Alsatian Meat Pie Food

ALSATIAN MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F.
• Remove puff pastry from package and wrapping. Allow to thaw for approximately 40 minutes until it can be opened without cracking.
• Place brioche in a bowl, add milk and mix. Set aside.
• Begin sweating onions in olive oil. Make a well in the onions, add garlic and saute for a minute. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent. Set aside to cool.
• Separate two of the eggs. Add the remaining whole egg to the whites.
• Add a splash of water to the two yolks and mix together. Set aside.
• Place ground pork, soaked brioche, onions (reserve the dirty saute pan), salt, pepper, coriander, nutmeg, whole egg plus two whites, in bowl. Strip leaves from thyme sprigs into bowl. Mix until combined.
• Saute a teaspoon or two of the pork mixture in the saute pan. Taste and correct seasoning as necessary.
• Roll out first sheet of puff pastry with a dusting of flour and place in a greased 9-inch pie plate. Trim.
• Spoon pork filling into crust in pie plate.
• Roll out second sheet of puff pastry. Place on top of pie and trim to the edge of the pie plate or a bit wider than that. Tuck the cut end of the crust between the pie plate and the bottom crust. Cut a 1-inch vent in the center of the top crust. Brush the top of the pie with the egg yolk-water mixture. If desired, cut decorative pieces of puff pastry from the trimmings and place on top of the pie. Brush the decorations with the egg yolk-wash.
• Bake for 45 minutes at 400°F Use an instant-read thermometer to verify that the filling temperature is 160°F Cook longer if necessary.
• Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
• Slice and serve with a salad and beer.

ALSATIAN POTATO PIE

Steps:

• Cover potatoes with water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add a pinch of salt; cook until just tender, 13 to 15 minutes. Drain. Let cool.
• Bring 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons cream, garlic, and nutmeg to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook until mixture is reduced by half. Season with salt and pepper.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add leek; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in parsley; season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 400°. Whisk egg yolk and remaining 1 table- spoon cream in a small bowl; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, divide puff pastry into two 6-by-13-inch rectangles. Set one rectangle on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Top with half of potatoes, leaving a 1/2-inch border all around and overlapping slightly, then half of leek mixture and 3/4 cup cheese; season with salt and pepper. Repeat layering with remaining potatoes, leek mixture, and cheese. Brush edges of pastry with egg wash. Cover with remaining pastry rectangle; gently press edges with a fork to seal. Cut 2-inch slits lengthwise in center of crust, 2 inches apart. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with parsley sprigs. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Bake until golden brown and puffy, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven; pour cream mixture into pie vents with a funnel. Bake 10 minutes more. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

ALSATIAN ONION PIE

Steps:

• Saute onions in oil (I added 1/2 cup water to prevent burning, or you could substitute water for the oil to reduce fat), until translucent and mostly soft.
• Blend the soy milk, tofu, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and flour until smooth.
• Then combine the onions, the soy milk mixture and the couscous.
• Pour into the prepared pie shell.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

ALSATIAN PORK AND SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Place the bacon in a large, deep pot, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring to turn pieces occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon pieces on a paper towel-lined plate. With a paper towel, wipe the bacon grease out of the pot but keep as much of the brown bits as possible. Stir in the onion, sauerkraut, brown sugar, and chicken broth, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the potatoes and apple slices.
• Place the juniper berries, peppercorns, cloves, parsley, and bay leaf into a small cheesecloth square, and tie the ends together to make a spice bag (or place the spices into a stainless steel tea ball). Place the spice bag into the pot, and add the pork chops and kielbasa sausage pieces. Add more chicken broth, if needed, to just cover the ingredients. Bring the pot to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until the potatoes are very tender, about 1 hour.
• To serve, use a slotted spoon to remove the sauerkraut, potatoes, and apple slices to the center of a serving platter. Arrange bacon, pork chops, and kielbasa pieces around the outside of the platter.