Quick and yummy evening meal: Free-form chicken pie

Source: Taste.com.au

One of my favourite recipe websites is taste.com.au, the recipes are generally easy to make with ingredients that I usually have in my cupboard.  This week I came across a really great idea for a 'free-form" pie (see picture above) that was very quick and easy to make - even the children could help with this one.

This particular recipe is Chicken, Chorizo and Potato Pie, however you could really do as you please. I didn't add the potatoes, instead I cooked some mushrooms. I made a cheesy béchamel sauce, which I used to covered the chicken mix with (once in the pastry dish), sprinkled fresh sourdough breadcrumbs and baked in individual pie dishes. I used individual pie dishes as it was easier and meant I could customised the pies to suit each of us -  each person can make their own pie they way they want it!!

I don't make my own puff pastry - it is one thing I do buy as its so much easier - I might give it a go one day.

Ingredients:

• 400g cream delight potatoes, peeled, cut into 4cm pieces 
• 60ml (1/4 cup) water
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 2 chicken breast fillets, cut into 4cm pieces
• 1 chorizo sausage, cut into 1cm slices diagonally
• 1 leek, trimmed, thinly sliced
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary, leaves picked
• 2 sheets (25 x 25cm) frozen puff pastry, just thawed
• 1 egg, lightly whisked
• Fresh rosemary sprig, to serve
• Sour cream or creme fraiche (optional), to serve

See web link for the method.

The same could be done with sliced fruit for a dessert - how yummy apple free form pie would be (and how quick!!) This is another example of cooking from scratch that doesn't take very long when in a hurry.