Four Twenty Chicken Ham Pie Food

FOUR & TWENTY CHICKEN & HAM PIE

Steps:

• Soften the onion in the butter with the sage and mace. Cool for a few mins while you whizz the chicken thighs and 300g of the ham in a food processor until minced. Scrape into a large bowl and stir in the softened onion, pistachios, cranberries, apricots and parsley. Season with nutmeg, lots of black pepper and some salt.
• Grease a deep, 20cm round springform or loose-bottomed tin, then line with baking parchment. To make the pastry, mix together the flours and 2 tsp salt in a large bowl, then make a well in the centre. Put the butter and lard into a small pan with 200ml water and very gently melt. Once melted, turn up the heat and when just bubbling, pour into the well and stir with a wooden spoon to a dough - don't worry if some powdery bits remain.
• Once cool enough to handle, knead in the bowl until the dough comes together, then tip onto your work surface. Set aside a third, wrapped in a clean tea towel to keep it as warm and pliable as possible, while you quickly roll the remaining dough into a large circle - big enough to line the tin with a little overhanging.
• Ease the circle into the tin, pressing evenly into the corners and side - you can be rough with it. Evenly cover the base with half the remaining sliced ham, followed by half the chicken breasts and half the mince mixture, pressing firmly to pack. Repeat with the remaining ham and chicken, then a rounded dome of mince. Put a pie funnel, if you have one, on the top.
• Roll the reserved dough to a circle large enough to easily cover the pie, cutting out a hole (if using a pie funnel). Brush the edge of the pie with some beaten egg and top with the pastry lid. Press to seal the edges before trimming the excess. Crimp the edges between your thumb and forefinger to seal thoroughly, then make a small hole in the middle to let steam escape (if not using a pie funnel). Brush the top of the pie with more beaten egg.
• Heat oven to 200C/180 fan/gas 6. Bake the pie for 1 hr. Very, very carefully remove the pie from its tin, brush the top and side with more egg and bake for another 30 mins until browned and crisp. Leave to cool completely before chilling.
• To make the jelly, soak the gelatine in cold water for 5-10 mins until soft. Squeeze out any excess water from the gelatine, then dissolve in the hot stock. Once cooled, carefully pour into your chilled pie through the small hole, using a funnel, until full - you may not need all the stock. Chill the pie for a few hrs. Serve with chutney and salad, if you like.

CHICKEN & HAM PIE

Steps:

• Put the chicken in a large pan with the carrots, potatoes, celery, half the thyme and seasoning. Add stock and bring to the boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook gently for 15 minutes. Set a colander over a large bowl, pour in the pan contents and remove thyme. Reserve 600ml/1 pint stock (rest can be frozen).
• Rinse the pan, return to heat and melt the butter. Cook the onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the flour, then the reserved stock a little at a time, to make a smooth thick sauce. Add the milk and simmer for 2 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the remaining thyme, lemon juice and parsley. Season.
• Mix together the chicken, vegetables and ham in a deep 2.2litre/4 pint ovenproof dish, preferably with a rim or lip. Pour over the sauce and leave to cool slightly. Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/fan 180C.
• Roll out the pastry to about 5cm/2in larger than the top of the dish. Cut a 2.5cm/1in strip from all round the pastry. Brush the rim of the dish with egg and press the strip all round. Brush with egg and lift the pastry on to it, pressing the edges to seal thoroughly. Trim off excess, then mark the pastry edge all round with a fork. Make 4 small slits in the centre. Brush with egg and bake for 25-30 minutes until crisp and golden.

CHICKEN AND HAM PIE

Steps:

• In a food processor, mix the butter with the flour until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Mix the egg with 1 tablespoon of cold water and add to dough.
• Mix until just starting to form clumps, adding a little more water if it is still very crumbly.
• Turn the pastry out onto a board or work surface and knead gently to bring it together.
• Place onto a sheet of cling film/wrap and wrap tightly.
• Place in fridge for at least 2 hours.
• Season the chicken thighs with salt and black pepper.
• Heat ½ tablespoon olive oil in a pan over a medium heat and fry the chicken for 5 minutes each side, until golden.
• Remove from the pan to a plate.
• Add the other ½ tablespoon olive oil to the pan and cooked the onion for 5 minutes until soft.
• Add the crushed garlic and fresh thyme and cook for 1 minute.
• Stir in the flour.
• Add the stock, milk and mustard and stir.
• Chop the chicken into bite size pieces. It will still be a little raw in the middle, don't worry, it will finish cooking in the sauce.
• Add the chopped chicken to the sauce and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Pour into a 17 x 26cm (6.7" x 10") dish and cool. Once cool, add the chopped ham and stir to combine.
• Preheat the oven to 200˚C fan /220˚C / 392˚F convection / 428˚F
• Take the pastry out of the fridge 5 minutes before you want to use it.
• Dust a board or clean work surface with flour, then roll the pastry out to 3mm - 5mm (0.11" - 0.19") thick.
• Optional step: cut strips of pastry 1 cm (0.4") wide. Brush the tops of your baking dish sides with egg and cover with pastry strips. Brush these pastry strips with egg and lay the pastry on top.
• Lay the pastry over the chicken filling and using a sharp knife, cut around the egdes of the dish, leaving a slight overlap.
• Use any scraps of pastry for decoration, fixing them to the top with a little beaten egg or milk.
• Cut a couple of slips in the top of the pastry to let the steam out.
• Brush the top of the pie with beaten egg or a little milk and place into the oven for 30 minutes, until the pie is golden brown on top and bubbling at the edges.

CHICKEN POTPIES WITH HAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees, with rack in the middle. In a large saucepan, heat butter over medium. Add carrot, onion, fennel, and fennel seed. Cook until carrot is crisp-tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add flour; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Gradually add milk and broth, stirring until smooth. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a simmer and thickens, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Remove from heat; stir in chicken, ham, and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Divide filling among eight 8-ounce ramekins or ovenproof bowls; set aside.
• On a floured surface, roll out dough to a 15-inch round. With a 3 1/2-inch floured biscuit cutter, cut out eight rounds; place one on each ramekin. Transfer ramekins to a rimmed baking sheet; bake until filling is bubbling and crusts are golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.
• To store: Prepare through step 3; let cool to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil; store in freezer, up to 3 months.
• To reheat: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Uncover ramekins; bake on a rimmed baking sheet until bubbling and golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.