Christmas Meat Pie Cook Ahead And Freeze Food

FREEZE & BAKE CHICKEN POT PIES RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• In a deep skillet, melt the butter and cook celery, carrots, and onion until tender.
• Pour in the flour, and mix in well.
• Stirring constantly, add in the milk and chicken broth a little at a time, alternating between the two. Bring to a boil and continue stirring until thickened.
• Add chicken, peas, salt, and pepper, and stir until combined. Remove from heat and cool.
• Roll out pie crust and use the foil pot pie dish as a template. Cut a piece of dough for the bottom of the dish that is about an inch (²¹⁄₂ cm) thicker than the widest rim of the dish, and a piece that is the same size as the rim. (Roll dough back out and repeat to make more pieces.)
• Place the larger piece of crust in the bottom of the foil dish, fill with the cooled pot pie filling, and top with the smaller crust piece.
• Pinch together, then seal together with a fork. Cut 4 small slits in the middle of the crust.
• Cover each pot pie with foil and freeze for up to 2 months.
• To bake from frozen, preheat oven to 400˚F (200˚C), and bake for 30 minutes with the foil on top. Remove the foil and bake for another 30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Enjoy!

TOURTIERE (FRENCH CANADIAN MEAT PIE)

Steps:

• Place flour, salt, and frozen butter slices into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse on and off until butter is about the size of peas, about 30 seconds. Stir vinegar into cold water; drizzle water/vinegar into the flour mixture. Pulse on and off until mixture is crumbly and holds together when you pinch a piece off, about 10 seconds. If dough isn't pressing together, drizzle in another teaspoon of water.
• Transfer mixture to a work surface. Press it together until it becomes a lump of dough. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.
• Mix salt, pepper, thyme, sage, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, mustard, clove, and cayenne together in a small bowl.
• Place potato quarters in a saucepan; cover with cold water. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat. Simmer until cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Scoop out potatoes and transfer to a bowl; save cooking liquid. Mash potatoes with a potato masher.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and a pinch of salt. Cook and stir until onions turn golden, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stir garlic, celery, and spice blend into the skillet with onions. Stir until onion mixture is evenly coated with the spices, about 30 seconds. Add ground beef and ground pork. Ladle about 3/4 cup of the potato cooking liquid into the skillet.
• Cook and stir until meat is browned and has a very fine, almost pastelike texture. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until meat is tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 45 minutes. Stir in mashed potatoes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Divide chilled dough into 2 pieces, one just slightly larger than the other. Roll the larger piece out into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured work surface. Place in a 9-inch deep dish pie plate. Roll top crust out into a circle about 11 inches in diameter. Cut small slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape.
• Fill bottom crust with the meat mixture; smooth out the surface. Whisk egg and water together to make egg wash. Brush edges of the bottom crust with egg wash. Place top crust on the pie and press lightly around the edges to seal. Trim excess dough from the crust. Crimp the edges of the crust. Brush entire surface of the pie with egg wash.
• Place in preheated oven. Bake until well browned, about 1 hour. Let cool to almost room temperature before serving.

FRENCH MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Dissolve the Better Than Bouillon chicken into the hot water. Set aside.
• In a large pot or Dutch oven, over medium heat. Cook the onion and celery for about 5 minutes to slightly soften. Stir with a wooden spoon to not burn.
• Add the chicken stock mixture, ground pork, ground beef, and poultry seasoning. Cook over medium heat until the meat is cooked, about 20 minutes.
• Add the breadcrumbs, allspice, ground cloves, and black pepper. Stir to combine. Let cook another 10 minutes.
• Add salt to taste. Should only need a pinch of salt. (remember bouillon and breadcrumbs already have salt in them)
• Let cool completely. Add to unbaked pie shells. Either homemade pie crust or store-bought. Top with pie crust. Roll edges under and pinch around the entire pie. Use a sharp knife to slice a slit in the top of each pie.
• Brush with egg wash. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven until the crust is nicely browned. About 30 to 45 minutes.
• Makes two 9-inch pies.

MINIATURE MEAT PIES

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in chili sauce and soup mix; set aside. , In a large bowl, combine the flour, sesame seeds if desired, and salt. Cut in shortening and cheese until crumbly. Combine milk and vinegar; gradually add to flour mixture, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. , Divide dough in half; roll out to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a lightly floured 2-1/2-in. round cutter. Place half of the circles 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets; top each with a rounded tablespoonful of beef mixture. Top with remaining circles. Moisten edges with water and press with a fork to seal. Cut a slit in the top of each. , Bake at 425° until golden brown, 12-16 minutes. Serve immediately., Freeze option: Freeze cooled pies in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Bake, from frozen, on an ungreased baking sheet at 425° until heated through, 14-16 minutes.

GROUND BEEF MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Heat butter in a large skillet over medium high heat until the butter starts to sizzle and shimmer. Add in onions, garlic, parsley and ground beef. Stir well with a spatula and cook for 5-6 minutes until meat browns and is no longer pink.
• Add in potatoes, carrots, Worcestershire sauce, dark soy sauce, salt and pepper. Stir well to cook evenly for another 2-3 minutes. Stir in breadcrumbs until fully combined.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and let the meat filling cool down completely for about an hour, up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Transfer the first dough disc onto a 9-inch pie pan and gently press down to form into the bottom pie crust. Slowly transfer the meat filling from the skillet into the dough-lined pie pan and use a spatula to spread evenly across.
• Carefully place the second dough disc over the filling as the top pie crust. Make sure it covers the pie pan entirely. Gently press the edges of the top crust and the edges of bottom crust together, and crimp with your fingers to seal. Make 5-6 slits on top of the top pie crust for ventilation.
• Gently brush the egg wash over the top crust and edges. If your oven is not ready at this point, store the assembled meat pie in the fridge to prevent the pie crust from disintegrating (the butter in the dough melts quickly at room temperature).
• Bake the pie for 20 minutes until the edges of the pie crust turn golden brown. Then, reduce heat to 350F, and bake for another 40 minutes until the rest of the top crust is golden brown.
• Remove the pie pan from the oven and let it cool at room temperature for at least 1 hour. Serve warm.

TOURTIERE (MEAT PIE)

Steps:

• Bring potatoes to a boil in salted water. Simmer 15 minutes or until tender. Drain well and mash.
• While potatoes are cooking, brown ground beef, pork, onion, and garlic until no pink remains using a spoon to break it up. Add remaining ingredients (including mashed potatoes) except for pie crust and bread crumbs.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes or until thickened. Add 1 tablespoon of breadcrumbs to help the mixture hold together if needed. Cool for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Line a deep-dish pie plate with crust and add filling.
• Add top crust and seal edges. Add a few slits to allow steam to escape. Brush crust with beaten egg if desired.
• Bake for 45-55 minutes or until bubbly and crust is golden.

TOURTIERE: CANADIAN MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375˚F.
• Heat a large skillet to medium high. Add the oil and onions, and sauté until translucent.
• Add garlic and continue cooking until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add ground beef and pork and cook until no longer pink, breaking up the meat into small pieces.
• Add mashed potatoes and spices.
• In a small jar or container, shake beef broth and flour until smooth and pour into the skillet.
• Cook until the broth has thickened.
• Place the bottom crust in a 9-inch pie plate. Fill the crust with meat filling and top with remaining pie crust.
• Seal the two crusts together, rolling to one over the other if needed, and press gently with a fork or fingers. Brush the top crust with egg wash.
• Bake for 45 - 50 minutes or until the pie crust is golden brown in color.

AUTHENTIC NATCHITOCHES MEAT PIE

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet, add beef and pork; cook thoroughly until no pink is visible; drain and return to skillet
• In same skillet, add onions, bell peppers; saute 3 minutes on medium high or until green bell peppers are tender; add garlic; stir
• Add cayenne, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves and sage (if your pork doesn't already have sage in it); allow to cook for 15 minutes on medium; (See Recipe Notes)
• While meat is simmering, make a slurry: In a two-cup measuring cup, add 4 tablespoons flour (¼cup) and fill the measuring cup with milk; mix with fork until smooth; pour this mixture (slurry) into the skillet with the beef; combine well. (The "slurry" will thicken the meat mixture.)
• Allow this to cook for about 5-8 more minutes, or until the beef mixture begins to thicken; once the mixture thickens a little, turn off the heat; remove bay leaves; taste for salt & pepper; cover and refrigerate; now make the pastry dough
• Get out two bowls: one large, one small
• In the large bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder
• In the small bowl, add cold eggs and cold milk; slightly beat together until combined
• Slice cold butter into small (tiny) cubes
• Add the tiny cubes of cold butter to the dry ingredients; "cut it in"using your fingers; (crumble the butter pieces and combine with the flour until butter until the mixture looks grainy)
• Once the flour mixture looks grainy, gradually fold in the cold egg/milk mixture; combine with a spatula; form into a ball; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 20 minutes ( See Recipe Notes)
• Sprinkle some flour onto a clean surface; place the dough on the counter and roll it out till it's about ¼" thick
• Cut dough circles out of the dough that are approximately 7" in diameter; use a saucer or the bottom of a 9" salad plate as a guide--doesn't have to be perfect! (see recipe notes)
• Spoon ⅓ cup of the cold meat mixture onto the center of dough disc; fold one side of the dough over the meat so the edges of the circle form a half moon; press the edges together using your finger and a little water
• Use a fork to "cinch" the dough together; trim with a pizza cutter or sharp knife; repeat process for the remaining meat and dough rounds; set aside
• Refrigerate pies for 15-20 minutes
• Heat a heavy bottomed stock pot with oil; bring to 312-325ºF; if oil begins to smoke, remove pot from burner and reduce heat immediately
• Use a long handled, slotted spoon and place formed pies into hot oil; work in batches; usually 3 at a time; remove cooked pies and place on paper towel; repeat until all pies are done; each pie takes 2-4 minutes
• Preheat oven to 400ºF
• In a small bowl, make an egg wash. Add one whole egg and a teaspoon of water to the bowl; combine well
• Use a pastry brush and coat the top of each pie with the egg wash
• Place pies on a parchment covered baking sheet
• Bake pies for 20-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160ºF

CHRISTMAS MEAT PIE - COOK AHEAD AND FREEZE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Heat 1 tbsp oil and the butter in a frying pan, then add the onion and fry for 5 mins until softened. Cool slightly. Tip the sausagemeat, lemon zest, breadcrumbs, apricots, chestnuts and thyme into a bowl. Add the onion and cranberries, and mix everything together with your hands, adding plenty of pepper and a little salt.
• Cut each chicken breast into three fillets lengthwise and season all over with salt and pepper. Heat the remaining oil in the frying pan, and fry the chicken fillets quickly until browned, about 6-8 minutes.
• Roll out two-thirds of the pastry to line a 20-23cm springform or deep loose-based tart tin. Press in half the sausage mix and spread to level. Then add the chicken pieces in one layer and cover with the rest of the sausage. Press down lightly.
• Roll out the remaining pastry. Brush the edges of the pastry with beaten egg and cover with the pastry lid. Pinch the edges to seal, then trim. Brush the top of the pie with egg, then roll out the trimmings to make holly leaf shapes and berries. Decorate the pie and brush again with egg.
• Set the tin on a baking sheet and bake for 50-60 mins, then cool in the tin for 15 minutes Remove and leave to cool completely. Serve with a winter salad and pickles.

TOURTIèRE: A FRENCH-CANADIAN MEAT PIE RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine flour and salt in a large bowl.
• Cut in butter or lard until mixture is a rough crumbly texture.
• Add ice water one tablespoon at a time and mix just until the dough comes together.
• Shape the dough into a ball, flatten, wrap, and chill in the refrigerator. While pastry is chilling, prepare the filling.
• Peel and cut potatoes into 2-inch chunks, add them to a medium saucepan, and fill with water until it covers the potatoes by 2-inches.
• Bring the saucepan to a boil over high heat and then reduce the heat to medium-high and boil until the potatoes are until tender, about 12 minutes.
• Reserve 1/2-cup of potato water and drain the rest. Mash potatoes and set aside.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add olive oil, onions, and garlic, and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes.
• Add the ground beef and pork and cook until the meat is no longer pink. Drain off excess fat.
• Add the poultry seasoning, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and reserved potato water. Mix well and simmer for about 10 minutes until the liquid is absorbed.
• Remove the skillet from the heat, stir in mashed potatoes, and set the filling aside to cool slightly.
• Preheat oven to 400°F/205°C
• On a lightly floured surface, divide dough in half and flatten one ball of dough with your hands. Roll dough to about 12-inches in diameter to fit a 9-inch pie pan.
• Place the pastry into the pie plate and add the meat filling. Brush around the outer edge of the pastry with the beaten egg.
• Roll out the top pastry and place on top of the filling. Fold the top crust under the bottom crust and pinch or flute the edges. Brush with egg wash and cut vent holes.
• Bake the pie in a preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.
• Remove the tourtière from oven and let it cool at least 10 minutes before serving.
• Yield: Makes 1 pie, about 8 servings.

TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS TOURTIèRE RECIPE

Steps:

• Make your pie crust. Refrigerate for a minimum of one hour before rolling out.
• Place potato quarters in a pot with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium high until cooked through (10 to 15 minutes). Reserve ½ cup of potato cooking water, strain potatoes and return them to the pot. Add ½ teaspoon of salt and mash potatoes with a potato masher.
• Melt butter in a large skillet and add diced onions. Cook onions for a few minutes until they're translucent and starting to brown. Add chopped garlic and mix well.
• Add ground beef and ground pork and brown for a couple minutes. Then add salt, pepper, dried herbs and spices and mix well to combine.
• Add the ½ cup of reserved potato water and stir everything together to combine.
• Cook the meat filling over medium heat for about half an hour or until excess liquid has evaporated.
• Add in mashed potato and stir well to combine. Meat filling should be thick and almost paste-like, so break down any large chunks. Let filling cool while you prepare your crust and preheat the oven.
• Preheat the oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Cut your pie crust in half and shape one half into a disc. Generously flour your surface or countertop as well as a rolling pin and roll out your crust to fit a 9" pie pan. Place your bottom crust into the pie pan and get ready to add your filling.
• Spoon the meat filling into the bottom pie crust. Then roll out the other half of your pie crust and place on top. (Make sure to cut a hole or slits in the middle of the pie crust so that steam can escape). Crimp the edge of the pie crust and brush with egg wash.
• Bake pie for one hour, then remove from the oven and let cool. Alternatively, place unbaked pie in the freezer and bake from frozen later (just add an extra 15-20 minutes to your baking time).

FRENCH MEAT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350*.
• Sauté ground beef and pork with onions until no longer pink.
• In another pan boil and mash potatoes with garlic powder, salt and pepper.
• Do not drain fat from ground meat mixture.
• Add crumbled soda crackers, cinnamon, thyme, sage and mix well, the crackers help absorb a lot of the moisture and gives it great taste and texture.
• Next add mashed potatoes and mix well. I cool this before putting in crust but it isn't necessary if your baking it right away.
• Use a deep dish 9 or 10 inch pie plate and line bottom with 1 crust.
• Fill crust and then place second crust over filling, press edges together to seal: cut slits in top crust.
• Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.
• This recipe may be made ahead of time and baked later, up to 24 hours ahead as long as kept refrigerated.
• Also can be frozen after prepared for a later date.
• I have started making this in 2 smaller foil pie pans and freeze one for another time. Each pie feeds 4 or 2 with leftovers.