Tis the season for family, festivities, and warm filling meals (even if you are following guidelines and staying safe). Think about doing the familiar on a smaller, more intimate, and around the hearth scale. These mini pot pies are perfect for these challenging times when things need to simple, indoors, and for a few special people.
For the inside
Saute in butter……..
the bottom five inches of a large leak, coarsely chopped
1 cup of coarsely chopped mushrooms (your choice)
Salt and pepper to taste
remove from heat and add
2 TBSP chopped fresh fennel greens
1 TBSP of fresh thyme leaves
Gravy
In a separate pan add….
1 TBSP of tomato paste
2 TBSP of flour (your choice)
1/4 cup stock/boullion
1/4 white wine
Heat and stir on low heat until well mixed and thick. Add to the vegetable filling. Remove from heat and set aside.
You choice of pie crust (homemade or not)
Grease ramekins, add in circle of parchment paper. Press in a circle of cut pie dough (does not have to be prefect). Add your filling. Top with another circle of pie crust and seal/crimp with a fork or fingers. Brush with an egg wash and make a small slit on top to release the steam. Place on a baking sheet and put into your oven.
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. At this point you can remove to cut and add decorations or not. Bake for another 10-15 minutes until brown and bubbly.
I love any herb that is both culinary and medicinal. Thyme works well to expel parasites. As a mouthwash this herb is considered an excellent choice for a sore throat, laryngitis, dental decay, or infected gums. A hot infusion causes sweating , works as an expectorant , and clears congestion. Thymus is thought to be useful for colds, bronchitis, sinus infections, the flu, fever, sore throat, headache, nervous exhaustion, and childhood infections. Its use as an antispasmodic may prove helpful for gas, indigestion, diarrhea, gastritis, and colic.
Contraindications:Use short term in very small doses. Avoid if you have a thyroid disorder or are pregnant.
Blackbird's Backyard Pharmacy 