Okay, here is an authentic Yooper Pasty recipe. By the way, Pasty is pronounced with a drawn out ah sound.
Madelyne Lawry's Pasty Recipe (This recipe makes four pasties, multiply accordingly)Cut Shortening into Flour and Salt, add Water. Mix and Knead until well blended. (yes, contrary to pie crust, you Knead) Form into 4 balls and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Roll in to 8 inch circle. Use plenty of flour while rolling out.
Mix the filling together in a large bowl. Roll out the dough, and brush the edges with milk. Put 1 cup of filling onto one side of each crust and fold over. Seal the edge by pressing with a fork. Put on cookie sheet, cut 1 slit (1/2 inch) in each for steam and brush top with milk.
Bake in 400F oven on Bottom Shelf for 25 minutes, then move to middle shelf for 20 minutes.
This is as authentic a Pasty recipe as you will ever find. These pasties were famous throughout Upper and Lower Michigan. The recipe is from the Lawry family of Greenwood, not Nagaunee as originally stated. It was given to my mother by Madelyn's son, Bud. Bud is the Principle of the Junior High School where my mom taught Home Ec. and gave her the recipe with the following instructions: To eat the Pasty, cut in half, pick it up, douse with Ketchup, and start biting. Wash it down with Orange Soda.
Robin Bartanen adds: Madelyne Lawry is my grandmother and now lives in Clare, MI. The Lawry family first made pasties famous in the Greenwood area (4 miles west of Ishpeming), and the family is going to celebrate 50 years in the Pasty business this year. The Pasty shop in Greenwood is still thriving as well as a location in Marquette and a brand new one in Harvey (all in Michigan's Upper Peninsula). Bud is my uncle.
The recipe above it is not the same as the recipe that we use for commercial purposes, as when they are made at the Pasty Shops. My grandmother modified that for home use and health purposes when she gave the recipe out for people to make at home.
Robin gives the sad news that this summer, the Marquette location of Lawry's Pasty Shop burned to the ground. But they still have the Ishpeming (Greenwood) and Harvey locations.
For anyone interested in ordering pasties, we can ship them via UPS, etc.
Please call (906) 485-5589 for more information.
Robin (Lawry) Bartanen