I was a total theater rat in highschool, though I liked to think of myself as being a fine dramatic actress.
I even dressed the part- I only wore black, except for my blackish magenta Doc Martens. Oh, and my lipstick matched those boots. I had quotes from Shakespeare written with a sharpie on my binder. My favorite film was One Flew Over The Cukoo's Nest (but really, it was Ferris Bueller's Day Off). I was dramatic.
My senior year, I played Blanche DuBois in my school's production of A Streetcar Named Desire. I thought I was born for that part, more than any part I'd played up until that point. I thought I had been born for drama. But deep down, I had a little secret.
Every Saturday night, I would sit in front of the TV and wait anxiously for the clock to read 11:30. I couldn't wait to see who would shout "Live From New York, It's Saturday Night!" that week. I adored Saturday Night Live (And I still do). I would be beside myself when one of my favorite "characters" would be featured in a sketch. I'd die every time I watched Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri as the Spartan Cheerleaders. Every time Sally O'Malley would kick, I'd bust a gut. Weekend Update was (and is) better than the news any day of the week (though, in my opinion, Tina Fey took it, and the entire show, to a whole new level in the 2000's). I was (and am) one of SNL's biggest fans. My ultimate goal, the one I never shared with anyone, was to someday be a cast member on SNL.
The problem with this goal was two-fold. First, I was a dramatic actress. I needed to be taken seriously, especially if I was going to be going to Juliard (in my teenage girl dreams). The path I believed I was heading down did not intersect with SNL in any way. Secondly, I was not funny. Like, at all. I liked to think I could be funny and I could do a damn-good British accent (or so I thought) (and that should be enough to be on SNL, right?). I made my grandfather cry during one of my plays but what I longed for was to fill the audience with laughter. I was an actress, torn. Such drama...
In college I quickly gave up my dreams of acting when I realized I did not like starving. I enjoyed having a regular paycheck and a roof over my head and I began to see myself as more of a writer... before I began to see myself as more of a personal trainer... Majors were changed, life went on and the closest I ever came to acting was as Cinderella at childrens' birthday parties. I still watched SNL religiously, though, until the last five or six years when I haven't had cable (though I have managed to watch many episodes online).
Recently, Chris and I started watching last season's episodes on SNL. It's been neat to see the new featured players bloom and see how much the older actors have grown. It's the same funny, light-hearted entertainment it's always been. I'm finding though, that the part that makes me feel most connected to my teenage self is when I watch the part at the end, when all the cast members hug each other while the credits roll. I remember loving the hugs between actors backstage once the play was over and I remembered wanting to be part of that group doing all the hugging on SNL. Perhaps all of that yearning to be on SNL was really just about hugs. Maybe I just really love hugs.
Perhaps that's why I love this mushroom potato pie so much- because it tastes like a big warm hug in pie form. Seriously. Rustic wild mushrooms are cooked in white wine and fresh herbs and nestled safely between a pie crust (store-bought because I'm lazy) and layers of golden potato medallions. When you make that first slice into the pie after being baked, the most comforting "homey" aroma is released. As you scoop out your "piece," those mushrooms look beautiful as they spill out onto your plate. The pie crust, soaked in the juices from the mushrooms, adds the perfect amount of bready texture to every bite. That warm and fuzzy feeling you're getting? It's the crisp yet creamy golden potatoes resting on top of the whole thing. This hug-on-a-plate can be served either as a side dish or as an entree and it's kind of perfect for all of those big potlucks and family get-togethers coming up. Who doesn't love a hug?
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 leeks, thinly sliced
- 2 pounds of mushrooms (I used a mix of crimini, chanterelle, oyster, hen of the woods, and bunapi-shimeji)
- 1 carrot, peeled and diced small
- 1 cup frozen green peas, thawed
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped sage
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped thyme
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary, plus a pinch for sprinkling on potatoes
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 pie crust
- 2 golden potatoes, thinly sliced into medallions
- olive oil spray
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375. Add the arrowroot powder to the cup of vegetable broth and mix to combine. Set aside.
- Heat olive oil in large shallow sauce pan over medium heat. Add the leek and sauté for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add the carrots and the mushrooms and mix to combine. Let cook for another 3-4 minutes, to let the mushrooms release some of the water.
- Once the mushrooms have reduced in size, add the herbs, white wine and salt and pepper to taste. Mix to combine and let cook until liquid has cooked away. Add 1/2 cup of the vegetable broth mixture and let cook until liquid has cooked away. Add the remaining 1/2 cup and let cook for 2-3 minutes more, letting the liquid reduce by about half but not cook away completely.
- Add in the nutritional yeast and taste. You may want to add more salt and pepper depending on how it tastes. Remove from heat.
- Pour the mushroom mixture into the pie crust. If you use an 8 inch crust, you may have a little bit leftover. If you use a larger pie crust, you will likely be able to use it all. Top with potato medallions, making overlapping rings around the pie. Spray with olive oil spray, add a little salt to taste and sprinkle with a bit of rosemary.
- Bake in the oven for 35 minutes, until potatoes are just beginning to get crisp around the edges. Remove from oven and let sit for about 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
What was your highschool dream career?
Photography by Chris Miller
Jess Corra
That looks amazing! I want it right now! I wanted to be an actress - *on Broadway.* I loved musical theatre. 🙂 Or a writer.
Liz
I absolutely ADORED SNL during the Molly Shannon-Will Ferrell-Cheri Oteri years, which, I believe, was from '92/'93-'96/'97. It was, by far, my favorite SNL era and made my HS years so much more enjoyable. (I watched a lot of the episodes with one of my best friends who had an uncanny mimicing ability and could impersonate almost anyone on SNL, which made the shows 10 times more fun. She was also known to bust out her impersonations in the middle of school days, so it wasn't uncommon for "Adam Sandler" or "Christopher Walken" to make appearances throughout our classes. 🙂 ) The Spartan Cheerleaders is one of my all-time favorite comedic skits, SNL or otherwise. Will Ferrell was also, unfortunately, at his peak then. (I was so excited when he departed SNL to begin a movie career, but my hopes were quickly dashed when he actually started to MAKE movies. Though, Old School and Elf are two of my favorite movies. Christmas just isn't Christmas without the latter.)
I canNOT imagine you wearing BLACK lipstick and feel like I would have to see it to believe it. LOL I'm sorry your dream of becoming an SNL cast member never came to fruition, but I think we can all breathe a sigh of relief and agree that you were destined for greater things. 🙂
Gabby @ the veggie nook
I have a really hard time imagining you in all black...because you are one of the warmest people I have had the pleasure to meet (yes I do consider us having met haha). This pie looks like such a comforting meal- I would love to have a slice in front of me right now!
Now if we could just arrange for a real hug one of these days... 😉
luminousvegans
I think I just let out an audible gasp when I saw that lovely bowl of all those rustic mushrooms! This dish is like a dream come true for me. Warm, comforting and full of fungi! I want to eat all of it right now.
Sarojini
My dream career was ballet- but I didn't quite make it, due to a hip injury, although I did have a short but fun performing career in contemporary dance, followed by dance teaching for a while. And yes, I too wore all black for a while- I had shiny black DMs and leggings and a roll neck sweater worn with an enormous silver pendant! I always wanted- and still want today- to be a writer, and I'm slowly getting there with that one. Love the beautiful pictures you took, and the pie sounds very delicious. I bet it would work with filo pastry too- have you ever tried that?
sarah@thesweetlife
I totally relate to your high school acting experience. I thought I was going to grow up and be an actor. And then I went to college. When I didn't make it in the first college production, Wuthering Heights (my favorite story ever!) I started questioning a lifetime of rejection and starvation. So I majored in photography instead, ha.
Anna {Herbivore Triathletre}
I am loving the bowl of mushrooms! Absolutely beautiful.
As I was reading this post I felt like it could have been written by my 14 year old daughter (minus of course the post-high school part!). Her dream is to be on SNL. She anxiously awaits Saturday nights at 11:30pm all week long.
Sorry your dream didn't work out, but I'm happy too because it means incredible recipes from you instead.
Kammie @ Sensual Appeal
This pie is so beautiful!
Annie
At least you acted (har har) on your acting dreams, Kristy! As a kid I so wanted to be an actress and I was SO good at acting…alone in my room. I made it through one acting class before slinking, red-faced off into a corner and realizing librarian was probably a more appropriate calling ;-). And it's TOUGH to be funny - - even if you are funny naturally.
Karen Faivre
Love the potatoes adorning the top of the pie. Beautiful.
Mushrooms Canada
Absolutely LOVE this recipe! Perfect for the chilly weather. I, too have always been a huge SNL fan. Molly Shannon was always my favourite cast member haha
-Shannon
Karen @ The Food Charlatan
This is so beautiful! How did you keep it looking so amazing even after you plated it?? No one's high school dream is to become a food blogger (at least not when I was in high school!) but I think you've found your place. I had zero thoughts about future careers when I was in school. I was focused on flailing my way through tennis so that I could put extracurricular activities on my college applications. Oh, and flirting. That was important too.
A. Cook
That bowl of mushrooms is just too gorgeous!
In high school (and my whole life before that) I wanted to be a Disney animator. I guess non-CGI animation is kind of a lost art (no pun intended!) now anyway.
Meredith
I would love to bring this to Easter Dinner. The problem is, I won't arrive at the host's home till three hours after I leave the house. Do you think I could prepare the filling that morning, prep the potatoes (I don't know, maybe keep them in an ice bath so they don't brown?), and bring the crust, and just assemble the whole thing when I arrive? Or do you think that's a recipe for disaster?!
keepinitkind
I think that would work. Putting the potatoes in the ice bath will cause them to lose some of their starch which will make them softer when baked. I think it will still work, though. Good luck!
Andres Pefia
The reason this is super healthy is because it was nothing a monumental serving of veg! I like my mushrooms on the firm side but as they released so much moisture I had to extend cooking time to reduce it down. Next time I'll just pour some away! Nevertheless it's a lovely meal for vegetarians ( I'm not) and very easy to prepare. The guests loved it.
This is so delicious !
Franklin Ballard
This is really fine. It does take a bit longer to reduce the mushroom mixture down (especially, if you are using as exotic a mix as possible - and, you should) but it is so worth it! I'm imagining a version with puff pastry as a player for a 'town and gown' presentation.