Deep-Dish Chicken Pie

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2 young frying chickens (about 3 lbs. each)

1 medium onion, chopped

3 medium carrots, cut in 1 inch pieces

2 sprigs parsley

1 bay leaf

1 stalk celery, coarsely chopped

1 T. salt

1/4 t. dried thyme

4 C. water

1/4 C. butter

1 small onion, finely chopped

1/4 C. finely chopped celery

3 T. flour

dash each white pepper and ground nutmeg

1/2 C. frozen peas, thawed

4 oz. fresh button mushrooms, sliced

salt and pepper to taste

Quarter chickens for simmering. In 6-quart Dutch oven, combine chicken, onion, carrots, parsley, bay leaf, celery, salt, thyme and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until chicken is fork-tender (about 1 hours)

Strain and reserve broth; measure out 2 cups for cream sauce, freezing remainder for another use. Remove chicken from bones, cut into generous bite-size pieces. Reserve carrots, discarding remaining ingredients from broth.

Preheat oven to 425°F. In a 3-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and celery; cook until onion is soft but not browned. Stir in flour, pepper and nutmeg, cooking until bubbly. Remove from heat and gradually stir in the 2 cups of reserved chicken broth. Return to heat and cook, stirring, until mixture is thickened.

Mix in chicken pieces, carrots reserved from cooking chicken, peas and mushrooms. Salt to taste. Spread mixture in round baking dish about 9 inches in diameter and 2 inches deep. (At this point pie can be refrigerated and held several hours or until the following day.)

To prepare pie for baking, fit pastry into place over top of filling; trim and flute edge. Cut slits for steam to escape. Bake until pastry is golden and filling is bubbly (30 to 40 minutes).

Serves 8.