entree

KNR, p. 275 “Chicken Pot Pie”

Chicken Pot Pie is one of my all-time favorite comfort foods. If a restaurant has it on the menu, no matter what time of year, I order it, with one qualification – I’m fairly picky about the type of crust. It has to be a solid pie crust, no puff pastry desired. I also enjoy a double crust, but I have been known to eat the pot pie that only comes with a top crust at a local pub. That’s because the filling is soooooo good and that top crust is perfect. The cook makes two dozen on Wednesdays, and I get there early if my taste buds hanker his masterpiece. Which is often.


As a recent birthday present, Sheila came up with this version to surprise me. It tastes suspiciously like the original, so she must have persuaded him to give up the recipe. But, I didn’t hear any reports of bodies at the pub, so it’s all good.

Use “Pie Crusts for Double Crust Meat Pies” recipe here.

 

Chicken Pot Pie

Sheila Kerrian
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 4 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 1/4 cups diced onion
  • 2/3 cup diced carrots
  • 1/2 cup diced celery
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
  • Dash pepper
  • 6 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups chicken broth, reduced sodium
  • 3/4 cup half & half
  • 1 cup diced small red potatoes
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  • 3 cups cooked (shredded or half-inch chopped) chicken
  • 3/4 cup early young peas, drained

Instructions
 

  • Assemble all ingredients, including pie crusts.
  • Melt butter in 12” skillet.
  • Add onion, carrots, celery, and salt to the skillet. Cover and cook 6 minutes on medium until veggies are soft, not browned.
  • Remove from heat and add flour a Tablespoon at a time, and mix until veggies are thoroughly coated.
  • Return to heat and stir in chicken broth, then half & half, and bring to boil on medium high heat – about 3-4minutes, stirring constantly.
  • Mix in diced potatoes, pepper, and thyme, cover and turn down heat to medium low.
  • Simmer until potatoes are tender,about 8-10 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat.
  • Add chicken and mix thoroughly, then add drained peas and stir again.
  • Preheat oven to 450.
  • Place one crust in deep 9” pie pan.
  • Place all the chicken mixture into the pie pan, then cover with the second crust.
  • Crimp the edges of the top and bottom crusts together to seal in the mixture.
  • Brush the top with an egg yolk wash.
  • Prick the top crust with a fork several times to allow steam to release.
  • Place pie on sided aluminum cookie tray and set on rack in bottom third of the oven.
  • Bake at 450 for 18 minutes, then rotate cookie tray. Lower heat to 375.
  • Bake at 375 for an additional 15 minutes, until crust is golden brown.
  • Note: if crust edges are browning too quickly, cover the edges with pie shields, or strips of aluminum foil.
  • Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes, for easier slicing. Serve while still warm.

Notes

 
Enjoy!

 

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KNR, p. 260 “Summer Macaroni Tuna Casserole”

 

We don’t grill on rainy days during the summer, but sometimes we want a hearty meal without heating up the oven. Sheila’s mom taught this recipe to her when she was learning how to cook. Easy, tasty, foolproof, and ready a few minutes after the macaroni is done. If you want to serve it absolutely cold, it takes a little longer, but we never wait that long.

 

Sheila laughed and pronounced it dead-body-proof as well, since she practiced the recipe on her mom and dad several times as a teen, and they lived.

 

"Summer Macaroni Tuna Casserole"
Author: 
Recipe type: Entree
Cuisine: American
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4 - 6
 
Ingredients
  • 8 oz box small elbow macaroni uncooked – about 2 cups
  • 1/2 teaspoon butter/margarine for macaroni water
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt for water
  • 2 5oz cans tuna
  • 1 8oz can very young small sweet peas
  • 1 cup mayo
  • 1/2 cup crumbled, seasoned croutons
Instructions
  1. Fill 4 quart pot halfway with water and bring to a boil.
  2. Add teaspoon sea salt to water or to taste.
  3. Add uncooked macaroni to water, and return to boil.
  4. Add teaspoon margarine to water (keeps macaroni from sticking to itself).
  5. Boil for 8-10 minutes until ‘al dente’ (firm), stirring occasionally.
  6. Pour into colander, drain well, and return macaroni to the pot.
  7. Drain water/oil from the tuna cans and add tuna to the macaroni pot.
  8. Drain liquid from peas and add to the macaroni pot.
  9. Add mayo to the pot and lightly toss all ingredients together.
  10. Arrange contents of pot in serving dish and sprinkle crumbled croutons on top.
  11. Chill in refrigerator for up to an hour and serve.

Note: The versatility of this dish is that it can be served hot as well. The prep is exactly the same, except that once the ingredients are combined in the pot, they should be transferred to a baking dish. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until heated through.

Tastes great hot or cold, but in the summer, we always serve it cold.


Enjoy!

 

*Photos by Patti Phillips

 

 

 

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