Fancy Chicken Puff Pie - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/4 c. butter or margarine
1/4 c. chopped shallots
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. chicken stock or broth
1/4 c. sherry
1/8 tsp. white pepper
pinch of ground nutmeg
1/4 lb. ham, cut in 2 x 1/4-inch strips
3 c. cooked chicken, cut in 2 x 1/4-inch strips
1 1/2 c. fresh asparagus or 10 oz. pkg. frozen
1 c. (1/2 pt.) heavy cream
chilled pie crust for 1 crust pie or frozen puff pastry
1 egg, beaten

Preparation

In medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and saute shallots lightly. Stir in flour and cook for 3 minutes. Add broth and sherry.
Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
Season to taste with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Stir in ham, chicken, asparagus and cream.
Pour chicken mixture into an ungreased 9-inch pie pan.
Preheat oven to 425\u00b0. Cut an 8-inch circle from crust.
Cut hearts out of extra dough with a cookie cutter, if desired.
Place circle on a cookie sheet and moisten with cold water.
Pierce with a fork and brush with egg.
Decorate with hearts which are also brushed with egg.
Bake crust and full pie plate for 10 minutes, reduce heat to 350\u00b0 and bake another 10 to 15 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and filling is hot and set.
With a spatula, place pastry over hot filling and serve.
Makes 4 servings.