Lucindas Spinach And Ham Pie Recipes

HAM AND SPINACH PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until transparent, 6-8 minutes. Add mushrooms and garlic; cook and stir until mushrooms are browned, about 6 minutes longer. Add spinach; cook until heated through., In a microwave, melt remaining butter; stir until smooth. Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface; brush with butter. Layer with 3 additional phyllo sheets, brushing each layer. Transfer to a lightly greased 11x7-in. baking dish, letting ends extend up sides. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.), Layer dish with ham, cheese and spinach mixture; pour eggs over filling. If desired, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with remaining phyllo dough. Fold dough ends over filling; pinch edges to seal. Brush with remaining butter. Cut slits in the top. Bake until browned, 40-45 minutes. Cool 20 minutes before cutting.

SPINACH, HAM, AND CHEESE PIE (PYE OF SEVERAL THINGS)

Steps:

• Make pastry dough:
• Blend together flour, butter, and salt in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal, with remainder in small (pea-size) lumps. Drizzle 6 tablespoons ice water over mixture and gently stir with a fork until incorporated.
• Test mixture by gently squeezing a small handful: It should hold together. If not, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring after each addition until incorporated. (Do not overwork.)
• Turn dough out onto a work surface and divide into 2 portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once in a forward motion to distribute fat. Form each portion of dough into a disk. Wrap separately in plastic wrap and chill until firm (1 hour) or up to 1 day.
• Prepare filling while dough chills:
• Squeeze spinach, 1 handful at a time, to extract as much moisture as possible.
• Cook half of ham, overlapping slices, in 1/4 tablespoon butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, turning, until golden. Transfer to a plate and cook remaining ham in 1/4 tablespoon more butter in same manner.
• Cook onions in remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in same skillet over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened. Add flour and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Remove from heat, then stir in mustard and cool completely.
• Assemble and bake pie:
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Roll out 1 piece chilled dough into a 13-inch round on a lightly floured surface and fit into a 9-inch pie plate. Spread half of onions evenly in pie shell and season with pepper. Scatter half of spinach and then half of carrots on top and season with pepper. Top with half of ham and half of cheese, pressing down to compress layers. Repeat layering with remaining filling ingredients, seasoning with pepper.
• Roll out remaining dough into an 11-inch round on floured surface and place on top of pie. Trim edges of top and bottom crusts, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang, then seal edges and crimp.
• Beat egg and brush some over top crust. Cut several steam vents in center.
• Bake pie on a baking sheet in middle of oven until top is golden and pie is steaming, 50 to 55 minutes. Cool 15 minutes before serving.

DEEP-DISH HAM PIE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan; stir in flour, salt, mustard and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk and onion; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in ham, peas and eggs. Pour into an ungreased 8-in. square or 11x7-in. baking dish. On a floured surface, roll pastry to fit top of dish; place over filling. Seal and flute edges; cut slits in the top. Bake at 425° for 25 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.

CHICKEN POTPIES WITH HAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees, with rack in the middle. In a large saucepan, heat butter over medium. Add carrot, onion, fennel, and fennel seed. Cook until carrot is crisp-tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add flour; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Gradually add milk and broth, stirring until smooth. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a simmer and thickens, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Remove from heat; stir in chicken, ham, and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Divide filling among eight 8-ounce ramekins or ovenproof bowls; set aside.
• On a floured surface, roll out dough to a 15-inch round. With a 3 1/2-inch floured biscuit cutter, cut out eight rounds; place one on each ramekin. Transfer ramekins to a rimmed baking sheet; bake until filling is bubbling and crusts are golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.
• To store: Prepare through step 3; let cool to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil; store in freezer, up to 3 months.
• To reheat: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Uncover ramekins; bake on a rimmed baking sheet until bubbling and golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.