Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients

• 3 Tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 (16 oz.) can mixed veggies (any veggies that you want; we like celery, corn, potatoes & carrots)
• 1 (5 oz.) can chicken chunks (you can also cook one chicken breast yourself and cut into bite-sized pieces)
• If you cook your own chicken, I recommend Cavenders Greek Seasoning (you can get it at any grocery store) to sprinkle over the top
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup milk (eyeball it to make sure it isn't too soupy; use 2% or, if you don't have it, use less 1% or skim)
• salt and pepper (and any other seasonings) to taste
• 1 can refrigerated biscuits (any brand works; I use the store brand)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Lightly butter a 9 inch deep dish pie pan with melted butter; reserve some of the melted butter.
2. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine mixed vegetables and chicken; cook until vegetables are tender. Fold in soup; mix well. Pour in milk and mix until smooth; mixture should not be runny. Add seasonings to taste. Bring to a boil.
3. Remove from heat and spread mixture into bottom of pie pan. Separate biscuits into layers and place gently on top of mixture. Drizzle remaining butter on top of biscuit layers.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

adapted from allrecipes.com

Pizzeria 712: Deliciosity

Okay, so "deliciosity" may not be a real word... but since we Americans like to coin new words all the time, I think I'm okay. ;)

I would just like to give a shout out to probably the best pizza place in Utah: Pizzeria 712. We went there last night for dinner, and the pizza was so good that I think I want to eat there all the time... Seriously! So, if you ever are in town and need a good place to eat and someone to eat with, call me and we'll do lunch or dinner or snack or...

Poll

Don't forget to vote on my poll! What kind of recipes do you want to see more of? Any suggestions? Let me know!

Thanks!

Super Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened (If you put it in the microwave, make sure that the power isn't set on high. Otherwise, the butter will melt completely, and your cookies will be flat. 50% for 30-40 sec. is good.)
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder (I use a little more than this...)
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 
2. In large bowl, beat butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; stir into the butter mixture until well blended. Mix in the chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. 
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or just until set. Cool slightly on the cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks to cool completely. 

Makes a little over 4 dozen.

These cookies are no-fail for me! I have made them several times with no burning or any horrible consequences. They stay moist for several days, but just make sure that if you leave them out, put them in a Ziploc bag or something. These are amazing... I think I'm going to make some soon!

Think sweet thoughts! :)

Peach & Raspberry Parfaits

These are so delightful & refreshing. My mother-in-law made these to go with Sunday dinner. They were so good. She adapted it from a recipe found in a Family Circle magazine, and I don't know what she did completely, so here's my take on it after I looked at the original recipe

Ingredients (for 4 servings)

• 2 peaches, rinsed, pitted, and peeled
• 1 container raspberries, rinsed and dried
• 2 tsp sugar
• 2 dashes cinnamon
• 1 container (6 oz.) lemon yoghurt
• 1/2 pkg. graham crackers
• whipped cream (which is really good on top but not necessary)

Directions

1. Coarsely chop peaches and place in a cereal bowl. Mix in sugar and cinnamon. Set aside in refrigerator.
2. Rinse raspberries and set aside
3. Crumble up graham crackers.
4. Layer ingredients in any cups that you have. I find that wine glasses work really well. Anyway, layer first the graham crackers, then fruit, then yoghurt. Repeat for 2 layers of each.

Hopefully that makes sense! If you have questions, let me know!!

Happy eating! :)

Best Spanish Rice

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons oil (I use extra-virgin olive oil)
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion (or more if you want)
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice 
• 2 cups chicken broth (Swanson brand low sodium is my favorite)
• 1 cup chunky salsa (whatever heat you like)

Directions
Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
Mix rice into skillet, stirring often. When rice begins to brown, stir in chicken broth and salsa. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes, until liquid has been absorbed. **Be sure to watch the rice carefully or it is liable to burn.**

Start to finish: 30 min.

Recipe from allrecipes.com, with my adaptations...

This side is simply delicious. I'm actually making this tonight with some shredded chicken tacos.






Happy cooking!






p.s. Let me put a word in for the new movie Julie & Julia: It's super cute and fun to watch! :) I recommend it.