The most flavourful chicken pie comes from the spent layer chickens or soup chickens, preferably free ranged. This is a delicious meal that can be stretched to feed a hungry family.
Pot pie
Simmer the washed, chicken in enough salted water to cover it well. Add boiling water if needed to be sure of plenty of broth. Simmer for about 2 hours. When tender, remove meat from the bones-keeping chicken hot in the broth, from which you have skimmed the fat.
Add 2-4 chopped, medium sized potatoes,
2 or 4 sliced, carrots,
1 or 2 chopped onions,
1 or 2 cups peas, fresh or frozen.
2-4 tbsp. parsley,
1/2 to 1 cup chopped celery or one celeriac, beans or any other vegetable which is not to overpowering.
Biscuit crust
2 cups flour
3 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. shortening (this can be the fat skimmed off the broth)
1/2 cup milk
Mix in order given. Roll out lightly and thin on a floured board.
Line deep casserole dish with dough leaving enough for the top. Pour in the broth mixture to 1 1/2 inches from the top; cover with the remaining roller biscuit crust, pinching it to the bottom. Cut vents into the crusts so broth won’t boil out.
Bake about an hour in a 350’ oven.
Any left over broth may be thickened with flour and used as a gravy on the pot pie. Chop fresh parsley to sprinkle over the top to serve.
Potato Pancakes (for breakfast, lunch or dinner)
They are best eaten when the come out of the pan, sizzling hot.
5 to 6 medium potatoes grated the old fashioned way on a hand grater or in a blender if you like, but fry quickly and eat.
Add a grated onion, to your taste
3 eggs
1 tsp. salt
5 to 6 tbsp. flour
1/4 milk to make a rather runny batter.
You must work quickly and don’t let the potatoes stand or they will be come pink or grey from the starch. Have a pan heating with 2 to 3 tbsp. of fat or oil for frying. Let them fry quickly, keeping watch and when the center looks dry, flip over to get the other side crispy. Use two pans if you have more than three people.
Eat hot. You can smother in maple syrup or have apple sauce with yogurt or yogurt with maple or raspberry or blackberry syrup or smother them with sausages. Don’t pile the pancakes in a pan as they will become limp and grey.
Enjoy the harvest. For further information contact Ellen at mrslewersfarmhouse@shaw.ca
