Road Test: Sunbeam Pie Magic

THE answer to every man's pie-making dreams.

Sunbeam pie maker

WHAT is it?

The answer to every man's pie-making dreams.

I don't have any pie-making dreams. I just want to eat them.
Come on, where's your sense of culinary creativity? It's the AFL Grand Final next Saturday - don't you want to get a bunch of mates round to drink beers in front of the telly while you put on a pinny and get busy in the kitchen?

You betcha! so how does it work?
It's like a toasted sandwich maker with pie-shaped holes. Line the holes with pastry, add your filling and slam the lid down. Job done.

What sort of pies does it make?
It's limited only by your own soaring imagination - or at least by the booklet which comes with the machine, entitled 101 Great Pie Ideas. (It does struggle towards the end: No.82 is "Eggs Provencale".) Or you could keep it simple for the boys on the sofa: meat pies, with a splash of your divine home-made salsa on top.

Price: 4-pie version, $80; 2-pie version, $45 sunbeam.com.au