Parsley Chicken Ham Pie Food

OLD ENGLISH POSH PICNIC RAISED CHICKEN AND HAM PIE

Steps:

• HOT WATER CRUST PASTRY.
• Sift the flour and salt into a bowl, making a well in the centre.
• Place the water, butter and lard into a saucepan, when the butter and lard has melted bring it all to the boil. Take off the heat.
• Pour the mixture into the centre of the flour. Working very quickly, mix with a wooden spoon. Then knead with hands to produce a smooth and elastic dough. Allow to rest in a warm place for 15 to 20 minutes.
• (This pastry must be used whilst still warm, otherwise it will become brittle and hard to mould. I keep mine in a small pan over gently simmering water.).
• Proceed with your recipe, as below.
• PIE FILLING.
• Place all the pie-filling ingredients in to a large mixing bowl, including the herbs, spices and seasonings. Mix thoroughly with your hands - it's messy, but it's the best way to get everything well amalgamated!
• JELLIED STOCK.
• Heat the chicken or vegetable stock. Mix the gelatine with a little cold water until it is spongy and smooth, gradually add the hot stock to the gelatine and mix thoroughly. Set aside until it is needed.
• MAKING THE PIE.
• Grease an 8" round loose-bottom pie/cake tin or a special decorative pie mould - grease it liberally with melted butter or lard.
• Pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 3.
• Take two-thirds of the warm pastry, form into a large, flat disc and put in the bottom of the tin or pie mould. Gently press and mould until the pastry covers the base and sides of the tin, keeping it as even as possible.
• Fill the pastry pie case with the pie filling mixture - packing it down well.
• Moisten the top edges of the pastry with the beaten egg. Roll out the remaining pastry and cut a circle or oblong to fit the top of the tin. Place over the filling and seal the edges, without pressing the pastry down too heavily. Trim the edges. Make a hole in the top centre of the pie and use any pastry trimmings to make pastry leaves and decorative trimmings. Press these onto the top of the pie and glaze the whole thing with beaten egg.
• Now lay a sheet of foil over the top and bake for 2 hours, then remove from the oven. Leave the pie for 30-45 minutes to firm up, then turn up the oven temperature to 190C/375F/Gas Mark 5. Carefully remove the pie from the tin and brush the pastry all over with the remaining beaten egg. If the sides show any sign of bulging, encircle the pie with a band of silicone paper (parchment) and tie with string.
• Return the pie to the oven and as the pastry continues baking it will firm up (if you used the paper, you will gradually be able to peel it away, but add a little more egg to the unglazed parts) and all the pastry will brown - it will take approximately 30 minutes. As the top will brown before the sides, it will need to be protected with foil while the sides finish browning.
• When the pie is a glowing golden colour, remove from the oven, leave to cool, then cover and chill.
• Meanwhile have the jellied stock warmed slightly (by sitting it in a bowl of hot water), then cool it to the syrupy stage and pour it into the pie very gradually through a funnel, in to the centre steam hole (as much as it will take). Chill again to give the jelly a chance to set and then - believe it or not - it's ready to serve!
• Serve with assorted fresh salads, pickles, mustard, chutney and relishes. Will pie keep for up to 5 days in a cool place or the fridge.
• This freezes very well, defrost overnight, sitting the pie on a wire rack to avoid the pastry becoming soggy.
• Wrap the pie for a picnic in greaseproof paper and cut the pie into slices when you arrive at your destination.

PARSLEY CHICKEN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Remove skin and visible fat from chicken pieces. Mince parsley in a food processor. Dice ham or bacon.
• Use an oval or round earthenware terrine, large enough to hold all ingredients comfortably. Place the minced parsley in the bottom. It should fill the terrine to the depth of about an inch. Strew the ham or bacon pieces over the parsley.
• Place the chicken pieces on top of the ham. Sprinkle onion, tarragon and other seasonings over the chicken. (Add salt only if desired; the stock may be very salty when it has been reduced.)
• Bring stock and cream to a boil in a small saucepan, and continue boiling slowly until reduced by half.
• While the stock and cream are reducing, make the pastry by mixing all ingredients together in food processor. If the pastry is too mealy, add a little ice-cold water, a 1/2 teaspoon at a time, until it is soft enough to roll out. Roll out the pastry in a shape and size to fit the top of the terrine.
• Add reduced the stock and cream to the chicken mixture. Place the pastry over the top, trimming the edges to fit. Make a few gashes in the top of the pastry.
• Beat the last egg with a little water, and paint the surface of the pastry crust. If you wish, cut a few leaves or decorative shapes from the extra pastry, place them on the crust, and glaze with the egg.
• Place the pie in the oven, and bake for approximately 1 hour. During last 15 minutes of cooking, turn the oven heat up to 450 degrees to brown the crust. Serve immediately when done.