Chicken Thigh Pies with Sweet Onion, Pear and Ginger

Ingredients

• 3 large chicken thighs, (approximately 1 pound) cut in half
• 1 C. apple cider
• 6 slices regular bacon
• 1 Tbsp oil
• 2 tsp minced ginger, (divided)
• 1/2 large sweet onion, sliced thinly (I used a Walla Walla sweet onion)
• 1 large pear, peeled and sliced thinly
• salt, pepper and nutmeg; to taste
• 6 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 1/2 sheets of puff pastry (let stand at room temperature for at least 40 minutes)
• 1 egg
• 1 Tbsp water
• Water for sealing dough
• Spray oil like Pam

Directions

1. Marinade chicken thighs for 8 hours in apple cider, keep refrigerated while marinating. Remove chicken from marinade and pat dry with a paper towels. Season to taste, with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
2. Wrap each chicken thigh with bacon and place on a Pam-sprayed smoker rack. Smoke in a preheated smoker at 225�F with apple smoke for 2 hours.
3. Have your pears, onions and 1 teaspoon of the ginger prepped and ready to go. Add 1 tablespoon of oil in an oven proof skillet and place on a very hot grill. When oil starts to smoke add the onions and saut� until tender.
4. Next add pears and ginger, sprinkle with salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste. Saut� for just a couple minutes until the pears are tender, but not falling apart. Remove from heat.
5. In a small bowl, add cream cheese, soy sauce and the remaining 1 teaspoon of minced ginger, and mix well.
6. On a lightly floured surface roll out the puff pastry and cut into six squares of 6 inches each. On each pastry, spread a 1/6th of the cream cheese mixture, then place a bacon-wrapped chicken piece and top with 1/6th of the saut�ed onions, ginger and pear mixture.
7. Fold over each puff pastry, moisten with a little water where the puff pastry comes in contact with itself and press down with a fork. Place on a Pam-sprayed insulated baking sheet. Mix one egg with one tablespoon of water and brush on the tops of the pies. Cut slits into each pie to vent.
8. Place in a 400�F pre-heated grill, close the grill and bake for 20 minutes. Bake until brown and bubbling.

Enjoy