A chicken in every pot (pie)
It appears we are still stuck in comfort-food mode. Perhaps hearing that the temperature will dip into the teens soon has something to do with our thoughts of chicken pot pie. Briefly, a pot pie is a type of baked savory pie with a bottom and top completely encased by flaky crusts and baked inside a pie tin to support its shape. Of course, we then quickly diverge from that definition to include pot pies that include no crust on the bottom, but instead use drop biscuits as a topping. In 1951, the Swanson Company made the first frozen pot pie, and many of us recall having them as a special treat when our parents went out and the babysitter "made" our dinner.
As boring as a frozen pot pie can be, one made from scratch can be quite special. We have included an option for a pot pie encased in crust, similar to a calzone, for cooks who don't mind making pastry. For those who are looking for something easier, we offer what we consider a "deconstructed" pot pie. This attractive presentation has a pot pie filling, but the crust is made from frozen puff pastry, baked separately, and then placed on top of the filling. January 23 is National Pie Day, so take time to enjoy the pie of your choice.
