Pie-tacular this Day of the Mushroom (April 16).

April is a month of expectation– with autumn in full swing, Easter celebrations and the school holidays. If you have taken annual leave to spend with your children, or just have a love of food, then what better way to keep busy than by trying new recipe’s and following food trends for the month.

Although South African’s do not generally have certain days dedicated to food, food lovers, like the Culinary Artists at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, tend to keep up with the food trends and Kirstie du Toit has taken the time to reveal her recipe for an old favourite turned gourmet dish that is sure to add some flavour to your kitchen this April: Chicken, Mushroom & Basil Pie for Day of the Mushroom on April 16th!

Here are 5 cool facts about mushrooms you should know (provided by health24.com):

  1. A 100g serving of mushrooms contains more dietary fibre (2.5g) than 100g of celery (1.8g) or a slice of whole-wheat bread (2.0g).
  2. Mushrooms contain virtually no salt.
  3. Mushrooms contain more protein than most vegetables.
  4. Mushrooms are low in kilojoules: 100g of raw mushrooms contains just 100 kilojoules.
  5. The stem of a mushroom is a good source of flavour and nutrients so there is no need to remove it. On the occasions that you do need to remove the stem, chop it and add to stuffing, casseroles, soups and sauces.

Ingredients:

                        Ready Made Puff Pastry

1 Cup                Chicken Breast, Cubed

1 Cup                Mixed Mushroom, Roughly Chopped

1Tbsp               Fresh Basil, Chopped

1Cup                 Chicken Stock, Homemade or Bought In

100ml               Cream

1                      Onion, Chopped Finely

1tsp                  Garlic, Grated

1Tbsp               Flour

1Tbsp               Butter

Method:

  1. In a large pot sauté off the onions with the garlic until brown and soft. You can use oil or butter to do so; the butter will just make this pie even creamier
  2. Pour in the chicken stock and bring to a boil, reduce it by a quarter then add in the cream
  3. Heat up a separate pan while you wait for the chicken stock to boil
  4. Put a little oil in the pan, brown small batches of the chicken breast with seasoning. The chicken does not have to be fully cooked as the mix will go into the oven later
  5. Once all the chicken is browned set it aside
  6. Repeat the same process with the mushrooms, but remember season the mushrooms at the end otherwise you will have a mushroom soup and not beautifully browned mushrooms
  7. Once all this is done, melt the butter either on the stove or in the microwave, once it is melted and hot, add in the flour and mix through. Make sure that there are no lumps.
  8. With a whisk, add your flour mix to the creamy chicken pot and whisk well. Leave for a few minutes to come back to the boil and whisk continuously until thick and velvety.
  9. Now add the chicken and mushrooms to your pot as well as the basil
  10. Check on your seasoning and adjust accordingly
  11. Next, line your preferred tray or muffin tins with the pastry
  12. First make sure to coat your tray with non-stick, you can use either spray and cook or simply just coat the tin with butter
  13. Roll the pastry out of the packet, and then roll it out a little thinner. Cut out with cookie cutters or cut to the size of your preferred tray. Make sure that the pastry comes all the way up the sides to the top.
  14. Pour in some of your creamy chicken, not to full as the mixture will bubble and come up
  15. Take another piece of pastry and cover the top
  16. To secure in place fold the edges over the top pastry
  17. Bake at 180*C for 10-15min if it is a small tin or 20-30min for a larger tin
  18. Let it rest for about 10min before cutting into it.

Some of the other food days that the world is celebrating this month include: April 6: National Caramel Popcorn Day; April 7: Coffee Cake Day; April 7:  National Beer Day; Day April 8: National Empanada Day, to mention a few. (Read more at: http://www.thenibble.com/fun/more/facts/holidays-april.asp).

Try this recipe out and send us your photos and comments via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, @GrannyMouseSA

http://www.health24.com/Diet-and-nutrition/Nutrition-basics/14-cool-facts-about-mushrooms-20130210

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