Pastry - shortcrust or puff?

[shivvy]

I am making a beef and onion pie. I have lined the dish with shortcrust and will top it with puff pastry.
I want to cut out and put some pastry shapes on top of the pie so my question is - do I make the shapes out of the puff or shortcrust pastry?
I plan to put it in the oven at 5pm so any answers before then please.
Thanks

[quizbabe]

I have never made a pie with two different pastries before. Usually if I used shortcrust I would use it top and bottom and if I used Puff pastry I would just put it on the top. I think they cook at different temperatures.

[shivvy]

I am following a recipe which says to use the 2 different types of pastry so I am fine about doing that.
However my question is - which pastry should I use for the shapes on top?

[skyep]

Hi shivvy - Either, though shortcrust will probably hold the shape better! xxx

[Jugglering]

I'd not heard of using the two types of pastry together either but apparently it can be done (see here http://www.exclusivelyfood.com.au/2006/08/chic ken-pie-recipe.html)

As the puff pastry will *puff* up... (hence the name!), I think puff pastry shapes would distort, so I'm with skyep, use shortcrust but make sure the shapes are quite thin (and not so heavy that they prevent the puff pastry below rising up).

[pastafreak]

I know this is too late...but i would think shortcrust is heavier than puff,and therefore might weigh it down.....so what did you do in the end-I am very curious now!!

[tiggerblue10]

I would say the same Pasta.

[Jugglering]

Yep, I thought about the weight as well, which is why I suggested rolling the shortcrust shapes out really thinly ..... I am intrigued now and will simply have to try out a two pastry pie next weekend ... lol

[shivvy]

OK - the results are in . . . !!
I used 2 different types of pastry and it worked just fine. The shortcrust on the base was hunky dorey and the puff on the top puffed very well!
As advised, I used shortcrust for the letters on top but I rolled them thin so that they allowed the puff to raise, and . . . . . . . it was great!
Thanks for all your advice.

Shivvy

[pastafreak]

Now we will all have to try it!!