Down East Clam Pie Food

DOWN EAST CLAM PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Pick over clams, and set them in a colander over a bowl to collect juices. When clams are well drained, transfer them to another bowl.
• In a sauté pan, combine onion, red pepper and parsley with 2 tablespoons butter; cook gently over medium-low heat until vegetables are very soft but not brown. Add to bowl with clams. Crumble half the saltines in your hands, and stir into clam mixture.
• Measure amount of juice from clams and add enough milk or half-and-half to make 1 cup. Add to clam mixture along with eggs, and stir to mix well. Add salt and black pepper to taste, and chili pepper, if you wish.
• Use 1/2 tablespoon butter to butter bottom and sides of a 1-quart baking or soufflé dish. Turn clam mixture into dish.
• Crumble remaining saltines a little more finely than first batch. In sauté pan, combine cracker crumbs with remaining butter; cook over medium heat just until they start to brown. Spoon crumbs over clams, and set dish in oven for 1 hour, checking after 45 minutes. If top of casserole is still pale, turn heat to 425 degrees for last 15 minutes. If it is starting to get too brown, place a sheet of aluminum foil loosely over top while casserole finishes cooking. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

CLAM PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Sprinkle the clams, onion, potato and bacon over the bottom of the pie shells. In a bowl, beat together the eggs, cream and poultry seasoning. Pour this mixture over the clams.
• Bake 30 to 40 minutes, until set and lightly browned.

NEW ENGLAND CLAM PIE

Steps:

• Place clam juice, potatoes, carrots, and onion in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 12 minutes.
• Add clams and salt and pepper to taste.
• Mix flour with light cream or milk (heavy cream will make the mixture too thick), and stir into the clam mixture.
• Bring to boil, stirring until the mixture thickens, remove from heat. Let mixture cool.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees, and prepare 1 pie shell in baking dish. Pour cooled mixture into the shell, and cover with the remaining shell, sealing the edges and poking airholes in the top.
• Bake for 10 minutes at 400, then reduce heat to 350 degrees and cook about 30 minutes longer, until the crust is golden brown.
• Let the pie cool in order to let the filling set.

CLAM PIE

Steps:

• Saute first 4 ingredients for 5 to 6 minutes. Add remaining ingredients; mix. Pour mixture into pie shell. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.