Cooking with Bruce: Creamy Chicken Pies

Yorks Alordy. It's been awhile since a recipe has graced these pages. Let's fix that...and yes, I know this has meat, but eh.
Inspired by my wandering to M&S to get new pillows, and ending up with some pie tins as well.

Creamy Chicken Pies
2T olive oil
3 bacon rashers, finely sliced
1 red onion, finely chopped
1 medium leek, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1T plain flour
250gm shredded roast chicken
150ml dry white wine
250ml chicken stock
2t thyme
60ml double cream
2T parsley
350gm puff pastry
1 egg, beaten
[for gluten free, use gf pastry and gf flour]

Heat over to 200C.

• Heat oil, and cook bacon until crisp. Remove, and fry onions and leeks gently for 10mins, add garlic and fry for 2 more mins.
• Return bacon, add flour, stir, add chicken, wine, stock and thyme. Season and simmer for 15 mins, cool down, add cream and parsley.
• Roll out pastry, add to pie dishes, fill them with mix, brush egg over top of the pastry and add the lids. Make a slit in the top for steam.
• Bake 35mins until golden.

Six Nations

Yeah damn you Scotland. We're going to have relationship issues if you continue on in that fashion.
In theory they had a damn good chance of beating the English. But the English looked well organised, and even had a backline. The Scottish forwards didn't seem to dominate or control the ball as well as hoped.
France looked great, for about 15mins, then lacked leadership and focus. And were very lucky to beat Italy.
Wales v Ireland was, by far, the best game. I still maintain that the Irish play very boring rugby, sure they do it well, but it's very predictable. Wales seemed to get through with minimal injuries, which is a win for them. The draw was probably a fair result.

This weeks predictions.
France v Ireland - err, again depends how the french play. No leadership could be an issue again, and I don't like their half back / first five combo (based on last weeks lineup), so I may go for, slightly, Ireland.
Wales v Scotland - As much as I'd like to see Scotland win, I'll pick Wales for this one. Probably by 5 or more. They've got more game breakers who are firing at the moment.
England v Italy - Should be an interesting tussle up front, but I suspect England by 10+.

2016 6 Nations

The six nations kicks off this weekend. So I get a number of rugby games to swear and point and laugh at. Most of this will consist of: FFS not one of the ruck, again.

Picks this year? I'm still favouring Scotland and Wales. This year with a little more justification than normal.

England
Eddie looks like he wants to bring some solidity to the English, which means dull dead forward play. Expect a lot of wandering mauls and bash up the middle. I think Ed has realised their backs don't have the confidence or ability to play quickly, which reflects their weakness at halfback and first five (flyhalf). I think they're dead in the water, the press will hype them but that's all it will be, Eddie however is good at playing the long game so in a year or so...

Position: 4th, 3rd optimistically

Ireland
More dull uninspiring play from a team of also-rans. I dunno, I just find it all a bit predictable, there's hope in the team, but haven't seen much that could create an exciting game.
Position: 3 or 4

Italy
I think wooden spoon this year.
Position 6, unless France are appalling...

France
yeah your guess is as good as mine. Potential winners of the competition, or utter crap. They have the players, but whether they get picked and then perform make picking winning lotto numbers seem easy. If they get their half back and first five firing, they'll clean up.
Position: 1,2 or 5.

Wales
I don't think there's too many of them injured/dead going into the tournament, so assuming WazzaG has lined up 45-60 men (knowing their ability to break, literally) there's a good chance he'll get through the next few weeks without Shane Howarth's granny being called up. The enthusiasm is great, the tackling on the wrong side - not so much, unless you're aiming for concussion, in which case, top marks lads.
Position: 1 or 2

Scotland
Had a great world cup, very unlikely not to get further. But they play as a team - without too many outstanding stars. I like what Vern has done, and the speed of the backs is good - with good ball coming through from the forwards. Should be more belief that they can hang on to win games now, so I'm optimistic. I don't think they'll win, but they will avoid the wooden spoon, potentially getting in the top 2 or 3. I'm pondering backing them (with moolah) for the Calcutta cup this weekend.

Position: 2 or 3.