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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Move over Martha Stewart

I have been trying out new recipes that I have found in all my magazines. Thanks to Holly for sending me a bunch of great magazines. I don't remember what magazine I got this recipe out of but it was GREAT!!! Chicken Pot Pie


This is what it looked like before I cooked it. I didn't get a picture of it after it was cooked because by the time I came back from my Relief Society meeting it was almost gone.

Here is the recipe I used. I made a few adjustment from the original recipe. It is really easy to double the recipe and freeze one of the pies or give one away. (That is what I did) Also add some rolls and it is a very inexpensive dinner.

Chicken and Vegetable Pot Pie
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Cooked and cubed.
1 Tbl. olive oil
2 onions, chopped
4 carrots, sliced thick
2 stock of celery
2 large potatoes
3 Tbl. flour
1/2 c. chicken broth
2 cups milk
8 0z. frozen peas
1 Tbl. fresh thyme (I used 1 tsp. dried thyme)
Salt & Pepper
Pie Crust
Heat Oven to 400.
Heat oil in a saucepan. Add onions, celery, and carrots. Cook until tender. (Not too soft)
Add potatoes and cook for a few more minutes. Potatoes will still be firm.
Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring for 1 minute.
Add broth and cook until evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add milk and simmer until sauce thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in Chicken, Peas and Thyme. Salt and Pepper to taste.
Transfer to a shallow 1 1/2 quart baking dish.
Lay crust on top, press to seal to dish. Cut several vents in the crust. Brush with milk. Place on baking sheet and bake until bubbling and crust is golden. 30- 35 minutes.
Note: I like all my vegetables and chicken cut chunky, using more veggies than chicken.
Pie Crust ( You can use a store bought crust but I made mine from scratch)
1/4 cup butter
1 cup shortening
1 Tbl. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbl. nonfat dry milk
3 cups flour
1/2 cup cold water.
Mix dry ingredients together with shortening and butter until crumbly. Add water a little at a time. Mix well. You may not need all the water. Flour the table before rolling dough out.
Make two pie crusts
Note: the sugar in the pie crust really add to the over all flavor!!
YUM YUM ENJOY!!!!


Tuesday, February 10, 2009

THE MANATEES ARE HERE

As most of you know Florida has had some very cold weather in the last few weeks. The farmers have had to work endlessly to keep their crops from freezing. They keep the sprinklers on all night to coat the trees and plants with ice and that prevents them from the frost. The oranges and strawberries made it through the cold weather but my grass and bushes did not. I hope they come back in the with the warm weather.
But the cold weather also bring a delightful sight!! The manatees!! They come close to the shore to get warm when the water temperature drops below 68 degrees. Take a look at some beautiful manatees. A mommy and a little baby

Today on the news, they said that this year we have had the biggest sighting of Manatees ever.
Over 300 and still counting.
If you would like to watch the Manatees for yourself. Go to this website http://www.tampaelectric.com/manatee/funstuff/webcam/
It is a web cam at Teco Power Plant's Manatee Visitor's Center.
You have to be patience and watch for a few minutes and you may see a nose, a tail
or even a whole head peeking out of the water.
The rest of the website is very interesting too.
Enjoy the Manatees of Florida

Monday, February 2, 2009

HOWDY TEXAS

A few weeks ago, I went to Texas to visit Heidi and Dan and their new baby Henry. I have never been to Texas so this was a fun trip for me. The best part was to hold little Henry. The weather was a little cold. But we did have a chance to go down to the ocean. We went to this pier that has lots of stores and few rides like a mini-mini amusement park. A lot of the pier was under reconstruction from hurricane Ike. Even with the cold weather I had a great time visiting!!


Here is cute Heidi with little Henry!


Henry is peaking out of his car seat cover-up that Jan Barker made him.
It sure came in handy on those windy days. Isn't he cute?


Cute little baby!!

I couldn't get enough "kisses". Henry was probable ready for me to go home and stop kissing him.

Miracles really do happen- just look, his name is Henry!!