Chicken N Corn Mini Pies Recipes

Steps:

• Ask a grown-up helper to turn the oven on to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface and trim to make a rectangle about 24 x 36cm.
• Cut the pastry in half, lengthways, then cut each half into 3 equal squares, about 12cm along each side, using a small knife or scissors.
• Push each square into the oiled tin, making sure it is pushed right into the edges
• Use scissors or a small knife to cut the chicken into strips, then cut into chunks. Put chunks in a bowl. Add the sweetcorn, peas, cream and mustard. Mix together.
• Divide mixture between the pies. Fold the tops of the pies over roughly and press together. Don't worry if they don't cover all the filling.
• Brush the pastry with the beaten egg. Ask your grown-up helper to put them in the oven for 35 minutes or until they brown and the filling bubbles.

Steps:

• In a large pan, melt the butter and cook the leeks, covered, for 10 mins until really soft. Remove from the heat and stir through the cheese sauce, chives, chicken, milk and mustard. Mix well and spoon into small dishes or ramekins.
• Un-roll the pastry on a lightly floured surface. Use a saucer to cut circles for the pie tops. Place on top, trim to fit, crimp the edges and brush with egg to glaze. Wrap tightly in cling film and freeze for up to 2 months.
• To cook from frozen, heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Remove the cling film, cover with foil and put on a baking tray in the middle of the oven. Bake for 15 mins, then reduce the temperature to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and bake for a further 45 mins, removing the foil for the final 30 mins. Serve with green vegetables.
• To cook from fresh, heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Cook for 45 mins, until the pastry is golden and puffed, and the filling is piping hot.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Pat the chicken breasts dry and place them on the prepared sheet pan. Rub all over with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast until just cooked through, 35 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of the breasts. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then discard the skin and bones and shred the meat into bite-size pieces.
• While the chicken roasts, begin making the biscuits: In a large bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk until well combined. Add the butter, and working quickly, cut the butter into the flour using your fingers or a pastry cutter, until it forms crumbles about the size of peas. Switch to a fork, and stir constantly while adding the buttermilk in a slow, steady steam. Mix just until a wet, sticky dough forms. (Do not overmix!) Scrape the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap, pat it into a mound, then wrap and chill it in the refrigerator while you make the filling.
• In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, melt the 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, onion and rosemary, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds, or until no white clumps of flour are visible. Add the chicken stock, milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Turn the heat to low and simmer, stirring often and scraping the bottom of the pan, until very thick, 7 to 10 minutes; remove from heat. Add the sherry, chives and chicken, and stir until well combined.
• Unwrap the chilled biscuit dough and place it on a well-floured surface. Working quickly (you want the biscuits to be as cold as possible when they go into the oven) lightly press the dough with your hands into a rectangle about 3/4-inch thick. Fold the dough in half and press once more to a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Cut out biscuits with a 2 1/2- to 3-inch-round cutter and arrange them on top of the filling. (You should have about 10 biscuits.)
• Brush the tops of the biscuits with the egg wash. Place the skillet on a sheet pan to catch any drips, and bake, uncovered, for 20 to 30 minutes, until biscuits are puffed and golden. Cool for 10 minutes to let the filling thicken slightly, then serve.

Steps:

• Roll out pastry until a little thinner than a £1 coin. Cut out 8 x 9cm circles and use to line 8 holes of a muffin tin. Divide chicken, peas and asparagus between moulds, season, then dollop over 1 tbsp crème fraîche.
• Cut out 8 x 7cm circles to make tops for the pies. Lightly brush edges of the pie bases with egg, place each top onto its pie and press down into the filling. Pinch together the sides to seal. Leave to rest in the fridge for 30 mins, or up to 2 days if preparing in advance.
• Heat oven to 200c/fan 180c/gas 6. Brush tops with more egg and bake pies for 30-35 mins or until the pastry is crisp and golden. Serve warm or leave to cool.