Pie power
Wow. So first things first, I’m still all kinds of overwhelmed by the reaction to my last post. All I can say is thank you so much to you guys for getting in on the discussion and sharing your thoughts and ideas. I’ve always been nervous about tackling ‘serious’ topics on this blog, mostly because I tend to be highly opinionated and when combined with an irreverent sense of humour this can be all kinds of offensive. But now I’m feeling confident to deal in deeper discussions, I think we’ll begin next week with the Ukraine crisis before moving on to the status of women in science. But for now it’s time to talk about pie.
As a wise egg creature named Weebl once said, “Mmmm, pie”. Mmmm indeed. Just about the tastiest and easiest midweek supper out there, or perfect pick me up for when the Sunday blues kick in. My version is chicken and leek, with optional mushrooms.
Cut around 500g chicken breast into bitesize chunks and fry gently until sealed on all sides. Add in leeks…
…and muddle into a tasty pile of awesome. I added a dollop of cream cheese to make a nice creamy sauce, but you could use crème fraîche, or even a splash of milk. Add seasoning to taste, and allow to simmer gently for as long as you can stand it (I managed about 5 minutes). Just time for a quick aid de chef…
Load up a pie dish and cut a lid out of puff pastry. I used the pre-rolled variety for lazy people; just lay it over the top of the dish and cut a shape to fit. I like to use scraps to make decorative leaves, ‘cos I’m whimsical like that. Brush with a little milk to make a delicious golden glaze, and pop in the oven at 250 degrees C for 10-15 minutes.
This meal was something of a crowd pleaser when I first made it for the boy, and now it has become a standard request if there is even a suspicion of chicken in the fridge. This time he went and bought the pastry himself – now there’s keen!
What’s your favourite simple supper?
