff pastry to fit on top of the pies. With a pastry brush, brush one side of the pie with egg wash and place it egg wash side down and then gently seal the edges of the pie. To make the crimp marks, simply press gently with a fork. Bake for 20 -25 minutes until golden brown on top and make sure the base is cooked too.
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84 Comments | Add your own
They must taste wonderful! Pies are so scrumptious and comforting. Nice clicks.
Cheers,
Rosa
They’re very cute! And no, never had any desire to see myself on film..
Mmm, I love your little pies! Thanks for the recipe, I’ve never made anything pie with lamb. But sure would love to try some. I was in a pie mode yesterday, made an apple and cheese pie.
Now, to the question if I ever had a dream to work in movies or television? Well, no, and after working 13 years on TV my illusions of being on the screen were quickly diluted in reality: it’s a hard work. Yes, it’s cool when people recognize you on the streets (to some point it is cool). But not many know how much work goes into one minute of television (or movie production). Yes, it’s a great moment of joy when your documentary wins one of the European awards. But behind the scene there are months of traveling, sleepless nights, being away from the family, dealing with bureaucracy…
By the way, I never even dreamed about working on TV, I just did a favor to my friend, who went on vacation and needed substitution. Next I know I was hired, first for the news department, then a talk show, then administrative work along with making TV… well, a lot happened in 13 years on TV. So I don’t dream of any TV shows or movies, I guess I’ve had my share…
You can even make left overs look sexy
Actually I do have a bit of a thing for lamb pies these do look super pie-tastic.
What cute little pies, they certainly look irresistible!
Oh, I do love a good meat pie and these look so yum. Love the idea of the mint sauce – v clever:) xo
It wastes too much paper & ink to print the entire page so I cut and paste the recipes but the white type makes it difficult to print as you then have to follow up and change the font color or words you can not actually see. Just a note from a Florida USA fan.
Au contraire–I think your career took off beautifully. You still seduce the camera and look absolutely wonderful on it. I always feel awkward in front of the camera and I cringe when I see any tv work I have done. Yikes!
I love the look and sound of these meat pies. I mean, how can you go wrong with a meat pie, but who, but you, would have thought to put them in these molds. Perfect!
~~Lorraine,
I will pay you to make these for me.
I want to make love to them in my tummy!
How much?!
I would rather write the screen play for the movie than be in front of the camera. I want to do something like JUNO. loooooooved that.
Dexter will be calling you soon.
Xx
I’ve never thought about being in films at all, though I suspect that I would like it.
I am sure that these pies would be excellent though. How cute are they?
your pictures are beautiful! and this pie looks incredibly tasty
I don’t even want to know what my face would look like if I tried to “make love to the camera.”
But I would like o get my hands on these lamb pies! You are making me really crave lamb!
Great story again Lorraine! Which scenes are you in?! These pies are perfect for a winter party due to their dinky size but I would fear that I might eat them all before I get to the party!
What gorgeous little pies, and perfect for this shocking winter weather. Have a great weekend.
Lamb and mint pie are my all time fav and these look fanatstic! The only movie i ever wanted to be in was Harry Potter! I am still waiting for my letter to go to hogwarts. If I had to be on a TV show, it would be True Blood (Eric could suck at my my neck any day!) The Walking Dead – The zombie make up is amazing and I would love to see what I looked like if I was a zombie, oh actually this list could get a little out of control! The Office, Community, Parks and Recreation, Big Bang.
Lovely and very rustic. Yummy! Lamb and mint, the perfect partnership ; )
Ooh I love that your pies are rectangular! I will have to do that with my leftover pie filling.
I would have loved to have been on Desperate Housewives or Friends but a role on the Big Bang Theory would have been lots of fun too!
Can you actually see yourself in the movie?
Yum – just need a shortcut for the slowcooked lamb now
When I was a little girl it was my job to make the mint sauce for the sunday roast, my mother taught me to chop the mint finely with the sugar until they almost become amalgamated, then place in jug add hot water and vinegar to taste, allow to rest.
Love your site, well done.
I love this recipe and I’m so sure it tastes as good as it looks. I’ve wondered what great things I could make in those pans and now I know. I love this idea.
How fun for you to be an extra in the film. I guess they like everyone to make love to the camera. Giada does it all the time and everyone loves her.
oh, how yummy do these look!
One of us was on the acting track a while ago. Bet you can’t guess which one.
We both love pies, especially mini pies. It’s nice to have one all to yourself.
Lorraine, these look and sound wonderful. What a good idea to use the slow cooked meat, that would really develop a fantastic flavour and the addition of the mint sauce is pure genius.
I love your pie tin. I’ll have to put one of those on my Christmas wish list. I can just imagine these pies coming out of a catering truck on a movie set. I think what you managed to secure for those three weeks is the role of ‘Extra with a Bit Part’. Congrats! Should I hire the movies and look out for you? xx
Yummo indeed! I love a good crispy pie and the acidity of the sauce would liven up the filling nicely.
I’ll have to watch the movie more closely now, fancy you being up there with Keanu in all that black leather
These pies looked delicious. I too worked as an extra for a few years mainly doing odd bits in tv commercials, home & away, All saints, Farscape to name a few. It was a fun and interesting time. I loved lunch time and finding out which catering company was providing the food. Lots of waiting around as I am sure you are very aware of. I think True Blood would have to be my all time extra dream
oh gosh those look yummy. I was an extra in a film in a very small town – never did actually see the movie…
Smart presentation – so handy to fit into a lunch box or picnic basket. You are a girl of many talents Miss Lorraine – I will have to scan The Matrix trilogy – wary of the girl ‘seducing the camera’-
My movie aspirations are a couple of generations away from yours.
As I am a classic movie addict I have often secretly dreamt of being in an I Love Lucy cast or I Dream of Jeannie or The Addams Family. To be onset with any of the hollywood icons of the golden years of hollywood would have been amazing – Cary Grant, Clark Gable,James Stewart,Tyrone Power, Tony Curtis oooh be still my heart!!!
I cant believe people actually use that term haha! I love htat these pies are rectangles
the meat looks so tender and juicy!
So, if I rent the “Matrix” films to watch over again, will I be able to spot you in the crowds? How fun!
OMG. These look amazing.
OMG. You were in the Matrix. I dont know what I freaking out about more!
x
Who didn’t dream about it? I always did, and each time I watched the Oscar’s I dreamed I was one of the winners. Of course, always dreaming with the fancy dress.
Now, at work, we used to joke with Penny (from Big Bang), we worked with a tech guy that works in US, he is very smart, and each time we have to talk we him, we just start saying: Penny…Penny…Penny..
I can do without the mint but slow cooked meat and golden pastry, what’s not to love about that?! (I really shouldn’t read your posts when lunch time is still so far away …)
Oh wow these look sooooooo pretty
And i bet so many of my friends and Mr Bao would love but unforutnately lol i don’t eat lamb hehe
I liked that story of you being an extra on The Matrix hhaha
I’ve never wnated to work on TV i don’t think I’m pretty enough
Aw, even though I’m not a big meat person, I have enough fond childhood memories of lamb chops with mint jelly to think these are adorable!
Hi NQN, which slow cooked lamb recipe? Thanks
Dear NQN – I made the slow cooker lamb last night, well technically yesterday morning – as a gift to my future self, ie my just arrived home from work, last night self (are you with me?)and the sheer joy of discovering how deliciously your recipe for the slow cooker lamb came together almost made me faint. I’ve had some hits and misses with the slow cooker, and was uncertain how all those ingredients would play out. But it was DIVINE and has certainly earned its place in my recipe collection. And even surprised myself and made the polenta, which too was delicious, despite my son’s initial resonse that it was like soggy couscous. Anyway, thank you for the recipe – not sure I’ll end up managing the little pies this time round, maybe next time …. x
I love the look of these pies Lorraine. I love how they are mini so it can become a snack, or have several for it to be a meal
Perfect combination of lamb and mint also.
WHO could resist a Lamb Pie and Mint Sauce!
Could devour these as an appy or main course!
Have worked in both movies and TV!
I like media challenges (of all kinds) which highlight and allows me to share and express my BUBBLY personality!
Your pies are totally making love to the camera
Hehe are you sure you want to be in Dexter? You might be chopped up into pieces!
Oh yummy I can you hear my tummy rumble lol you shouldn’t look at food pictures when hungry !
that’s a cute little tomato sauce bottle – and the pies look pretty too!
I sometimes seem an extra in a tv show or film and wonder about how much thought went into them being there – sounds like a fun 3 weeks – can you spot yourself on the filsm?
I think your pastries are making love to the camera just fine my friend – we should learn from them if we want to act
But that is so cool that you did this!!!!!
I can imagine you in masterchef
If I was hounded by agents and much adored by the world, I would choose to act in pretty little liars or big bang theory! Or team up with the gang from Becker
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Very nice, clever you tucking some away. I don’t blame you for eating 3….. that’s three Lorraine!. Lucky your acting career was short or you’d have no time to cook
Now I’m going to look for my copy of the Matrix movies to try and find you. XD The pies sound incredible, just the thing for our current rainy weather.
Mmm come here lil lamb I’m gonna eat you up!
These look moreishly good and how cute is your sauce bottle!!
Hahaha! I wonder what that means…making looooove to the camera. But wow, an extra for The Matrix!!! Um…how “well” do they pay? I live in LA so I see a lot of ads for extras, but am wondering about the “worth” factor since I know it’s a lot of tedious hours involved.
I wouldn’t want to work in True Blood, because for me it’s kind of like soft porn. Or S&M. Eek. I would love to work in Nikita though, and look thoroughly bad-ass, or in some kind of fantasy TV show where I can make things float and turn things into toads.
it’s lunch time, and my mouth is watering sooooo much! they look delish, well done xxx Bella
They look fantastic. I would love to be snacking on these right now. I’ve always prefered reading to movies or TV but I think I’d quite like to be a companion to Doctor Who!
I want one of these right now!
I can imagine you as an additional vampire in true blood. kekekekeke.
nom nom nom ! These look gorgeous.
These pies look incredible! I’m loving the mint sauce recipe! Great idea to bake it in a mini loaf pan!
Well, I see you also had your fair share of quirky jobs, although being in extra in Matrix really beats dressing up as Mrs. Claus! Looooove lamb and mint, book marking this for the winter.
Well I work in the movie business and all I can say is…. hard hard work and boring as all get out for extras who have to sit around and wait all day and often get pushed around like sheep in a pen. NO GLAMOUR at all!
However, I am enamored with those pies of yours, sexy indeed and I must get a tin like that… love the shape. As always Lorraine, you are a star!!
that is so cool that you were an extra on the matrix 2/3!!! love that! such a cool piece of trivia.
these pies would be a great way to use up some leftover slow cooked stew – great idea!
ps i would totally be an extra on true blood or dexter too!
living in baltimore city, we get a lot of tv/movie crews coming in who need to take shots of the architecture that can then be said are DC structures. the latest die hard was shot here and bruce willis was down the street from my office building. that’s about as close as i got to being an extra, which really wasn’t that close at all.
these meat pies look addictive, and adorable.
That is such a great story- they are the spouse’s favourite films; he’ll be thrilled when I tell him I’ve got a new reason to go back and watch them.
I think that is really cool that you were an extra for The Matrix. I’d love to work in TV… that’s a dream I am working on
I’d love to be in Homeland (such great series, have you seen it?), or Glee or any documentaries with Stephen Fry or Sir David Attenborough.
Lovely mini pies. They sure look wonderful in front of the camera
What gorgeous little pies, Lorraine. JT and I worked as extras on Deceived for a Sales Research Charity event (a business club), which was a Goldie Hawn and John Heard movie. JT actually walked right in front of Goldie and wasn’t cut like me! Are you actually in the movies? I haven’t seen them (believe it or not) but will take the time if you are actually in them!
Wow, I love lamb and this recipe looks really delicious and easy to make, thanks for sharing.
No front of the camera for me.
but I would like to try one of these pies!
Those pies look sexy!
Haha I’m camera-shy and hate the spotlight so I’m in no hurry to be in any TV shows. That said, I do watch Gossip Girl as a guilty pleasure and wouldn’t mind being an extra on that show, just so I can wear the pretty clothes.
I wished that you would be in my favorite show, The Big Ban Theory! I didn’t know you were acting – that’s fun! I’m even too scared to hear my own voice, and me in the film/show is impossible. Though I always wanted to work BEHIND the scene in film making though.
Yummy pies!
I will have to watch the movies again to see if I can figure out which character is you! Scrummy looking pies
HI Nicole! I’m so glad that you liked it and thanks for taking the time to come back and let me know what you thought! Hehe the polenta is a favourite of mine but I can see what your son mean. I look at it like a simpler cousin of mashed potato-well sort of if you know what I mean
x
Hi themerryrose, it’s the one that I put up on Wednesday. It is here too: http://www.notquitenigella.com/2012/08/01/slow-cooker-lamb-creamy-cheesy-polenta/
Love these mini pies! And they are so cute! And I bet they taste amazing!
these sound incredible! yum!
Make love to the camera! hahahahha,..you did it somehow! Good for you!
These little pies look so tasty & appetizing with classic combinations in them but how much I love thee!
MMMM!
HI everyone! Thanks for your gorgeous comments! And re the Matrix, we went to see the film at the movies and Mr NQN says that he saw me but I was too busy talking to a friend so I missed it. So it was a real blink and you’ll miss it part! I still haven’t got it on DVD but I should get it to see if I’m actually in there somewhere
hehe I’ve always wanted to be an extra in a movie/tv show but never mustered up the confidence to sign up to an agency! Not sure if I would be able to seduce the camera though lol. Love the mini ketchup bottle!
i love dexter, though i feel like if i took part in the making of the show, it would lose some of its luster. i like the bbt too, and i feel like i could spout science talk just as well as sheldon.
I did a bit of work as an extra at one stage too. I even tried to be an extra for the Harry Potter movie that was being filmed when I lived in the UK. Unfortunately they were looking for young kids… not 22 year olds.
These look so delicious Lorraine.
Definitely going to pass this recipe onto my husband who loves making pies!
x
get out! you were in the Epic Matrix??? So cool! Btw, was totally trying not to comment on the matrix thing, but seriously…. its like one of the best trilogies I have seen, and now I want to see it again!
Just made these for dinner with a side of beans and they are delish.
Moist and tasty with the right amount of pastry to hit the spot. Was worried the mint might be too much, but next time I’m gonna pile it on. Had extra I was planning on serving for lunch tomorrow, but we went back for seconds and now there’s nothing left haha
You were in the Matrix 2 & 3?! I used watch those movies over and over and over (they were favorites for a time) – are you in any scenes that were kept in the films? I haven’t watched any of the Matrix films in ages, but now I feel compelled to watch them again
And I would definitely be in Big Bang Theory if given a chance…
Love these little lamb pies – they do beckon so temptingly. My mom used to always serve lamb with mint sauce for Easter, so now you’ve got be craving both… I’m featuring this post in today’s Food Fetish Friday (with a link-back and attribution). I hope you have no objections…
Hi Angela! Mmm a side of beans would be perfect for these! I know what you mean about the mint but I ended up using it all and I really liked what it added to the lamb. Haha that’s brilliant! I’m so pleased!
Such a yummy idea! I haven’t had time to cook the lamb yet, so made curried chicken filling for the pies for our dinner tonight, with a bit of sweet chilli sauce inside…delicious! Thanks for the inspiration.
These look amazing! They are going onto my list of things to make for next week.
If I had to choose a TV show to be in, it would definitely have to be True Blood. I would have to have a naked Alcide in it with me too
lol
Ok so I’ve made these twice now, the second time for a dinner party. Everyone commented that they are the best pies they’ve ever tasted! For the dinner party I made them larger in texas muffin pans and they were great. Thanks so much for this great recipe NQN.
Hi Angela! YAY! So glad that they got such lovely compliments!!
Love the idea of baking them larger as you did 
You’re very welcome Angela! 
Oh wow, I just made these pies today using good quality lamb mince (it was alot quicker – as today was too hot to be doing too much in the kitchen). I followed your recipe instructions Lorraine with those wonderful spices and was amazed at the flavors when the lamb was cooked. The mint sauce was so easy and added to the final taste. You are such a clever cookie to come up with this recipe! Yum, I will definitely keep this recipe up my sleeve. I made extras and froze them for a Sunday night snack!! My husband was very impressed with the flavors. Yes, a winner!!
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