Chicken, Ham And Pea Potpies

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Prepare dough: In a small bowl, combine 3 cups flour and diced butter. Put in freezer for 10 minutes. Using a food processor, pulse mixture until it resembles coarse bread crumbs. With processor running, gradually add 2 eggs until mixture forms a ball; if necessary, add a little iced water.

2. Step 2

   Transfer dough to a work surface and shape into four disks, making two slightly bigger than the others. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate while making filling.

3. Step 3

   Prepare filling: Place a heavy-bottomed saucepan over low heat and melt butter. Whisk in 5 tablespoons flour and bouillon granules. Remove mixture from heat, and gradually whisk in milk to make smooth paste. Return pan to medium heat, and whisk constantly until simmering. Reduce heat to low; continue to whisk until sauce thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer mixture to large bowl, cover surface with dampened parchment paper; set aside to cool.

4. Step 4

   Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Put peas in a sieve and pour boiling water over them, draining well. Mix peas, chicken and ham into cooled white sauce.

5. Step 5

   Assemble and bake pies: Place a baking sheet in a 400-degree oven. Set aside four 1¼-cup pie dishes about 1½ inches deep. Halve each of the bigger disks of pastry. Roll each piece to a size big enough to line base and sides of a pie dish with a generous lip of pastry hanging over edge. Spoon equal portions of filling into each shell.

6. Step 6

   Halve remaining two pieces of dough, and roll out to make four pie lids. Dampen edges of pastry with water, and place a lid on each pie. Using a knife, trim excess pastry from around sides. Seal edges of pies with tines of a fork, and decorate as desired with leftover dough scraps. Using a pastry brush, paint pies with beaten egg. With point of a knife, cut a tiny cross in center of each pie or make small diagonal slashes.

7. Step 7

   Place pies on baking sheet and bake until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. When pies are ready, use oven mitts to turn them upside down, remove them from their dishes and place on serving plates.