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The Humble Pot Pie

Back in the 40's when the old Howard Johnson's chain added pot pie to their standard menu, you know that it had become an American icon.  This classic example of comfort food is both simple and satisfying.  And as Chef Jerry Pellegrino of Schola Cooking School can testify, as simple as pot may be, there are lots of little twists and turns you can explore as you make it.

First of all, the pot pie is a great way to use up left-overs.  And while chicken is most often used, any protein is fair game.  We've even seen fish pot pies, oyster pot pies, and the incredibly decadent lobster pot pie.  Whatever the main ingredient, it is always cooked first, and never added to the pie raw.

As for the rest of the filling, standard veggies include carrot, celery, onion and potato.  But there's no reason left over green beans, Brussels sprout, sweet potato or parsnips can't show up for the party. 

The sauce is simply a thickened broth, made tastier by cooking the veggies in it, then thickening with either a floury roux or corn starch, plus seasonings.

The crust is the classic "pate brisée" a simple concoction of flour, salt, butter and water.  It's great attribute is that it stands up to liquids (your sauce) very well.

Jerry offered a good recipe for pate brisée and a very creative idea for a holiday oriented pot pie.

Paté Brisée (Short Crust)

A basic crust recipe for almost any savory and some sweet fruit tarts.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups  all-purpose flour

8 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces and chilled

½ teaspoon salt

4 Tablespoons ice water

Combine flour, butter and salt in a food processor.  Process using the pulse button for four or five short pulses.

Turn the processor on and pour the ice water into the dough just until it begins to form.  Stop processing immediately.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and work it together into a ball with your hands.

Place the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap and from it into a flat disc.

Cover the dough completely and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour, or up to two or three days.

Turkey & Cranberry Pot Pie with Sweet Potato Crust

Ingredients

4 cups Turkey meat, cooked and cubed

assorted cooked vegetables

½ cup dried cranberries rehydrated in chicken stock

8 Tablespoons butter

½ cup all-purpose flour

3 cups chicken stock

1 cup heavy cream

salt, pepper to taste

1 batch sweet potato pastry

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Place turkey and vegetables in a 4 quart baking dish.

In a sauté pan set over medium heat, melt the butter and stir in the flour.  Cook for 3 minutes. Whisk in the

chicken stock and the cream. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour over the turkey and vegetables. Roll out the pastry and fit it onto the top of the baking dish.  Crimp the

edges and poke three steam vents in the top of the pastry.

Bake until golden brown.

Sweet Potato Pastry-this pastry is the traditional Maryland covering for an Eastern Shore chicken potpie.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups mashed sweet potato

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ cup shortening

2 eggs, beaten

Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder in a large bowl.

Add the mashed sweet pots, shortening and eggs.

Using your fingers, work the ingredients together into a dough.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly flour surface and form into a flat disk.

Roll the dough out to the necessary size.

Copyright 2016 WYPR - 88.1 FM

Al Spoler, well known to WYPR listeners as the wine-loving co-host of "Cellar Notes" has had a long-standing parallel interest in cooking as well. Al has said, the moment he started getting serious about Sunday night dinners was the same moment he started getting serious about wine. Over the years, he has benefited greatly from being a member of the Cork and Fork Society of Baltimore, a gentlemen's dining club that serves black tie meals cooked by the members themselves who are some of Baltimore's most accomplished amateur cooks.
Executive Chef Jerry Pellegrino of Corks restaurant is fascinated by food and wine, and the way they work in harmony on the palate. His understanding of the two goes all the way to the molecular level, drawing on his advanced education in molecular biology. His cuisine is simple and surprising, pairing unexpected ingredients together to work with Corks' extensive wine offerings.