Chicken Picadillo Pie

Chicken Picadillo Pie

Crust:

1 15-oz. pkg.  Refrigerated Pie Crusts  -OR-  Your favorite Double-Crust pie crust

Filling:

3  Tablespoons Butter

1  Tablespoon  Cornstarch

1/8  teaspoon  Ginger

Dash  Pepper

1  Tablespoon  Prepared Mustard

1  Tablespoon  Soy Sauce, optional

1  Tablespoon  Worcestershire Sauce

1  Cup  Orange Juice

2  Tablespoons  Butter

2  Large Whole  Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

1  Cup  Finely Chopped  Onion

1/4  Cup  Finely Chopped  Green Bell Pepper

2  cloves  Garlic, minced

1/2  Cup  Coconut

1/2  Cup  Slivered Almonds

1/4  Cup  Raisins

1/4 to 1/2  Cup  Pimento-Stuffed Green Olives

2  Tablespoons  Capers, optional

Prepare Pie Crust according to package directions for two-crust pie using 9-inch pan.  Heat oven to 400*.

Melt 1 tablespoon Butter in small saucepan.  Blend in Cornstarch, Ginger, Pepper, Mustard, Soy Sauce (optional), and Worcestershire Sauce.  Gradually add Orange Juice.  Bring to a boil; cook until mixture thickens, stirring constantly.  Set aside.

Melt 2 tablespoons Butter in large skillet.  Cook Chicken, Onions, Bell Pepper, and Garlic over medium heat until Chicken is completely cooked.  Stir in remaining ingredients and the Orange Sauce.  Continue to cook until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally.  Spoon into pie crust-lined pan.  Top with second crust and flute; cut slits in several places.

Bake at 400* for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown.  Cover edge of crust with strips of foil after 15 to 20 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning.  Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Yield: 8 servings.

Picadillo has been called Cuba's national dish.  Picadillo is a special dish, almost like barbecue or chili, in that every cook prides herself on her own version, with many variations.  Some cooks use beef, eggs, wine, peppers, raisins or almonds; others wrap their Picadillo with a yeast bread instead of a pastry crust.

From Pillsbury:  Best of the Bake-Off Cookbook, recipe by Nina Reyes of Miami, Florida in the 1986 Bake-Off Contest.

---OK, I thought this was really weird.  I had hopes when it was in the oven that it would be good; it smelled like Hawaiian Meal.  But eating it?  That was a different story.  Eldest Daughter loved it, though.  I guess we tried it and that's what counts. :)---