“When you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence.”
– Unknown
I recently went to my family physician. At each appointment, patients are asked about food insecurity. I admit I just dismiss the question. But for many, it can’t be dismissed.
My career placed me in hospitals, clinics and many doctor’s offices over the years. The subject of hunger didn’t get addressed back then as I felt it should. We all knew it existed.
The U.S. produces more food than Americans can consume, but there still are those who do not have enough to eat. Hunger leads to anxiety and other mental health issues, as well as chronic illness and worse education outcomes. A child can’t adequately learn if they are hungry.
Here we can all do our part at the local level. Harpswell Aging at Home seeks to reduce food insecurity by reaching out to our neighbors who may need a hand.
We all know prices are rising and groceries may become out of reach for some. As we age, transportation may become an issue. Many need repairs done around their homes. Others become isolated, inactive and lonely. Volunteering with Harpswell Aging at Home is rewarding. Neighbors helping neighbors is what it’s all about.
It’s a pleasure to offer a recipe this month from Surrey Hardcastle, who leads the Food Team at Harpswell Aging at Home. Surrey has been with Harpswell Aging at Home since the beginning. She and her colleagues on the Steering Committee have guided the organization to excellence.
The Food Team oversees Lunch with Friends, Meals in a Pinch, Sharing Tables, and Cooking at 43° North, among other programs. Meals in a Pinch offers meals to those who need a hand. Information about recipients is confidential. Free meals are delivered straight to your door.
Stop by the Great Island Church of the Nazarene on a Tuesday — the Meals in a Pinch group meets on Tuesdays twice a month — to meet Surrey and see the operation in full swing. These volunteers work tirelessly and operate like a well-oiled machine. It’s truly amazing.
Surrey and her husband, Hugh, have quite the extended family. When they all gather (and it could be as many as 29 people), one of the dishes Surrey serves is her chicken pot pie. Her family loves it! I’ve made this recipe and I concur: It’s delicious.
This is a forgiving recipe, as you can add any vegetable you wish. It comes together beautifully and looks lovely. The recipe doubles and triples easily, and it can even be made ahead and frozen, with biscuits added later.
Now that cooler weather has arrived, this will fill your house with the home-cooked aromas we have missed during those hot summer days. Enjoy!
Nana’s chicken pot pie
Filling ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked chicken
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup half-and-half
- 1 medium onion
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 cups carrots, sliced
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup frozen peas
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Chop veggies and microwave them for about 3-4 minutes, until a bit soft. Set aside.
Bring chicken broth to a boil.
Melt butter and add flour in another pan. Stir to make a roux. Add boiling broth to roux, stirring constantly until thick and smooth.
Add cream, chicken and veggies to the pot of thickened broth and heat while stirring. Pour into a 2-quart, lightly greased casserole dish.
Top with biscuits (recipe below) and cook at 425 degrees until biscuits are brown and filling is bubbly, about 15-18 minutes.
(If using store-bought biscuits, you’ll need to bake at a lower temperature, according to package directions. It’s usually 350 degrees.)
Biscuit ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Directions:
Cut butter and flour together with a pastry blender and finish with fingers until mixture reaches the consistency of coarse meal. Add milk and combine. Turn out onto a floured board and knead. Roll out dough to 1/2-inch thickness and cut into rounds.
(I also brushed the biscuits with a little melted butter before baking.)
Harpswell Aging at Home always needs cooks for its Meals in a Pinch program, which provides nutritious meals to older adults in need. For more information, contact Julie Moulton at 207-330-5416 or juliemoulton28@gmail.com.
