Vegetable Pot Pie
Two words: Comfort. Food.
I really haven't felt like cooking since my family left. Everything that mom brought- the home made wheat cookies, the cute silver bowls shaped like a leaf, the three bronze musicians on my wall- remind me of home and what I'm missing. Thank goodness for the barefoot contessa, who tempted me back into the kitchen with her lobster pot pies.
I usually make pie crusts at home, thinking they are bound to be healthier than store brought ones, but a comparison showed that there isn't much difference in terms of calories. Using frozen puff pastry sheets made this a true comfort food, easy to put together in less than an hour.
For the filling:
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp flour
1.5 cups milk
1 tsp vegetable stock concentrate
a handful of fresh herbs (I used sage and thyme)
6 cups of parboiled/fresh veggies (cauliflower, potatoes, carrots, peas and mushrooms)
1 tsp mustard
2 tbsp nutritional yeast/cheese
salt and pepper
For the crust:
I used one frozen puff pastry sheet for four mini loaf pans/ramekins
1 tbsp oil+1 tbsp milk, for brushing
coarse salt and black pepper
Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees, and leave the puff pastry sheet on the counter to thaw.
Heat the butter in a dutch oven. Add the flour and stir until you get a dark brown roux. Whisk in the milk and the stock concentrate and bring them to a boil. Add the mustard, yeast, veggies. Season and let simmer for a few minutes, until the sauce thickens and the vegetables are cooked through.
Divide the vegetable filling between four mini loaf pans/ramekins. Cut the thawed puff pastry sheet to fit the pans, leaving half an inch overhang all around. (You could also use a dutch oven to cook the veggies in and then just cover it with the whole sheet). Cover the pans with the pastry sheet, seal the edges and brush the surface with milk and oil mixture. Sprinkle some coarse salt and pepper on top if you like, cut at least two vents into the crust, and bake until the top is well browned (about 20 minutes for the mini-pans.) Let stand for ten minutes before serving.
This was good with a simple green salad, even better when followed by the Skinny Cow chocolate fudge icecream.
p.s. Why do you think I can't find any fat free frozen yogurt when I want to binge?
Comments
Somehow, the mustard makes it perfect...I love cooking with mustard.
What is the green cassarolette made of? It reminds me of malachite.
And yes - we gotta see the innards!
I love this site; @scanman has a lot to answer for! Thanks for the excellent recipes.
This sounds delicious and I totally agree about the pastry!
Re the low fat frozen yogurt - it's a conspiracy by the full fat ice cream makers! :-)
I finally ventured to the store last night to get some sherbet or frozen yogurt, something cold and sweet but light. And nada! Not even the omnipresent orange sherbet, which I usually see even in the depths of winter.
I finally caved in and got some Edy's Espresso Chip ice cream, but I felt cheated, somehow.
And YUM!!!!!
Re the fat free frozen yogurt:
I'm a serious fan of Turkey Hill's line. Some have low fat, some are fat free...most of the ones I've tried are so much like ice cream I can't tell the difference.
But I don't know if it's everywhere....I think it is.....they do flavors in rotation, though; not all are available all the time. I've talked my supermarket ice cream guy into double-ordering the ones I like...LOL ...I have 11 containers in the freezer right now (3 for $10, a good deal)
Do you get to "talk" to your parents on the internet..? No need to answer if that's too intrusive. I just wondered.
Over the years (okay,more like a year), @scanman has connected me with several good friends. He has a talent for connecting people.
Re: talking to patients on the internet, its a No. Maybe someday they will have an official way of doing it, but right now it would be considered a boundary violation.
Gosh..I shop at Acme. Not sure where else Turkey Hill is stocked..will see if I can find out.
*waves and runs*
I do talk to mom on the internet, and also on the phone quite frequently. That helps quite a lot.
Don't worry about the yogurt- I'll ask around at the stores here. Thanks!
If I see anything about the Turkey Hill I'll let you know. I'm such a fan I have their CALENDAR!!
It arrives every year with with coupons for each month and a description of new flavors,AND the scheduled releases of their rotating flavors. I do ❤ them!!
Just sent you a message re: licorice.
I looked on the Turkey Hill website (it's a fun one!!) and found a place where you can enter your zip code to see where to buy the products...here
I just tested it; it works great!
May the Force be with you.
The one they seem to carry most often in the Vanilla Fudge Swirl Fat free...and it's FABULOUS. The fudge is....big glops of thick fudge mixed in, not those skinny little stripes some ice creams have.
*sigh* I'm making myself hungry!
Have fun!
LOL....sorry....I called that flavor the wrong name. It's Vanilla Fudge RIPPLE.