Chicken Pot Pie

Not sure where I even got this recipe, but it is now a family favorite and my go-to recipe for when I need to take in dinner to someone. It's EASY!! And it tastes so good for being semi-homemade.

You will need:
1 cup pre-cooked, diced chicken
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
1 1/2 cup frozen hashbrowns
(I like using the southern style, but shredded will work also)
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup white flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp celery seed
1 3/4 cup chicken broth
2/3 cup milk
2 9" pie crust
(I buy the Wal-Mart brand pre rolled crust that come 2 per pkg for about $1.50 Saves time and it tastes homemade. )

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a saucepan, over medium heat, cook onions in butter till soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk.
(I use this Chicken Base that I get at CostCo. It stores well in the refrigerator and is inexpensive.)

Simmer everything over medium heat until thickened. Remove from heat and set aside.

Put one of the pie crust into the pan. In a bowl, mix chicken, veggies and hash browns together.

Dump into pie pan.

Pour hot mixture over the chicken, veggies and hash browns. Spread evenly.

Put second pie crust on top and pinch edges together. Slit at least 4 holes on top. I use a fork to make decorations with.

Here is the fun part. If you want to, you can freeze this at this point! So often times when I make this, I make two pies at once...one to eat or give away, and then one to freeze and eat later on a busy night!

Bake for 30-35 minutes at 425 degrees if the pie is not frozen. If frozen, let the pie stand for one hour before baking, then bake at 425 degreees for 55-60 minutes or until center is bubbly through the slits. Cool 10-15 minutes before serving.
Serves 6-8 people

Christmas Salad

I know it's too early to think about Christmas but whenever I make this salad the colors remind me of that time of year. (And it is a fancier salad that I bring to a lot of holiday parties!) It is SO good!!

You will need:
1 bundle fresh spinach leaves (I remove the stems, yuck)
1 head of iceberg lettuce
1 bundle of romaine lettuce
1 small cont. plain feta cheese
1 cup craisins
1 cup chopped glazed (candied) walnuts
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1 bottle Brianna's poppy seed dressing

Wash all lettuce and dry. Chop into bites sizes pieces and toss together in large bowl. Crumble feta cheese onto salad. Add craisins, walnuts and onions. Toss together. Add a bit more of everything to decorate the top of salad. Serve with poppy seed dressing.

It feed a crowd and it's delicious! Enjoy!

M&M Cookies

OH!! These are so good that I stole the recipe for them. Which is funny to me because I have since seen this recipe word for word a few other places.

So the "big family secret recipe" that was not to be shared with others? Not so secret after all.

Why do people recipe horde like that? So weird. Anywho...here is the yummy recipe free for the taking!

Ingredients:
1 cup Crisco shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs

Mix together.

Add 2 1/4 cup white sifted flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt

Mix together.

Add 1 cup M&M's.
Mix.

Drop 1 spoonful size cookie dough onto ungreased cookie sheet spacing them about 1" apart.
Decorate with more M&M's pressing them slightly into the dough so they won't fall off.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!