This recipe was developed because last nights roasted chicken went uneaten. I call it “One Legged Shepherds Pie” because it seems logical that after loosing a leg, a sheep herder might scale back to chickens.

If you don’t have time to make the chicken stock from scratch its ok to make the sauce by combining 16 oz of chicken broth from a can with 1 tablespoon of tomato paste (double concentrated, from a tube “Amore”) and 1/2 cup Merlot or other red wine in a sauce pan and reduce by more than 1/2 (about 1 cup).

Ingredients:

1 roasted chicken (3lb), meat off the bone (cut meat into 1/2 inch cubes)
4 medium yellow potatoes (peeled and quartered)
1/2 cup whole milk
3 tablespoons butter (unsalted)
1 teaspoon salt
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 large shallot, chopped
2 celery stalks, rinsed and chopped
2 cups frozen peas
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

When your chicken sauce is ready add the frozen peas to the warm sauce and remove from heat. Add the cut chicken, then the herbs. In a small saute pan combine the carrots, onion, and celery. Heat through until soft with a splash of vegetable oil. Add the vegetables to the chicken and peas.

Meanwhile, bring 1/2 quart of water to a boil and cook the potatoes until soft. Strain the water and add the milk, salt, and butter, whip with a stiff hand whisk to mash.

In a 6×4 inch casserole or iron skillet (3 inches deep) first add the chicken and vegetable mixture then spread the mashed potatoes over the top.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and place on the center rack. Cook for 1/2 hour.

Serve family style with a spoon and a salad in another bowl.

I think a one legged shepherd might like some lambs tongue or dandelion greens in his salad, or perhaps some mushrooms from a near by forest. He’d cook it with ramps from the edge of the stream in a spoonful of the fat off the chicken stock, then toss it all with a splash of red wine that’s gone stale in the back of his storage box and season salt and pepper.

He might even invite a shepherd with 2 legs to join him.