Chicken Pot Pie

One of my favorite dishes to make is a classic comfort food that provides an opportunity to practice a wide range of basic skills. Knife skills, sauce making and pastry are all well represented and the potential for innovation and adaptation is endless. I’ve kept it pretty simple with this recipe, but when you have a confident command of basic skills, there is no limit to what you can create.

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:

Plain Pastry:

2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted

3/4 tsp salt

3 Tbsp shortening

2 Tbsp cold butter, cut into small cubes

4-6 Tbsp cold water

Filling:

4 Tbsp butter

2 medium carrots

1 medium onion

2 stalks celery

4 Tbsp all-purpose flour

2 cups chicken stock

3 Tbsp chopped parsley

1 Tbsp chopped sage

1 Tbsp chopped rosemary

1 Tbsp picked thyme

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 pound chicken, cut into pieces

Salt and pepper to taste

Finishing:

1Tbsp butter for dish

1 egg beaten with 1 Tbsp water

1 Tbsp coarse salt

Directions:

  
Peel carrots and dice small. Dice onion and celery. Melt butter in a medium pot and add carrot. Cook over medium heat for five minutes. Add onion and cook five more minutes. Add celery and cook five more minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

  
Stir in flour and cook while stirring 4-5 minutes while stirring. Gradually add chicken stock, stirring to work out any lumps and simmer, stirring occasionally, for five more minutes before removing from heat.

  
Combine chopped herbs and add half to the pot, stirring to incorporate.

Combine the chicken with olive oil and remaining herbs in a bowl and toss to coat.

  
Season with salt and pepper and cook in a hot sauce pan until just done. Drain any excess oil and add chicken to the pot. Taste chicken pot pie filling and adjust seasoning if necessary. Allow to cool while you make the pastry.

Plain Pastry:

Stir flour and salt together and cut in shortening and butter with two knives or a pastry blender.

  
Add water, a little at a time, until mixture will hold together. Divide dough into two parts and form info disks. Wrap and refrigerate at least fifteen minutes before using.

  

Roll out pastry on a floured surface to 1/8″ thick. Use rolling pin to transfer into a buttered oven safe dish deep enough to accommodate your filling.

   

Gently push pastry into the corners of your dish while lifting up on the edges so it won’t tear.

  
Pour cooled filling into the pastry until it is about 3/4 full.

  
Roll out second pastry and place on top of filling. Trim edges and fold excess under, leaving about an inch exposed above the edge of the dish.

  
Shape edge and cut a few slits in top crust to allow steam to escape while cooking. Place in refrigerator at least fifteen minutes and up to 24 hours until ready to bake.

  
Preheat oven to 350 F. Remove pie from refrigerator, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse salt before placing in the oven. 

  
Cook for 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before enjoying.

  

  
Last night we visited with some friends in Greenville, Maine. William loved playing with their pirate ship playground in the yard and we loved the charming company, delicious food and festive atmosphere.

  
We got up this morning and headed south toward Bangor. My brother-in-law was flying in for a visit and we were picking him up at the airport. We stopped in Dover-Foxcroft for some coffee and donuts to go and were pleasantly surprised by the Center Coffee House.

 Delicious donuts, scrumptious scones and incomparable cappuccino just begins to describe our experience. This was a welcome addition to our southward trek and I think we will be stopping here every time we pass by from now on.

  
  
We had a little time to kill so we hit up the L.L. Bean outlet in Bangor.

  
My son found some seriously cool shark slippers so it turned out to be well worth the stop.

  
We headed to the airport afterward to pick up my brother-in-law, Taylor.

  
He flew in all the way from Florida and by the time he arrived, he was ready to go get dinner and drinks.

  
We headed downtown to our favorite local pub, Paddy Murphy’s. We always have a good time but tonight was extra special because we were celebrating Taylor’s birthday and it was his first time in Maine.

  
We went all out, enjoying appetizers, entrees, dessert and several pints to wash it all down.

  
In good spirits and good company, we headed off into the night. We were all happy to be together enjoying a night out on the town.

  
  

  
Our last day in Quebec was bittersweet. We had such a wonderful time, we didn’t want to leave. My son was especially upset that he wouldn’t be able to see his friend until the fall when we all returned to Florida. They spent the morning picking berries and climbing rocks while we packed up the car and said au revoir to our gracious hosts.

 
On our way out of town, we took a short drive around Herouxville, stopping to pick up some fresh cheese curds and enjoy the beautiful town we had seen so little of during our stay.
  
We reluctantly headed south-east, enjoying the pastoral views and beautiful country as we went.

  
We drove through Quebec City, then St. George, heading towards the Canadian border. We could not resist making one final stop at a fromagerie to enjoy some poutine before we left Quebec.

  
I ordered two grande portions for the family to share and we are every last bit of it before climbing back in the car and continuing our journey south.

  
We reached the border just after sunset, relieved to be so close to our home in Maine after a long drive.

  
After being greeted cheerfully in English and having our passports checked, we crossed quietly back into the United States while the kids slept in the back seat.

  
We were all happy to be back in Maine after our exciting adventures in Quebec. After driving through Jackman and Rockwood, vigilantly watching the road for moose the whole way, we finally reached our camp. We carried the kids upstairs, collapsed in our beds and quickly fell asleep, grateful to be back in our home once more.

  
After enjoying an amazing dinner the night before, the whole family slept late the next morning. We woke up refreshed and ready to meet the day head on. After a delicious breakfast prepared by our host complete with fresh brewed espresso and an egg casserole with croissants and ham we struck off into the woods to explore.

  
The boys were especially enthusiastic, climbing on every rock they could find and running ahead whenever possible, setting a brisk pace. We had been told that our host had built a sugar shack to cook maple syrup somewhere deep in the woods. I had never been to a real sugar shack and was eager to find it.

  
We hiked for some time, enjoying being out in nature and watching the kids find wonder among the plants and rocks and trees. I had my first taste of wild wintergreen which was refreshing and full of minty flavor.

  
When we finally reached the sugar shack, it was an unassuming, unpretentious building with little more than a wood burning stove and a few chairs. It did, however, boast a spectacular view and we enjoyed it while sipping on raspberry beer, happy to be out of the mosquitoes for a while.

  
We all hiked back to camp for lunch, taking a different path so we could enjoy as much of the forest as possible. After we had all eaten, the kids headed straight back out for a little fun in the sandbox.

  
This was turning out to be a very relaxing afternoon. I enjoyed watching the kids build roads and towers and walls only to immediately smash them and squeal with delight. While they played I thought about our trip to Montreal in the morning. I had never been before and I was very excited to go check it out.

   

  
We were recently very fortunate to receive an invitation to visit some friends in Quebec. We went to Quebec City last year for a few days and loved it so we jumped at the chance.

Where we are in Maine is about an hour from the Canadian border so we all got up early, said au revoir to Moosehead Lake and piled into the van, ready for adventure.

  
We were ultimately headed someplace none of us had ever been, a small town north of Montreal called Herouxville. It was over five hours driving through beautiful wide open spaces and farmland.

    

We were all excited when we finally arrived and our hosts greeted us warmly and showed us to our accommodations for the next few days.

  
After we unpacked and settled in we all took a tour around the property. There were delightful surprises around every corner.

  
The highlight for everyone was the wild raspberry bushes loaded with ripe berries just waiting to be picked and enjoyed.

  
We were welcomed before dinner with amazing terrines of wild boar and pheasant along with baked double creme Brie and fresh cheese curds. After our hosts shared a delicious dinner of grilled duck breast, beer can chicken and roasted vegetables, we were all so tired that we fell asleep almost immediately. Maybe it was the long drive, maybe it was the delicious red wine, food and good friends. Either way, it was well worth the trip already.