One-skillet poultry pot pie with puff pastry crust

Makes: 4 to 6 servings

8 tablespoons ( ½ cup) unsalted butter 2 leeks, white part and light green part only, cleaned and finely chopped

½ pound mushrooms, any combination of cremini, shiitake and chanterelles, cut into large dice

1 cup frozen petit pois, defrosted

¾ pound or 2 cups (2-inch) chunks of skinless cooked chicken or turkey breast 2 tablespoons olive oil

2 medium carrots peeled and cut into ½ -inch pieces

½ pound Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into ½ -inch dice

1 cup pearl frozen pearl onions, defrosted 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 ½ cups extra-rich turkey or chicken stock

½ cup sherry or marsala

Salt and white pepper, to taste

Smoked paprika, to taste

3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

1 large sheet of frozen puff pastry, (8 ½ inches to 14 inches), defrosted

1 large egg, beaten

2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. In an 11-inch ovenproof deep skillet or cast-iron skillet melt 2 tablespoons of butter on medium heat. Add the leeks and saute for about 4 minutes or until nicely softened.

2. Add the mushrooms and saute for 3 more minutes or until softened. Transfer the leeks

and mushrooms along with the cooking juices to a medium bowl. Add the peas and turkey or chicken chunks to the vegetables and reserve.

3. Add the olive oil to the skillet on mediumhigh heat and saute the carrots and potatoes for about 5 minutes or until slightly softened, stirring occasionally. Transfer to the bowl with cooked vegetables. Add the defrosted onions. Mix and reserve.

4. Melt the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter to the skillet on medium heat.

Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring constantly for 3 minutes. Slowly add the stock and sherry or marsala, salt and pepper, dash of smoked paprika and whisk the sauce until it is thickened and smooth, about 3 more minutes. Add the cooked vegetables and poultry mixture along with the parsley and mix well. Taste for seasoning.

5. Preheat the oven to 400 F. If necessary, roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a 10 by 14-inch rectangle. Cut the pieces of pastry to fit the diameter of the dish. I like to place a few different sizes on top to create a rustic look. Brush the rim of the dish with water. Place the pastry pieces on top of the filling allowing some filling to show. Make a few slashes in the pastry and bake on a sheet pan for 40-45 minute or until golden brown and bubbling.

6. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on the last 15 minutes of baking time to brown the crust. Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes. Serve.

A defender should approach every deal with the attitude that the opposing contract can be defeated. This may sometimes require him to make what appears to be a suicidal play, but if that play offers the only hope of defeating the contract, it must be made.

Consider East’s dilemma on this deal. He wins the opening club lead with the king and must then decide where the defense can get three more tricks.

As can be seen, if he tries to cash the club ace, South makes the contract easily. Declarer ruffs, draws trump and drives out the A-K of diamonds. The defenders cannot attack hearts effectively from either side while the diamonds are being established, and South eventually disposes of his heart losers on dummy’s last two diamonds.

First, East should realize that South started with a singleton club, since West almost certainly has four clubs for his raise. East should then conclude that his partner is very likely to have an ace for his bid, as little else is missing.

The next step is to credit West with an ace that will allow the contract to be defeated.

The possibility of West’s holding the heart ace is therefore dismissed, since if he has that card (and declarer the other two aces), the most the defenders can hope to collect is two heart tricks.

Next, East throws out the possibility of West’s having the trump ace, as in that case South will end up with 11 tricks. The only hope, therefore, is that West has the diamond ace. And, if he also has exactly three diamonds, the defense is in business.

Accordingly, at trick two East lays down the king of diamonds. When it holds, he leads a second diamond to West’s ace and then ruffs West’s diamond return to sink the contract.

Tomorrow: Bidding quiz.