Chicken Pot Pie with Drop Biscuit Topping

This chicken pot pie was really elevated by the inclusion of fresh herbs. Even the biscuits had arugula in them. I loved it!

This was our Valentine’s Day dinner. ❤ The recipe was adapted from My Paris Kitchen, by David Lebovitz. I increased the amount of onions, garlic, peas, and chicken. I also used arugula instead of watercress in the biscuits.

I chose the “Americanized” version of his Chicken Pot Parmentier by using the biscuit topping rather than the potato topping. According to Lebovitz, the fresh tarragon in the filling still makes this dish decidedly French. Fancy comfort food. 🙂

Yield: Serves 6 to 8

For the Chicken Filling:

• 4 cups (1 quart/1 liter) chicken stock (I used my homemade turkey stock)
• 3 carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 ribs celery, diced
• 25 peeled pearl onions (I used frozen pearl onions, thawed)
• 6 T (3 oz/85 g) unsalted butter
• 6 T (60 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
• 2 T dry white wine
• 4 to 5 cups shredded or diced cooked chicken (I used rotisserie chicken meat)
• 1 1/2 cups frozen peas or shelled fava beans, thawed
• 2 T finely chopped fresh tarragon
• 2 T finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tsp coarse salt, plus more as needed
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

For the Drop Biscuit Topping:

• 2 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp coarse salt
• 3/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 8 T (4 oz/115 g) unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
• 1/2 cup packed (50 g) finely chopped arugula or watercress
• 1 cup (250 ml) buttermilk

To Make the Chicken Filling:

1. Heat the stock in a saucepan over medium heat with the carrots, celery, and onions. Let simmer until the vegetables are almost tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside.
2. Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in the flour, and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
3. Whisk a few ladlefuls of the warm stock into the flour mixture, which will appear lumpy at first but will smooth out as you go. Gradually add all the stock, including the vegetables, stirring as you go.
4. Cook for about 9 minutes, until thickened.
5. Add the garlic and wine and cook for 1 additional minute.
6. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the chicken, peas, tarragon, parsley, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
7. Transfer the mixture to a shallow 2 1/2 to 3 quart baking dish. Set the baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drippings.
8. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, preferably on convection.

To Make the Drop Biscuit Topping:

1. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, salt, pepper, baking soda, and baking powder to combine.
2. Add the butter and, using a pastry cutter, combine until the butter is broken into pea-size pieces.
3. Add the arugula, and then the buttermilk, mixing just until the dough holds together.
4. Using a spring-loaded cookie scoop, distribute the dough evenly over the chicken filling. (I made 3 rows of 6 biscuits.)

To Finish:

1. Bake the chicken potpie for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the topping is deep golden brown and the filling is bubbling and hot.

One Year Ago: Chicken Stew with Biscuits

Two Years Ago: Fried Chicken Thighs & Cheesy Grits

Four Years Ago: Fried Chicken Biscuits

Five Years Ago: Slow Cooker Barbecue Pulled Pork and Popovers

Braised Butternut Squash & Bacon Tacos with Arugula

I know that “Taco Tuesday” is a popular dinner plan… It is just a plan that doesn’t work with my kids’ after school schedule. 😦 We are trying to have “Soup Tuesday” because everyone has to eat at different times! So, the exciting new plan is to have “Taco Wednesday” – with enough time for my to execute my “Taco Tuesday” recipe from Rick Bayless. 😉 Great!

These are wonderful winter tacos featuring one of my favorite combinations- butternut squash and bacon. The tomatillo-chipotle sauce was an added bonus. (as was the arugula!) This recipe was adapted from RickBayless.com. I modified the plating, doubled the recipe, and increased the garlic. Yummy!

I’m sharing my “Taco Wednesday” dish at Fiesta Friday #105 this week! 😉 Hosted by Lily @ Little Sweet Baker and Julianna @ Foodie on Board. Enjoy!

Yield: Serves 6

• 8 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 6 to 8 medium (about 1 pound) tomatillos, husked, rinsed and cut in half across the equator
• 2 canned chipotle chiles en adobo, stemmed
• 1 small (2-pound) butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks (about 6 cups of chunks)
• 4 oz (5 thick strips) bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 tsp coarse salt, more to taste
• 1/2 cup fresh goat cheese, crumbled
• Generous handful fresh watercress or wild arugula
• 12 to 16 corn tortillas

1. Set a large (12-inch) skillet (nonstick or lined with foil) over medium-high heat and lay in the garlic and tomatillos (cut side down). When the tomatillos are well browned and soft, 5 to 6 minutes, flip everything over and brown the other side. (The garlic should be soft.) Cool, then peel the garlic.
2. In a blender, combine the peeled garlic, tomatillos, stemmed chipotles and 2 cups water. Blend to a coarse puree. (I used a Vitamix.)
3. Scoop the butternut pieces into a microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap, poke a few holes in the top and microwave on high for 4 to 5 minutes. (I used a silicone steaming lid instead of plastic wrap.)
4. Meanwhile, in a large (12-inch) skillet set over medium, cook the bacon, stirring occasionally, until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes.
5. Add the butternut and tomatillo sauce to the pan, raise the heat to medium-high and bring the sauce to a brisk simmer.
6. Cook until the butternut is fork-tender and the sauce has reduced by about half its volume, about 20 minutes.
7. Taste and season with salt (it will need only about 1/2 teaspoon because of the bacon’s saltiness).
8. Using a tortilla warmer, or a plate covered with plastic wrap, cover the tortillas with a damp paper towel. Warm the corn tortillas in a microwave for 1 minute.
9. Top each tortilla with a generous sprinkling of arugula or watercress. Scoop the hot topping over the top and finish with a  sprinkling of the goat cheese.

One Year Ago:

• Broccoli Rabe Risotto with Grilled Lemon

Two Years Ago:

• Winter Squash Carbonara with Pancetta & Sage

Three Years Ago:

• Butternut Squash & Bacon Quiche
• Black Bean Chili with Butternut Squash & Swiss Chard

If you like this you may also like:

• Roasted Butternut Squash & Bacon Pasta

Roast Pork Tenderloin with Carrot-Pine Nut Romesco Sauce

This dish was unbelievably flavorful, colorful, delicious, healthy, and quick to prepare! I am such a fan of Spanish romesco sauce which is usually prepared with red bell peppers; this carrot-pine nut version was wonderful. This recipe was adapted from Bon Appetit. I increased the amount of pork, greens, and red wine vinegar. I also used red pepper flakes instead of Aleppo pepper and baby arugula in lieu of watercress or baby mustard greens. We ate it with roasted gold potatoes on the side. Fabulous!!

• ¼ cup raw pine nuts
• 1½ pound small carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise if larger
• 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 medium pork tenderloins
• 1 small garlic clove
• 1 tsp Aleppo pepper or ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 2-3 tablespoons red wine vinegar, divided, plus more to taste
• 7 ounces spicy greens, such as baby arugula, watercress, or baby mustard

1. Preheat oven to 350° (on convection roast).
2. Toast pine nuts on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing occasionally, until golden brown, about 4 minutes; let cool.
3. Increase temperature to 450° (on convection roast). Toss carrots with 1 Tbsp. oil on another rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and black pepper. Roast, tossing occasionally, until softened and browned, 15–20 minutes; let cool slightly.
4. Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Season tenderloins with salt and black pepper and cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 10–15 minutes. Transfer skillet to oven and roast pork until a thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 145°, 8–10 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
5. Mince garlic in a food processor. Add toasted pine nuts and remaining 3 Tbsp. oil and pulse to a coarse paste. Add Aleppo pepper, one-fourth of carrots, 2 Tbsp. vinegar, and 1 Tbsp. water. Process, adding more water as needed, to a coarse purée; season romesco with salt, black pepper, and more vinegar, if desired.
6. Toss greens with remaining carrots and remaining 1 Tbsp. vinegar in a large bowl; season with salt and black pepper. Drizzle pork with pan juices. Serve pork with romesco and salad.

One Year Ago:

• Moussaka

If you like this you may also like:

• Broccoli Salad with Hazelnut Romesco Sauce