Perfect Pot Pie Food

BEEF POT PIE - THE BEST!

Steps:

• Boil celery, onion & carrots in water with 2 cubes boullion in medium pot until tender.
• Meanwhile, brown meat in olive oil/butter with 1 tablespoon refrigerated minced garlic in large stock pot.
• Drain meat when done & return to pot. Add 1 can Campbell's beef gravy. Then drain vegetables & add to meat & gravy. Simmer on low.
• Spray deep pie dish (I use quiche' dish) with Pam.
• Roll out pie crust & press into dish & up sides. Add beef/vegetable mixture.
• Cover with top crust & press together both crusts then flute edges. Pierce top crust with fork to vent steam.
• Bake 450 degrees x 35-45 minute until crust golden brown. After 20 minute cover edges with foil as to not burn.

GOURMET POT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Heat large pan to medium.
• Add butter and saute onion, celery, carrots, potatoes, and dash of salt and pepper for 10-15 min, until onions are translucent.
• If using flour as thickener, add flour and stir into mixture for 1 minute.
• If using cornstarch as thickener, add cornstarch to small amount of half-and-half and stir till combined.
• Combine half-and-half, broth, and white wine and gradually stir into sauteed veggie mixture.
• Cook over medium heat and stir until thickened and bubbly.
• Add meat, peas, salt, pepper, thyme, and nutmeg and stir well.
• Pour into a 2-quart casserole dish and top with pie crust.
• Cut 3 slits to allow steam to escape.
• Beat the egg and use a pastry brush to generously apply egg to pie crust top.
• Bake for 40-50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.
• * Can be made ahead and kept in the fridge up to two days before cooking or kept frozen for approximately 30 days. Defrost in fridge before baking. If making ahead, brush egg on pastry before dish goes into the oven.

CHICKEN POT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet and rub them with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, or until cooked through. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then remove the meat from the bones and discard the skin. Cut the chicken into large dice. You will have 4 to 6 cups of cubed chicken.
• In a small saucepan, heat the chicken stock and dissolve the bouillon cubes in the stock. In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute the onions over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until translucent. Add the flour and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the hot chicken stock to the sauce. Simmer over low heat for 1 more minute, stirring, until thick. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and heavy cream. Add the cubed chicken, carrots, peas, onions and parsley. Mix well.
• For the pastry, mix the flour, salt, and baking powder in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add the shortening and butter and mix quickly with your fingers until each piece is coated with flour. Pulse 10 times, or until the fat is the size of peas. With the motor running, add the ice water; process only enough to moisten the dough and have it just come together. Dump the dough out onto a floured board and knead quickly into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic and allow it to rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Divide the filling equally among 4 ovenproof bowls. Divide the dough into quarters and roll each piece into an 8-inch circle. Brush the outside edges of each bowl with the egg wash, then place the dough on top. Trim the circle to 1/2-inch larger than the top of the bowl. Crimp the dough to fold over the side, pressing it to make it stick. Brush the dough with egg wash and make 3 slits in the top. Sprinkle with sea salt and cracked pepper. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling hot.