Yum Peaceful Cooking: Puff Pastry Poultry

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Puff Pastry Poultry


That could be just about any kind of poultry inside that baby, couldn't it? Is it chicken? Is it turkey?

Does it really matter? It's good so who cares, right?

I mean...this time of year everyone will soon be trying to decide what to do with the leftover turkey (besides turkey sandwiches for the next 5 days...with stuffing and cranberry sauce smeared all over a fat slice of sour dough bread)...well, in my book any recipe that calls for cooked chicken is fair game for leftover turkey.

I found this recipe inside the box of Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry several years ago and I haven't made it since. My kids loved it...I thought it was good. So what was my problem? My favorite grocery store only carries puff pastry during the holidays. They think it's a seasonal item. huh??

Whatever

Anyways...for some odd, blame-it-on-the-cosmos reason, I remembered to pick up some puff pastry at the store the other day. Only the recipe wasn't inside the box anymore. Thank God for the internet cuz Pepperidge Farm has a website and I found their Herbed Chicken in Pastry recipe.

Then I remembered something about the original recipe that didn't thrill me. (lights are one and someone might be home....taking a nap perhaps?) The single slab of chicken breast. It was thick....and a real pain in the ass to get all wrapped in the pastry. And I'm not real fond of pre-seasoned cheese spreads.

So I started altering things......juuuuuuust a teeny tiny bit, but it was enough to make it that much better. And I wanted more the next day except the girls ate it all.



5 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into chunks
1 sheet of pastry puff, thawed
Pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter
8 oz whipped cream cheese
1/2 tsp garlic salt (or to taste)
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning (or to taste)
1/2 tsp dried parsley (or to taste)
1 egg
1 TB water

Preheat your oven to 400' F.

Season the chicken with pepper and saute the meat in a hot skillet with the butter, melted. Once it's cooked through, just set it aside. If you're using leftover meat, you can saute it a bit if you'd like, or just cut it into chunks and move on.

While that is going, mix together your cream cheese, garlic salt, Italian seasoning and parsley


Lookie at all those flavors. I was so tempted to just stick my finger in there and each it!

On a floured surface, carefully unfold your pastry sheet and roll it out until it is a 14" square.


It's amazing the stuff I can find in that one "special" drawer that you know we all have in the kitchen. Besides my measuring tape, I think I have a small hammer, fire crackers, exacto knife, a handle to something...a long flexible tube? hmm that might go to my food saver that I keep forgetting that I have. The only reason I have a garage is because my scroll saw won't fit in that drawer.

Aaaaaand....lets move along folks...Cut the pastry sheet into 4 - 7" squares


Now...spread about 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture in the center of each square. Divide the chicken or turkey evenly amongst the squares. Then pull each corner to the center and pinch 'em so they seal.


Looking at this....ya know what I'm thinkin? (probably the same thing you are)...hmmm...what else can I put in there! With turkey? add some stuffing!!! Chicken? add some capers and lemon juice or sauteed mushrooms and onions. Ham? How 'bout some cheese and pineapple....oooh....add some Pineapple Casserole.

Ok...enough!!! Somebody sssssstop me!!!

Now place them on a baking sheet, seam side down. Beat the egg and water together and brush each pastry with the egg mixture


Toss 'em in the oven for about 25 minutes, until the pastries are that nice golden brown.



Cool for about 10 minutes (leave them on the baking sheet while cooling) and serve.

One of my favorite changes to this recipe is cutting the chicken up. It allowed the cheese to ooze in between all the chunks and really distribute the flavor.

Now I'm just going to have to stock up on the pastry sheets before they disappear from my grocery store ....again. After the holidays, they probably won't be seen until Easter.

And having said all that, I hope this gives you at least one more "leftover" turkey recipe idea.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

23 comments:

  1. Wow they look great! I'll have to get some puff pastry for leftovers!
    Awesome you have a scroll saw, I love tools!

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  2. Great for turkey leftovers! The cream cheese is an interesting ingredient- I think I'd like it a lot. Love working with puff pastry too- it looks so elegant yet is so easy.
    Happy Thanksgiving to you!

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  3. and chopped garlic on the top so it toasts... these are the best... great!

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  4. I love puff pastry. It makes any dish look so elegant when you wrap it in it! Shane said that he gets puff pastry from Trader Joe's for a good price but I haven't seen it there yet.

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  5. Man, I can NEVER find puff pastry around here. Wonder why that is? Anywho, those look delish, and now I must hunt and find this pp for sure!

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  6. And hey you sweet thing, I just posted my interpretation of Aunt Sally's Marinated Mushrooms... They were incredible, and you deserve an award!

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  7. I saw something similar to this on Rachael Ray this week. I think she called them turkey wellingtons. I'll have to try them out with my leftovers.

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  8. Puff pastry-- ahhhhh. Love it. Sweet. Savory. I keep at least one box in my freezer at all times. Great idea! Love it! Thanks.

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  9. That looks soooo good! I want one for lunch. How soon can I get there? ;-)

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  10. Really, puff pastry is difficult to find? Here you can find it in abundance any time of the year.
    That chicken is gorgeous.
    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  11. I love your step by step pictures! Great recipe! Happy Thanksgiving, Danielle!

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  12. This looks so good, kind of like an avant garde hot pocket with a haute couture crust! I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

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  13. right, so not only is this perfectly alliterative, it's completely delicious. puff pastry is a gift from God.
    happy thanksgiving, danielle!

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  14. Happy Thanksgiving. Your chicken in puff pastry is gorgeous. I need to be brave and work more with puff pastry. It makes everything look so pretty.
    Sam

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  15. I made something very similar to this a couple of years ago for a dinner party and it was WONderful. Had forgotten all about it. Thanks for the reminder. This looks wonderful.

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  16. this looks great I made salmon en croute today my first time using puff pastry
    happy thanksgiving

    Rebecca

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  17. Yum--I love puff pastry--what a nice savory treat.
    Have a wonderful and very happy Thanksgiving!

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  18. WOW, that looks yummy! Toss one over!! :)

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  19. Perfect idea for using turkey, but it won't feel like left overs! Thanks for the reminder to pick up the puff pastry before it vanishes!

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  20. Tango - thanks

    Barbara - Yes, turkey leftovers...I think thats what I'm going to use the 2nd sheet for.

    Grill - I thought about the garlic...but i was afraid it would burn. maybe some garlic infused oil would be better...to mix with the egg wash. And thank you so much for the award :)

    Michele - trader joes has puff pastry? I'm going to have to check that out!!!

    DD - is it hard to make from scratch? with your dough experience...I'm sure you could do it. and it would be way better than the stuff at the store

    Yummy - oooh...turkey wellingtons? that sounds so fancy LOL.

    Feast - I should keep a box in my freezer too....or at least stock up when I find them

    Natashya - I'll send the lear jet over :)

    Dajana - isn't that weird?

    Erica - thank you!

    Chris - YOU say that 5 times fast LOL

    Fresh - there ya go...it's a fancy hot pocket LOL

    Grace - ok, now i'm going to have to look up alliterative. (or is that one of your made up words? LOL

    Sam - puff pastry really is easy. way easier than working with pie crust.

    Lea Ann - Im glad I could help ;)

    Rebecca - oooh, I bet that was really good

    Deb - I think I like savory pastries better than I like sweet ones. and this is coming from someone who has a major sweet tooth!

    Courtney - here....catch!!

    Cristie - thats the whole point. My husband is a leftover snob...won't touch 'em

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  21. mmmmmmm En Croute!!! Fantastic... Pass one this way!!! LOL YUM

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  22. LOL! Nice Mask reference :D This looks seriously awesome...I want some right now...and me all out of leftovers...urgh!!! No chicken, no nuttin'...I'm hungry...guess I'll just eat my liquid dinner here...lushes unite ;) Hope your turkey day was awesome!

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