Annas Easter Ham Pie Food

HEARTY HAM PIE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, saute the broccoli, green pepper, mushrooms, onion and garlic in oil until tender. Sprinkle half of the ham and cheese into pie crust. Cover with the vegetables and the remaining ham and cheese. Combine eggs and cream; pour over ham and cheese. Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean. If needed, cover edge of crust with foil to prevent excess browning.

HAM, LEEK & POTATO PIE

Steps:

• Heat a large frying pan, melt the butter, then add the onion and leeks. Cover, then very gently cook for 15 mins until soft. Add the potatoes after 5 mins cooking.
• Stir in the flour, turn up the heat, then add the stock, stirring until the mix thickens a little. Take off the heat, then stir in the crème fraîche, mustard and ham. Season to taste, then cool, if you have time. Spoon the mix into a large pie dish, adding a couple of bay leaves. Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7.
• Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to the thickness of a £1 coin. Cut a pastry strip the same width as the lip of the dish, wet the edge of the dish with egg, then fix the strip around it. Brush the top with egg, then lay over the remaining pastry.
• Trim pastry to the edge of the dish, then ruffle the cut edges with the knife blade to help the layers rise. Cut a few slits to let the steam escape, decorate with bay leaves, if you like, then brush all over the top with egg. Can be done up to a day ahead, keep chilled. Bake for 30 mins until risen.

ITALIAN EASTER PIE /PIZZA RUSTICA (AKA "HAM PIE")

Steps:

• Directions for making and using the yeast dough crust: In a cup, mix yeast and warm water together.
• Place flour on a pastry board, add leaf lard (or butter), salt, pepper and yeast/water mixture.
• Work together well until dough forms, continue working the dough until it is elastic and smooth.
• Place dough in a deep dish, cover and allow it to rise in a warm place for 2 hours, or until doubled in volume.
• When dough has risen, cut into 2 pieces.
• Stretch one piece to fit into a greased 9 x 2 1/2-inch round cake pan.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Prepare filling as described below (steps #19 to #22).
• After filling the dough lined pan, stretch second piece of dough and place over the filling, pressing the edges closed.
• If there is a lot of excess dough left on the edge, carefully trim some, but leave enough to flute the sealed edge.
• (I like to brush the crust with a bit of beaten egg before baking, to give it a gloss.) Directions for using a regular pie crust dough: Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Prepare pastry and line a 10 inch pie pan.
• Prick dough with a fork, and sprinkle with a bit of flour.
• Prepare filling as described below (steps #19 to #22).
• Pour mixture into pastry lined pie tin and cover with top crust.
• Leave about a 1/2 to 3/4-inch overhang.
• Fold dough under and back, and flute edge.
• Cut slits in top crust to allow steam to escape.
• Directions for making the Filling: Cut sausage into small pieces (or remove from casings and crumble), place in frying pan and brown lightly in 2 Tablespoons of water.
• In a large bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, salt and pepper; add eggs one at a time, beating with a wooden spoon after each addition.
• Add cooked sausage, prosciutto, ham, parsley and grated cheese to ricotta mixture.
• Blend well.
• Fill dough lined pan with mixture.
• Directions for Baking: For Regular Pie Crust: Bake the pie for 15 minutes in preheated (400°) oven, lower oven temperature to 325°F and continue baking for 45-50 minutes more.
• Remove from oven and let pie "settle" for about 10 minutes before slicing if you are going to serve it warm; otherwise let pie cool and refrigerate when cooled.
• Pie can be served either warm or cold.
• Slices can be reheated in the microwave.
• For Yeast Dough Crust: Bake the pie in a preheated 375°F oven for 45-50 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let pie "settle" for about 10 minutes before slicing if you are going to serve it warm; otherwise let pie cool and refrigerate when cooled.
• Pie can be served either warm or cold.
• Slices can be reheated in the microwave.

DEEP-DISH HAM PIE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan; stir in flour, salt, mustard and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk and onion; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in ham, peas and eggs. Pour into an ungreased 8-in. square or 11x7-in. baking dish. On a floured surface, roll pastry to fit top of dish; place over filling. Seal and flute edges; cut slits in the top. Bake at 425° for 25 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.