Sheriff Don's Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken pot pies come and go, but this recipe is exceptional when it comes to the perfect selection of delicious chicken and vegetables that are smothered in a rich and creamy gravy. Cover that with a scrumptious buttery pie crust, and you end up with a meal worth repeating.

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

In a large cooking pot, saute onions in bacon grease about 2-3 minutes. Stir in peas, carrots, celery, and garlic, then cook until vegetables are tender.

Step 2

Add broth, wine, browned butter, and spices, then slowly stir in flour and blend ingredients until smooth with no lumps of flour. Last, slowly add half-in-half, stirring until blended and smooth. Remove from heat and set aside.

Step 3

In a large glass or stainless steel mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, lard, and finely chopped cold butter, then mix together with a dough cutter until the mixture forms into small bits like coarse bread crumbs. Next, add slightly beaten egg and vinegar along with a small portion of ice water (4-5 Tb), and continue adding more water in small amounts until the dough forms a single ball.

Step 4

Pre-set oven to 425°F. On a cutting board, place 1 dough ball and using a rolling pin shape the dough into a circle (about 1/8 thick x 12" round). Transfer and center into a 9" glass pie plate. Punch several holes using a fork. NOTE: This recipe makes a generous portion of filling so you can also use individual deep dish ramekins in place of the usual pie plate.

Step 5

Add chicken, vegetable, and gravy mixture until it is about 1/8" from top rim of pie dough.

Step 6

Roll out 2nd ball of dough into a 12" circle and transfer to the pie plate on top of the gravy mixture. Using your fingers, gently roll 2 sides of the dough up and crimp together to form a single seal. Use a fork to poke several holes in the upper crust. You may also choose to apply a thin coating of egg wash to the upper crust at this time. NOTE: it is recommended that you place the pie plate on a foil-lined baking sheet in case some of the gravy spills over during baking.

Step 7

Place on center rack in oven and bake 25 - 30 minutes, or until crust is golden. Serve hot with cranberry sauce.