Pork & Apple Pie

organic apples

Monday. Garfield hated Monday's. Most weeks I don't mind Monday's but today was just a horrible day. Cooking always helps me feel better even on the worst day. I have been reading through a wonderful book called Pies Sweet and Savory by Caroline Bretherton and so today I decided to make the basic pie dough and then fill it with ingredients that I have in my kitchen.
My husband had pulled pork from the deep freezer. I knew I was going to make a pie so I looked over the recipes and decided to make my own adaptation of the pork and apple picnic pie.
 My son went out and picked three apples from the apple tree and I grabbed the bacon fat, apple juice, onions, shallots, potatoes and started working.
 I still cry large tears when chopping my onions. Even shallots bring me to tears, but I love them too much NOT to use them. I am thankful for my mandoline, which makes quick work of this painful task. And just in case you are wondering, a mandoline is a kitchen slicer NOT a musical instrument. ;) 

yummy onions and shallots

I combined all the ingredients, cooked them in a pan for about ten minutes to soften the potatoes. I ran out to the garden pick some sage then I added the pork and some chicken broth. It smelled like heaven. Bacon flavored heaven. 
YUM! YUM!

I placed everything in a bowl and stuck it in the freezer to cool. I added a little too much chicken broth so I left it in the pan and turned it on high and added a little flour to make a gravy. I rolled out the bottom crust, filled the pan and then rolled out the top crust. I attempted to use my pie crust cutters, but I rolled out the top a little too thin. It didn't look nice but it tasted just perfect! 

potatoes

I filled the pie, topped it off and baked it for almost an hour at 375. 
I was really worried that it wouldn't come out too good, but it was divine! 




So here is the recipe. It's not exact but I will do my best to remember what I did. 











3/4 pound boneless pork half frozen (makes it easier to cut) cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 1/2 cups potatoes cut into 1/2 inch cubes
one red onion sliced thin
5 shallots roughly chopped
1/4 cup bacon fat
1/4 cup apple juice
3 Macintosh apples peeled and chopped 1/2 inch cubes
1/4 cup chicken broth
2 sage leaves chopped 
1 tsp dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Pie Crust
2 cups flour
10 TBSP butter cut in small cubes
egg yolk
salt
ice water
gently mix in butter and egg until mixture resembles coarse crumbs, add water a few tablespoons at a time until it holds together. Work very gently. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before using. 


Leave the pork in the fridge while you prepare the veg. Chop the onions, shallots, potatoes and apples and place in a pot with bacon fat, apple juice and chicken broth. Cook for about 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally. Add herbs, salt and pepper and cook a few minutes longer. Add the pork and cook just a few minutes until white on outside. It will cook completely while baking, and not be too dry. Place in a bowl and stick it in the freezer to cool while you line the pan with the pie crust. 

listen to some good music while you cook

Oven 375 
Cover dish with butter and a little flour
Line 9" round dish with one layer of crust.
Roll crust and cut steam vents in top layer
Bake about one hour

YUM! YUM! 

not a great photo, but it sure tasted fantastic. yum yum.