Chicken Bundles

   We were having some friends over, and I was in the mood for a casserole (endless days of snowing will do that to anyone!), but also wanted something a little nicer. 
    These bundles were made ahead of time, baked up like a dream, and tasted delightful. I was pleased. 

Chicken Bundles
(for 16 Bundles (an adult would eat 2, a child would eat 1). Cutting the recipe in half would work too.

Ingredients:

• 3 Cups cooked chicken, cut up (approx. 2-3 chicken breasts, or 3-4 chicken leg quarters)
• 1 small container onion & chive cream cheese (8 oz, 227g)
• 1 can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 1 bunch of green onions, sliced
• 1/4 Tsp each rosemary, onion powder, garlic powder, and 1 tbsp dried chives. Any or all of these spices are optional. I used a free, pre-packaged pouch of the spices from an omelette recipe I had.  
• Salt & pepper to taste 
• 2 packs (397 g each) puff pastry, thawed.
• 1 egg, and 1 tbsp water (egg wash)

Method:

1. Have your oven racks set at the middle, and top places. Heat oven to 450 degrees F (if planning to bake them right away)
2. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment, and set aside. 
3. In a large bowl, mix the cooked chicken, cream cheese, chopped artichokes, green onion and spices. Set aside
4. Un-wrap one puff pastry, and roll out until it is approximately a 9x12 inch rectangle. Cut into quarters (bottom right photo)
5. Put 4 tbsp of the chicken mixture in a slight log/rectangle shape (following the shape of the cut pastry) in the centre of each rectangle. 
6. Now, start folding the pastry by first folding over a wide side, then a narrow, than a wide, and finish with a narrow side, pinching the pastry at the top to seal it. Place onto prepared cookie sheet, and continue making the bundles until you've used up all the pastry and chicken. 
7. Mix in a small bowl the egg and water, and brush over pastry before baking.
8. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until the pastry is golden and puffed. You can bake both sheets at once, but at the 10 minute mark you will need to rotate the sheets. 
9. Cool slightly before eating (so you don't cut into a steaming, delicious hot bundle of burn your mouth off!)  :)  

   I made my bundles before bed, and wrapped them up and put them in the fridge until I was ready to bake them the next day. I put the egg wash on them before baking.

Wrapped, and awaiting the egg wash before baking

   These took time as far as rolling the pastry, and filling each rectangle up, but really, it is all very basic and simple work for what turns into a beautiful meal. I simply served these with a big leafy salad.

Lovely little bundles

   I can think of lots of other good things to put in here, but what would you add? Share your ideas!
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   Have a great weekend!