Chicken Pot Pie Soup with Puff Pastry Biscuit

Did you know that the first pies were often made from pastry that was intentionally barely edible?  Pastry was used as a method of keeping meats and fillings moist during cooking and also to seal the filling to keep it from spoiling. YUM. 

Many believe the term "pie" has its beginnings from "magpie", a bird that collected a variety of different objects. 

The Chicken Pot Pie was the first frozen pot pie available in the US, developed by the Swanson Company in 1951.  As the saying goes, the rest is history.

This recipe makes a large pot of stock.  Use what you need for the Pot Pie Soup and freeze the rest in quarts for later use.

The Stock:

• 1 whole chicken, 2 to 3 lbs.
• 2 whole cloves
• 2 carrots - cut into 2" pieces
• 2 celery stalks - cut into 2" pieces
• 1 onion, halved
• 1 head garlic, halved horizontally
• 1 small bunch fresh thyme, washed and tied with string
• 2 boullion cubes

Season chicken with salt and push two cloves into one of the chicken thighs.  Add to large stock pot, cover with 4 quarts of water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.  Add carrots, celery, onion, garlic and thyme.  Bring to a gentle simmer and skim surface as necessary.  Lower the heat, and simmer 45 minutes to one hour until chicken is tender.  Adjust seasoning.  Remove chicken to a baking sheet and allow to cool for a few minutes.  Remove and discard thyme bundle.  Take the breast and thigh meat off the chicken.  Break chicken into bite-size pieces.  Set aside.

The Sauce:

• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 stick butter
• 2 cups onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups carrots, diced and blanched 2 minutes
• 1 10-oz. pkg. frozen peas
• 1-1/2 cups frozen pearl onions
• 1/2 cup parsley, minced

In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute onions over medium heat for 10 minutes or until softened.  Add flour and cook over low heat, stirring for 2 minutes.  Add hot chicken stock to the onions.  Simmer until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes.  Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.  Add heavy cream, carrots, peas, pearl onions and parsley.  Mix well.  Simmer 5 to 10 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Thaw puff pastry according to package directions.  Do not unroll pastry sheet.  Cut evenly into 4 pieces.  Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper.  Bake 20-25 minutes until puffed and golden brown.

Divide filling into soup bowls and place puff pastry on top.

Servings: 4 Generous
Source:  ~Adapted from Tyler Florence
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