Tortiere

My mother, being French-Canadian, made something she called "Tut-kay" (phonetically spelled) every New Year's Eve. Apparently, I didn't like it growing up. It is a traditional meat pie. Being vegan, I won't eat it now. However, in the interim, the husband and I started making it. For whatever reason, Mom wouldn't give me her recipe. But we found this one on the internet.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 lbs ground pork
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tsp poultry seasoning
2 tbsp salt
1 tsp celery salt
1/2 tsp sage
1 tsp pepper
1 cup water
medium onion, chopped
6 potatoes
2 9-inch pie crusts, with top

Directions:

1. Cook the potatoes and mash them until smooth.
2. Combine ground beef, ground pork, onion and garlic in a large pan or skillet. 
3. Cook on high, stirring often, until the meat is cooked through (no pink).
4. Add the spices and seasonings, and water. 
5. Cover and simmer over medium heat for about 20 minutes.
6. Remove the lid and simmer another 10 minutes
7. Remove the cooked meat from heat and mix in the mashed potatoes. Set aside to cool.
8. Preheat oven to 425F.
9. Once the mixture is cool, spoon mixture into your pie shells and cover each with their top crusts. 
10. Slash each top crust, making a small hole.
11. Bake at 425F for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 300 and back for 25 minutes more.

Notes:

• Recipe make 2 pies.
• Time to make is approximately 2.5 hours, including prep and baking.
• Pies may be prepared and frozen, but freeze before baking. Thaw before baking or increase baking time to accommodate being frozen.