Monday, February 3, 2014

Chicken Pot Pie Made EZ



There's nothing like a GREAT chicken pot pie on a cold day! It may seem like it could be overwhelming to make but this is a VERY simple recipe for you to try.  You will be making the basics right on your stove top in a deep sauté pan then transferring it into a large individual ramekin.  I purchased my individual ramekins at one of my favorite places - home goods! So here's the recipe - if you are snowed in like me today and you have these ingredients - now you have something wonderful to create!

1 whole roasted chicken (I usually buy one already roasted to save on time but you can roast one if you decide) shred chicken off the bone
3 large Carrots sliced thinly (after being peeled of course)
3 large Celery Stalks sliced thinly
1/2 bag of baby frozen peas or same of fresh peas (depending if you can find fresh)
1/2 small carton of mushrooms (any kind is ok) sliced up small
1 small onion finely chopped
4 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1 teaspoon of paprika
3 Tablespoons of Flour
1 cup of Chicken Stock or Broth
2 Cups of Whole Milk
Refrigerator Pie Crust - usually in dairy section

In your skillet, melt 2 tablespoon of the butter.
Add the onion, mushrooms, carrots and celery
season with salt and pepper
Cover and cook until veggies are softened.
Uncover and cook, stirring till lightly browned
Stir in the flour and paprika and continue to cook for about 2 more minutes
Add the stock till well blended.
Add the milk and bring to a low boil.
Stir in the Chicken and peas.
Remove from heat.
Get your individual ramekins out
Fill them with your chicken pot pie ingredients.
Roll out your pie crust and cut it to fit over your ramekin.

Preheat your oven to 425 - put your individual pot pies on a cookie sheet (just in case they drip plus they are much easier to remove from the oven if they are on the cookie sheet)
Bake for 20-30 minutes until your pie crust is golden brown.
Serve up!

This is not a diet meal but if you had a healthy breakfast and lunch plus you worked out in the gym - you will be fine enjoying this!

It is a real show stopper - if you serve this to company! True comfort food:)



Updated Breakfast Healthy Oatmeal


You may notice that there is another Oatmeal posting on my blog from a few years ago.  I have completely changed what I add to my Oatmeal since that posting - so here it is:


Oatmeal (I never use instant)
Fresh Blueberries - about 2 tablespoons
1/4 piece of a banana
A pinch of Sliced Almonds
1 teaspoon of ground flax seeds
1 teaspoon of Chia seeds
1 sprinkling of knox unflavored Gelatin (good to build up strong nails and hair)
a dash of Cinnamon
Mix all together with Almond Milk
Drizzled some honey on top


Microwave for 4 minutes! It's really a fabulous start to your morning!


Also if you want to add some protein which I do on occasion - whip in 1 egg white prior to microwaving or add in 1 heaping teaspoon of Almond Butter!  This is something the trainer in my gym told me to do if I needed more protein in my diet.  You do not taste the egg white - it makes the oatmeal lighter and more fluffy.


I absolutely LOVE my morning start up!