Crazy busy week with school holidays, balloon festival and Millamolong Polo - the town of Canowindra was flat out; great for small business owners.

I was proud to do the Millamolong Polo Dinner on Saturday night - great crowd of people.

Winter is upon us, so "pie time".

Chicken and Leek Pie

Pkt of pastry; just line a pie or quiche dish on the bottom and par bake for about 20 minutes (this means laying baking paper and dried rice on the inside of the pie).

This pie will do about six people.

1 1/2 kilograms chicken thigh chopped into cubes

2 leeks, chopped

3 or 4 carrots chopped finely

500 grams frozen peas

1 x brown onion, chopped finely.

Cook onions, leeks and carrots in a heavy pan or boiler then add 1 litre of stock and stir till carrots soften - add chicken pieces and keep stirring for 20 minutes. Add peas and a jar of cream/stir into a nice creamy mix, then add 1/4 cup of plain flour mixed with milk to thicken. When nice and thick, allow to cool for a bit.

Get your pie base and pour this mixture into it - then layer more pastry on top - don't forget to add a couple of small pieces in the centre for decoration. Brush with some egg wash and put into the oven on 160 degrees till pastry goes golden brown.

This usually takes about 20 -30 minutes.

Serve this with mashed potato and you will win everyone's heart.

Steak and kidney pie (if you don't like kidney, don't use it).

Serves about six people.

Get about two kilograms cubed steak and kidney from the butchers.

1/2 kilograms of carrots chopped finely.

1/4 bunch of celery chopped finely.

1 onion chopped finely.

Ok, get a big iron pan and put meat into it, with some cooking oil and some butter.

Add onion and carrot, and cook for 30 minutes. Keep stirring! When meat is cooked, add a cup of plain flour and mix that through meat and veges. Add a litre of beef stock and the celery; salt and pepper to taste, then turn down to simmer and slow about 3/4 to one hour to finish off - taste the meat and see if it is tender.

When ready, do something with a big baking dish - top with mashed potato after you have poured meat into dish, sprinkle potato with breadcrumbs and put in the oven for 30 minutes on 160 degrees - if potato goes golden brown, its ready!

Serve up with nice warm bread and butter - sensational!

Enjoy winter warmers from Tommy, the Snow Bunny xxx