Recipe: Savory Chicken Pocket Pies with Cream Cheese Pastry (freeze ahead)

SAVORY CHICKEN POCKET PIES

1 (3 lb) chicken
Water
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup chopped celery
1/3 cup chopped carrot (1 carrot)
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups chicken broth (from the reduced poaching liquid)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 recipe (2 disks) Cream Cheese Pastry (recipe follows)
1 large egg (for egg wash)

TO PREPARE THE SHREDDED CHICKEN:
Place the chicken in a pot and add water to barely cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 50 minutes. Skim and discard any foam as it rises to the surface. Remove the chicken to cool. Continue to boil the broth to reduce to about 1 quart. Remove the meat from the chicken and shred.

TO MAKE THE FILLING:
In a medium hot skillet, melt the butter and add the onion, celery and carrot. Saute over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the salt and flour and cook for 1 minute more. Add the chicken broth and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1 heaping cup shredded chicken and the Parmesan cheese. Cool in the fridge.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter or line a baking sheet.

To form the pocket pies, work with half of a disk of dough at a time, rolling it out on a floured surface to about 12 inches in diameter. Using an overturned bowl (about 5 inches across), cut out about 3 circles from each piece of dough. After cutting out all your circles, gather all dough scraps, re-roll, and cut out a final time.

Place 1/4 cup filling on one side of a dough circle. Wet the edges of the dough with water. Fold the dough over to form a half-circle. Pinch the edges of the dough together. Crimp the edges with a fork. Repeat the process until all the filling is used. The pocket pies can be frozen at this point. Place the pocket pies on the prepared baking sheet and chill for a few minutes.

WHEN READY TO BAKE:
Prick each pie on top twice with a fork. Beat the egg with 1 tablespoon water. Brush the egg wash over each pocket pie.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

TO FREEZE AHEAD:
The pies can be cooled and frozen to reheat in the microwave.

CREAM CHEESE PASTRY
Makes enough for 10 pocket pies

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup heavy (whipping) cream
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out dough
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

In a food processor or using an electric mixer or by hand, process the butter, cream cheese and heavy whipping cream. Add the flour and salt; process just until combined and the dough holds together in a ball.

Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and divide into 2 pieces. Flatten into disks and wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before rolling out. If the dough is chilled overnight, take it out 15 minutes before rolling out.

Rub flour all over a rolling pin. Working with one disk at a time, place the disk on a clean, well-floured surface. Roll gently from the center of the dough to the top and bottom edges. Rotate the disk, and roll to the top and bottom edges again. Re-flour the work surface and rolling pin, turn the dough over and continue to roll the dough from the center out to the edges. Turn over and roll again, rotating the disk to ensure even rolling until the dough is about 12 inches in diameter, thin but not transparent.

Makes 10 pocket pies
Adapted from source: Mad Hungry Feeding Men and Boys: Recipes, Strategies and Survival Techniques by Lucinda Scala Quinn