On a hike across Kachemak Bay on a sunny Friday afternoon in early July, I happened upon a spruce tree right on the trail with gorgeous fresh chicken-of-the-woods.

It is amazing how this bright orange mushroom with neon yellow undersides calls out to you in the woods.

"LOOK AT ME!" It screams. 

I was thrilled to find such a delicious mushroom. My friend, Mina, whom I was hiking with, fondly remembered when I made a chicken-of-the-woods pot pie for her and her parents a few years back, and we immediately hatched a plan to recreate that amazing dinner. 

Two days later, Mina, her husband James, and our friend Sarah, who was also on the hike came over for dinner at my house, and I pulled the most beautiful pie out of the oven to share with them. 

And now I share the recipe with you! 

Chicken-of-the-woods is a shelf mushroom that grows on spruce trees here in Alaska. It has a thick, meaty texture that is similar to chicken. You could use it in place of chicken in just about any recipe. 

This recipe is super adaptable. You could use any combination of vegetables. 

Chicken of the Woods Pot Pie

Pie Dough

• 3.5 cups flour
• 1.5 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup cold butter
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• about 1/4 cup water

Mix together flour and salt in a medium bowl. Cut in butter and then olive oil. Add water until it comes together into a ball. Do not over-mix. You should still see chunks of butter and the dough will not be smooth. Divide into two balls, one slightly larger than the other ...