Bacon, apple and rosemary mini pies

Legend has it that the pie first appeared in ancient Greece. It was used as an offering to the goddess Artemis, and linked to crops, nature, hunting and fertility. This sweet pastry topped offering to the Greek goddess was round, with a connection to the moon.

Now there are countless varieties of pies. They can be open topped, semi-open (lattice) or closed. Cooking methods vary from fried to baked. The pastry composition of the base and topping is also varied (including puff, filo, shortcrust pastry and biscuit based). Cultures across the world have created their own pie inspired dishes - including - pita, pizza, quiche, and pies with meringue toppings. The possibilities are endless.

How old is the 'pie'?

According to The Oxford English Dictionary: 'the first use of the word 'pie' as it relates to food can be traced back to 1303. The name was well-known and popular by 1362.

For this year's British Pie Week, I've created some mini pies. Made with a crisp filo pastry casing they hold a contrasting filling. The sweet flavour comes from the apples and the saltiness from the bacon. The rosemary and spices lend an extra layer of taste as well as an enticing aroma.