Blackbird Pie......Or Chicken, Leek And Potato Pie! - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 (225 g) packets shortcrust pastry
500 g mashed potatoes
2 cooked chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
4 -6 cooked leeks
50 g cooked ham, cut into dice
3 -4 tablespoons creme fraiche or 2 -3 tablespoons cream
1/2 teaspoon mixed herbs
salt
pepper
GLAZE
1 egg, beaten with a little
milk

Preparation

Pre-heat oven to 200C/400\u00b0F.
Grease and line a pie dish with baking paper.
Mix together your mashed potato, leeks, chicken, ham, creme fraiche & seasonings to taste. Set to one side.
Roll out your pastry and line the base of the pie dish - allow the edges to extend over the edge of the pie dish.
Put you filling into the pastry pie case - and sit your blackbird or pie funnel in the middle, pushing it down slightly so it is not too high.
Turn back the pastry edges and make a raised crust all the way around. Dampen the piecrust with some of the beaten egg & milk mixture.
Roll out your pastry for the lid - ease it over the top gently breaking OR cutting a hole for the blackbird to poke through!
Turn back the edges of the pastry lid and neatly crimp the top together with the bottom - using a fork to help you if necessary.
Brush the beaten egg and milk glaze over the top and bake in the pre-heated oven for about 45 minutes.
Take out and allow to cool very slightly before serving with fresh vegetables & gravy. This is also wonderful cold as picnic food.