Easter pie anyone - Hollands Pies and Choc Amor creations

HOLLAND’S CREATE CHOCOLATE PIE RECIPES WITH LANCASHIRE FOODIES

Holland’s, one of the UK’s best-known producers of piesand pastries, has teamed up with two Lancashire food fanatics to create a series of recipes for the ultimate Easter pies, Holland’s chocolate pies! Baking tools at the ready!

Working with celebrity chef Tom Bridge, off The Great British Bake Off, and Choc Amor’s Master Chocolatier Paul Williams, from Tarleton, Lancashire, Holland’s has created three recipes for a series of savoury taste sensations, each with a hint of smooth, rich chocolate; including, Lamb and Potato Ragu Pie with Dark Chocolate; Butlers Blacksticks Blue Cheese and Onion Pie with Milk Chocolate; and Chicken and Mushroom Pie with White Chocolate, Garlic, Coffee and hint of Chilli.

The perfect treats for Easter; these limited edition pies are a seasonal classic from the Lancashire food legends. Master chocolatier Paul, suggests using premium 58% Belgium dark chocolate in the Lamb and Potato Ragu Pie; the delectable minted chocolate Ragu compliments the succulent slow-cooked lamb shoulder with roasted potatoes. Use Choc Amor’s signature 35% milk chocolate to add a sweet sensation to the gourmet Cheese and Onion Pie recipe. Handpicked, especially for the Chicken and Mushroom Pie recipe, the white chocolate - unique to Choc Amor - is made up of 30% cocoa butter and 15% milk solids. The chocolate gives the pie fillings a unique texture and taste, and accentuates the other flavours in the pies.

Pie professional, and award-winning chef, Tom Bridge commented, “This Lancashire collaboration has been a great experience, using my knowledge of pies with Paul’s chocolate skills – we have created a real treat for Holland’s fans to bake over the Easter period!”

Chocolatier Paul Williams said: “My passion for food and creative cooking have had a huge influence on the chocolate I create and sell. This project has allowed me to marry my passion and expertise with Tom’s passion for pies to create some really unique recipes. Using chocolate can result in flavours that sound wrong but once tasted are so right!”

Heres the recipe for the Chicken and Mushroom Pie using white chocolate from Choc Amor.

Chicken and Mushroom Pie with White Chocolate, Garlic, Coffee and hint of Chilli.

With Choc Amor’s White Chocolate made up of 30% Cocoa Butter and 15% Milk Solid

Ingredients

200ml chicken stock

250g sliced mushrooms

1 tsp crushed garlic

2 tablespoons of strong cold coffee

50ml white chocolate sauce with a hint of chilli

300g/11oz Free range chicken breasts fillets, cut into small pieces

3/4 tsp salt

3tbsp plain flour

100ml/4fl oz milk

Freshly ground pepper

Short crust pastry (see recipe above)

Method

Bring the chicken stock to the boil in a saucepan and add mushrooms, garlic, coffee and white chocolate with the chicken and salt. Boil, covered, over a low heat for approx. 1 min.

Stir together flour and half of the milk in a bowl. Add remaining milk and add this thickening mixture to the sauce while stirring. Boil over a low heat and while stirring for about a minute. Season with pepper. Allow to cool.

Pre-heat the oven to 400f /200c/gas 6

Prepare the pastry recipe, set aside one-third for the lids.

Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to 5mm thick. Cut out six large circles to fit in the pie tins and six smaller circles for the lids.

Line the tins with the large circles of pastry.

Place in the chicken mixture into the pastry cases.

Cover the tops with the remaining circles of pastry. Make a small hole in the centre of each pie.

Glaze with beaten egg and place the pies onto a baking sheet.

Bake the centre of the oven for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown.

To win a one of six dozen Holland’s best-selling pies then simply head to Holland’s Facebook or Twitter page and post a picture of your chocolate pie creation, based on the above recipe, and use the hashtag #HollandsEasterPie or email

hollandseasterpie@hollandspies.co.uk with your name and address!

Become a fan at facebook.com/hollandspiesofficial and on Twitter @hollandspies. For further information on the Holland’s Pie range please visit www.hollandspies.co.uk. Holland’s is one of the UK’s best-loved pie makers; producing a range of delicious pies, puddings and pastries.