Vol au Vents

This is a family favourite, straight from my mother-in-law's cookbook.  It's a very simple recipe, but the whole family enjoys it, and you can easily adapt it by adding some different seasonings or replacing the chicken with any kind of seafood.  My mom used to make something similar called "Creamy Tuna on Toast".  It was one of my favourite childhood meals - tuna & peas in a creamy sauce served over toast.  It looks a little fancier served over a puff pastry like my mother-in-law does, but it's the same basic idea.  And it's darn good.

VOL AU VENTS
3 tbsp. butter
3 tbsp. flour
2 c. chicken broth
2 c. whole milk
salt & pepper
1 c. frozen peas & carrots
2 c. cooked chicken, chopped

Melt butter in a saucepan.  Add flour and whisk for about 2 minutes.  Slowly add liquid, whisking to incorporate the flour mixture.  Bring to a gentle boil for about 15-20 minutes to thicken the sauce.  Stir in veggies & chicken and continue stirring for a few more minutes.  Serve over puff pastries (Tenderflake makes "Appetizer Patties" or "Vol au Vents", and they are next to the puff pastry in the freezer aisle.  They come in a pack of six, and you bake them from frozen at 400 F for 20 minutes.)

That's comfort food, Quebec-style!