Monday, November 16, 2020

Leftover Pie



This recipe comes from A Bountiful Kitchen
abountifulkitchen.com

What to do with all of your leftovers from holiday meals?
Make a Thanksgiving leftover pie of course! So easy to make and everyone will love leftovers packed into a savory pie!

The key to Best Thanksgiving Leftover Pie is to layer correctly and make sure to have enough moisture (gravy) to keep the pie from being dry. I start with putting the dressing on the bottom, potatoes next and then the gravy and meat together. If you want to throw in some corn or peas or green beans, they will only add to the goodness! Just remember to not fill the pie too full or overload with stuffing and potatoes or you’ll end up with a dry pie. You can also double the gravy and serve it along side the pie after it’s baked which I highly recommend!

Add a green salad and you’re set. It’s a main dish loaded with everything savory we love. Pair it with Fresh Cranberry Sauce for the perfect accompaniment to this dinner!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups mashed potatoes
  • 3 cups stuffing
  • 2 1/2 cups turkey or chicken, boneless, skinless
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 cups chicken broth (no MSG)

for crust:

  • 2 cups all purpose flour, plus another 1/2 cup for rolling out and adding to pastry
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 cup + 2-3 tablespoons cold water
  • 1/2 cup shortening I use half butter flavor and half regular Crisco

Instructions

  1. Remove leftover stuffing and mashed potatoes from refrigerator. 
  2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees (or 400 convection), place rack on lower third of oven. 

Make gravy:

  1. Melt butter, add flour, whisk until smooth over medium heat. Slowly add chicken broth half cup at  a time, whisk until gravy is smooth and thickened, about 4-5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Turn off heat and set aside. 
  2. Place 2 1/2-3 cups chopped chicken or turkey in gravy. Leave sitting on stove top with heat off. 

Make pie crust:  

  1. Place 2 cups flour in a medium size bowl. Add salt. Cut shortening into flour mixture until the shortening is pea sized, using a pastry cutter. 
  2. Add 1/2 cup of the water and fold the water into the flour/shortening mixture with a fork. This should take a few seconds. When the dough begins to come together, if it is still a little dry to form a ball, add a couple more tablespoons of water. You should be able to press the dough together into a ball. 
  3. Split the dough in half. Roll out half of the dough a floured surface,  into a circle about 3 inches larger than the pie plate. Place the rolled out dough into a 9 inch by 2 inch deep pie plate. 
  4. Place 3 cups of leftover stuffing on top of the bottom crust. Top with 2 cups of mashed potatoes (it's okay if the mashed potatoes are crumbly!).
  5. Add gravy and meat mixture on top of the mashed potatoes. 
  6. Roll out remaining dough and top the pie. Cut slits for steam to escape. Crimp edges, folding under to keep gravy inside of pie. 
  7. Bake for 40 minutes or until crust is golden and gravy is bubbly. Let sit for 10 minutes before cutting. 
Recipe Notes
  • If you don't have enough leftover turkey, you may cook chicken or use chicken previously cooked.
  • Don't increase the amount of stuffing or mashed potatoes by too much or your filling will be dry. The gravy to filling ratio in this recipe is just right!
  • You may use a store bought crust if you don't want to make your own. 
  • If you want to make this in a 9x13, roll out the pie dough to a rectangle and just fit the crust on top, no need to make a bottom crust! 

Chardonnay paired with Chicken Makhani (Indian Butter Chicken)

Chardonnays have become very popular.

It is unmistakable in the mouth because of its impeccable sugar/acid balance, its full body, and its easy smoothness. Its aroma is distinct, yet delicate. 

Chardonnay grapes are relatively resilient and are able to survive in a variety of environments. It is used in so many different places to produce so many different wines because the Chardonnay grapes themselves are relatively neutral in flavor. Most of their flavor is derived first from the conditions in which the grapes are grown and second from the conditions of the wine production. This makes it easier for different wineries to produce distinctly different Chardonnay wines.

Typical Chardonnay characteristics include; Lemon, Apple, Tropical Fruit, Melon, Pineapple, and Mango. 

Oaked Chardonnays can display characteristics like; Smoke, Vanilla, Spice, Toast, Nuts, Butterscotch, Caramel, Coconut, Cloves and Cinnamon. 

Unoaked or less heavily oaked Chardonnays tend to have lighter, delicate flavors which can be matched with a fairly wide variety of dishes. There are some foods which tend to go better than average with Chardonnay such as Chicken, Turkey, Fish, Pork and mushrooms. 

More heavily oaked Chardonnays go poorly with delicate dishes, like fish, but pair well with Japanese Cuisine, Chinese Cuisine, Spicy Dishes and Smoked Fish.

Harter House World Flavors offers a wide variety of Chardonnay’s. Of course , my favorite is La Crema, an exquisite Chardonnay.



 
Chicken Makhani (Indian Butter Chicken) 

1 tablespoon peanut oil 
1 red onion, finely chopped 
1/4 white onion, chopped 
2 tablespoons butter 
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste 
1 teaspoon garam masala 
1 teaspoon chili powder 
1 teaspoon ground cumin 
1 bay leaf o 1/4 cup plain yogurt 
1 cup cream o 1 cup tomato puree 
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, to taste 
1 pinch salt 
1 pinch black pepper 
1 tablespoon peanut oil 
1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite size pieces 
1 teaspoon garam masala 
1 pinch cayenne pepper 
1 tablespoon cornstarch 
1/4 cup water 

Directions: 
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat. 
Saute shallot and onion until soft and translucent. 
Stir in butter, lemon juice, ginger garlic paste, 1 teaspoon garam masala, chili powder, cumin and bay leaf. 
Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. 
Add tomato puree and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. 
Stir in half-and-half and yogurt. 
Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. 
Season with salt, pepper and cayenne. 
Remove from heat and set aside. 
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. 
Cook chicken until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. 
Reduce heat and season with 1 teaspoon garam masala and cayenne. 
Stir in about 1/3 of the sauce and simmer until liquid has reduced and chicken is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. 
Pour the rest of the sauce into the chicken. Mix together cornstarch and water, then stir into the sauce. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes.

Holiday Appetizers

I will be serving finger foods for an event this weekend and I am searching for ideas.
These are several appetizers I am considering.



Roasted Red Pepper,
stuffed with a Mozzarella bite,
toasted on a baguette,
with a garnish of green onion.


Goat Cheese Stuffed
Bacon Wrapped
Dates



Boursin, Prosciutto Fillo Cups
1 Package Athens mini Fillo Shells (makes 15)
(1) 5.2 oz. pkg. Garlic & Herb Boursin Cheese
6 slices Prosciutto Diced and crispy fried
1/2 cup sliced green onions, more for garnish.
Mix Prosciutto, Green onion and Boursin.
Fill thawed Fillo cups, garnish with more green onions.
Refrigerate until serving.


Spinach Artichoke Fillo Bites
6 oz. Cream Cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup grated mozzarella cheese
(1) 10 oz. package frozen chopped spinach, cooked drained and liquid squeezed out
1 cup quartered artichoke hearts, drained, rinsed, roughly chopped.
1/4 Teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt & Pepper to taste
45-60 Athens Mini Fillo Shells (3-4 packages)

Mix cream cheese, parmesan cheese, sour cream, drained spinach, chopped artichokes, and cayenne pepper.  Salt & pepper to taste.
When you are ready to serve, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Fill Fillo shells with heaping teaspoon, rounded on top. Bake 10-12 minutes or until heated through and golden brown on top. 


English Muffin Appetizers

1 Jar Old English or 6 oz. Cheddar Cheese
½ C Butter
1 ½ Teaspoon Mayo
1 ½ Tsp Garlic Powder
1 Can Crab Meat
Spread on 6 English Muffins (12 halves)
Broil till Crusty – Allow to cool – Cut to bite size


These are all tried and true.  Hope you enjoy.  ~~Shelly