Chicken Pot Pie

What's for dinner? Chicken Pot Pie

Guy has asked for weeks that I make him a meat pie. Well folks, today was the day. I am so thankful that Jesus laid on my heart to make this meal since my dear husband will be working on my car tonight.I put chicken leg quarters and a cup of water in the crock pot this morning and then I was committed. Once the chicken is done I removed the chicken and poured the broth into a dish. I let it cool then skimmed fat from the top. Then I have MSG free broth to make my own sauce. I will make a salad topped with tomatoes from my sisters garden to go with our dinner.

Chicken Pot Pie

2 unbaked pie crust

1/3 c butter

1/3 c flour

1/4 c diced onion

1 3/4 broth

2/3 c milk

1# frozen bag mixed veggies thawed and drained

1 c chopped chicken

salt/pepper

1 t thyme

Melt a bit of the butter and saute the onions. When tender melt the rest of the butter. Sprinkle in flour until you have something that looks like peanut butter, you may need more flour. Then whisk in the liquids. Bring to a boil and watch closely because milk burns easily. Then add the veggies and meat. Season with thyme, salt, and pepper. Pour over pie crust and top with another. Cut vent holes and bake at 350 until hot and bubbly. Tip: I like to make my own crust so for the top of take balls of crumbly dough and pat then down making a bunch of small biscuits. This is how Missy Bailey wins the heart of her bread lovin' husband!

Happy Birthday Eva!

My dearest daughter turned two today and her momma made her some yummy cupcakes. I love this recipe because it has almond in it, simply put.

Almond White Cake, from allrecipes

1 white cake mix

1 c flour

1 c white sugar

3/4 t salt

1 1/3 c water

4 egg whites (save the yolks and add them to mashed potatoes. It makes them really rich.)

1 c sour cream

1 t vanilla ex

1 t almond ex

2 T veg oil

Preheat 350. Sift dry, mix wet, add wet to dry. Mix on low about 4 minutes. I fill my cup cakes with 1 large cookie scoop and 1 small cookie scoop, at is about 2/3 full. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.

Sharon Family Buttercream Icing

1/4 c butter, soft

2 c pwdr sugar

1 to 2 T milk

1/2 t vanilla ex

1/4 t almond ex

Cream butter, add sugar alternating with milk and extracts. Beat to desired consistency. Stir in color. For chocolate add 1/3 c coco, up the milk to 3 to 4 T and take out the almond.

Maple syrup, kinda

What went with breakfast? Maple syrup

My mom's family makes 'homemade' syrup which is so good and brings back so many memories. My Papa and Aunt Becky make it whenever we have big breakfast but it is also easy to have the stuff around for emergencies. An emergency can take place when there is no syrup, if you know me you know this as fact.

Homemade simple syrup

1 c boiling water

2 c white sugar

1/2 t maple syrup flavoring.

Boil water, add sugar. Once the water is clear take off heat and add flavoring. Serve hot. Cut in half for 4 or less people cut in half. Left overs can be reheated but the sugar will re-crystalize in a few days.

Waikiki Meatballs

What's for dinner, Waikiki Meatballs!

This sweet and sour meatball dinner is so easy and so good. Guy had 4 helpings and I had 3. I am happy there was still left overs with our big appetites. I usually serve this was a salad but tonight we had watermelon.

Waikiki Meatballs

1# frozen meatballs, thawed

1# egg noodles

2 T cornstarch

1/2 c brown sugar

1/3 c vinegar

1 T soy sauce

1 (20oz) can chunk pineapple, drained and juice reserved

1/3 c chopped green bell pepper

Cook pasta according to packaging. Thaw meatballs. Combined the rest of the ingredients in a bowl, stir until smooth. Pour into skillet and heat until thickened. Add meatballs and coat in sauce. Serve over pasta or rice, enjoy!

Old School Muffins

What's for breakfast, Old School Muffins....take 2

Alton Brown's base recipe for muffins, man these things are awesome.

All purpose flour 11 oz

Baking powder 1/4 oz

Baking Soda 1/8 oz

Salt pinch

Sugar 3 3/4 oz

Mashed bananas 3/4 c, 2 medium bananas

Whole egg, 1 large

Egg yolk, 1 large

Plain yogurt 3/4 c

Top with chopped walnuts

Preheat 375

Mix dry, mix wet; add wet to dry. Mix only until flour is gone. Fill cups to top. Bake 18 to 20 minutes. 12 muffins

I think that it still needs a little oil. May a tablespoon or two would be good.

Sloppy Joes

What's for dinner, Sloppy Joes

Once again I do try to achieve healthy meals but then I have a bad habit of then ruining them. I use pumpkin in my sloppy joes so that I dont use so much ketchup but then I am serving them with tator tots. This recipe is a sneaky way of getting pumpkin in your diet. I use 1/2 the can and the other half I usually make pancakes with the next morning.

Sloppy Joes

1# burger

1/4 c onion, diced

1/4 c bell pepper, diced

1/2 can (15oz) pumpkin, about 3/4 c

2 T bbq sauce

1/4 c ketchup

1/2 t garlic powder

1 t yellow mustard

1 T brown sugar

Saute onions and peppers until soft. Add burger, cook, and drain. In a 1 cup pyrex I put in the pumpkin, then bbq sauce, and then ketchup in order until you reach 1 cup. Then add garlic, mustard, and sugar. Mix and add to drained burger. Cook until heated through and thick enough for your taste.

(Altered from allrecipes sloppy joes II)

Shrimp Alfredo and Biscuits

What's for dinner, Shrimp Alfredo and Biscuits

I have been really wanting Red Lobster so I decided to make it for dinner. You can always buy shrimp at Aldi for $3.99 for cleaned shell on, easy peel. This is a cheater sauce but some times just jazzing things up is all we have time for as moms. I am learning to take short cuts here and there because life is so busy. I have a list going in my head of meals that I can make completely from Aldi's, this is on that list.

Alfredo with Shrimp

1# penne pasta

1/2 medium onion, finely diced

2 cloves garlic minced

1/2# mushrooms sliced

1 (15 oz) jar Alfredo sauce

3/4 c grated parmesan cheese

1/2 c 1/2 & 1/2

1 pound shrimp shelled and tail removed

Cook pasta and drain. Saute onions in a little EVOO until soft, add garlic, sauce, cream, cheese, and shrimp. Cover but watch closely since milk products burn easily, until shrimp is cooked. Then remove lid and cook until thickened, I dont like my sauce to get too think so I add a couple of tablespoons of pasta water. Plate pasta and top with sauce and garnish with parsley.

Cheddar Garlic Bay Biscuits

2 1/2 c Bisquick (or make your own)

1/2 c cheddar cheese

1 t garlic powder

1/4 t onion powder

1/2 t dried parsley

2/3 c water

1/4 c butter

1/2 t garlic powder

1/8 t onion powder

1/4 t dried parsley

2 dashes Old Bay Seasoning

Preheat 375. Mix the top ingredients together, add water. You may have to add a tablespoon or so more of water to incorporate all the ingredients. Spoon on to baking sheet or stone. About 8 good since biscuits. Bake 10-12 minutes until golden

Combined the bottom ingredients, if butter is hard microwave to soften or liquidity. Brush over biscuits fresh out of the oven. Turn off oven and return the biscuits while you set the table, serve and enjoy!