MOO Month 2026 No. 2 Elaine’s Easy Pastry

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​Stop Buying Frozen Pastry — Make Your Own

This really is easy pastry.
Even a beginner can turn out a beautiful pie shell or a tray of golden sausage rolls with this recipe. It’s a treasured family recipe too — given to me by Wayne’s aunty before we were married — and I’ve been using it for 37 years without a single complaint.
That’s tried, tested and Cheapskates approved.

And the best part?
✔ No special equipment required
✔ No chilling time needed
✔ Rolls beautifully thin
✔ Freezer-friendly

I use my mixer, but a food processor works just as well. No machine? You can absolutely make it by hand — it just takes a few extra minutes.

You can roll it straight away — no need to chill. Or make it ahead and refrigerate until needed.

To save even more time (and money), I often make several batches at once, roll into balls, wrap in clingwrap and freeze. Homemade pastry ready whenever I need it — without the supermarket markup.

Elaine’s Easy Pastry
Ingredients:
1 cup self-raising flour
1 cup plain flour
½ teaspoon salt
2/3 cup margarine or lard
½ cup hot water

Method:
1. Cream the margarine or lard.
2. Gradually add the hot water, beating continuously until the mixture becomes creamy.
3. Sift the dry ingredients together.
4. Add to the margarine mixture and mix with a knife until the pastry leaves the sides of the bowl.
5. Turn onto a lightly floured board and roll thinly.

This pastry rolls to an amazing thinness, making it ideal for:

• pies
• quiches
• sausage rolls
• pasties
• tart cases

Why This Is a MOO Win
Frozen pastry sheets can cost $4–$8 a pack for 1 kilo.
This version? Pantry staples. Simple ingredients. Fraction of the cost at just $1.49 for a kilo of beautiful pastry..
Another Make-Our-Own skill that builds grocery independence — and tastes better too.
That’s the Cheapskates way.
Debt Free, Cashed Up and Laughing.