Easy Chicken Pot Pie

 * Recipe Adapted from Campbell Soup "Ultimate Chicken Pot Pie" recipe

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees (maybe 375)

1 package (about 14 ounces) refrigerated pie crust (2 crusts), at room temperature

1 can (10 oz) Cream of Chicken Soup

1/3 c water or milk

2 cans (10 oz each) of canned chicken

2 c frozen mixed vegetables (thawed)

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (about 4 ounces)

Combine cream of chicken soup, water and seasonings in a bowl (salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder to taste) and stir

Add canned chicken & vegetables and stir to combine. 

Roll out crust onto bottom of pie plate, pour chicken mixture in and spread. Sprinkle cheese over the top of mixture. Place the remaining pie crust over the filling.  Trim any excess.  Crimp the edges of the top and bottom crusts together.  Using a sharp knife, cut several slits in the top crust.

Bake for approx 35 minutes until crust is golden brown.

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

recipe adapted from Creme de la Crumb

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

makes 24 muffins

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 

dry ingredients -whisk together in a medium bowl and set aside
2 2/3 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

cream together in a large bowl or stand mixer
1 stick margarine (or butter)
1 1/2 c sugar

then add these wet ingredients - mixing after each one to incorporate, but don't overmix.
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp lemon extract (can substitute w/vanilla)
1 1/2 c greek yogurt* (I use Greek Gods honey vanilla)
zest of two large or 3 small lemons
juice from two large or 3 small lemons (about 1/4 c or a little less)

mix in dry ingredients a little at a time until fully incorporated, then add in
1 heaping T of poppy seeds


*Use two 6-oz containers of whatever greek yogurt you like if you don't buy it in big containers like I do.

Grease muffin tins and fill each cup about 2/3 of the way. Bake about 12 minutes, depending on your altitude and oven. Enjoy!

Cornbread Casserole (made with Jiffy cornbread mix)

Corn Bread Casserole

This is a Cook family recipe that I had at my first Thanksgiving with my in-laws. So delicious I've adopted and adapted it as one of my own :).

2 eggs

1 stick butter – softened

1 8oz sour cream
1/4 c milk

1 can creamed corn

1 can corn – drained

Shredded cheese – ½ - 1 C

1/8 tsp Pepper

2 boxes Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix

Beat eggs and then mix in 1 stick of butter.  Add sour cream, corn, cheese, pepper and muffin mix.  Mix well and pour into 9” X 13” pan.  Bake @ 350° for 30 minutes.  Poke toothpick in center of pan to test for doneness.

Basic Banana Bread

3 ripe bananas (the riper the better!)

1/4 c melted margarine
1/4 c milk
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c white sugar

2 c flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

Mash bananas in a bowl. Add wet ingredients and mix (hand mixer or stand mixer). Add sugars and mix again. Add the last dry ingredients and mix until just combined (should be lumpy). Pour batter into greased loaf pan and bake at 350 for approximately 50 minutes. Test for doneness. You could also add a topping before putting in the oven - my usual is some chopped walnuts sprinkled on top of the batter.

Ground Turkey Enchiladas

one large or two small bell peppers
1/2 an onion (yellow or white)
1 tsp minced garlic

1 lb ground turkey
1 packet taco seasoning

8 flour tortillas (taco size)
1 small can meduim enchilada sauce
1 c shredded cheddar cheese

optional garnish: chopped scallions, cilantro or parsley


Filling (could make the night before): Saute peppers and onions in a little olive oil until tender. Add garlic, cook for one minute. Pour contents into a bowl. Use the same pan to brown the turkey. Cook turkey until no longer pink. Drain. Add taco seasoning contents and some water in the pan, stir and simmer for a few minutes. Add turkey to the bowl with the peppers and onions.

Assembly: Heat tortillas in the microwave (one minute on 50% power) so they are pliable. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray. Lay out one tortilla at a time and fill with 1/3 cup of filling mixture. Roll tortilla and place seam side down. Pour enchilada sauce over the tortillas. Top with shredded cheese and garnish. Cook for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the tortillas start to brown.

Chicken Salad

A basic chicken salad recipe - one of the only ways I can get my husband to eat fruit.

1 small or 1/2 large apple
2 stalks of celery
handful of grapes

1 can chunk chicken breast (or 1-2 chicken breasts)
1/2 c mayo
1/2 c sour cream
salt, pepper, and onion powder to taste (start with just a little)

optional: crispy chow mein noodles

chop the apple, grapes and celery into slightly smaller than bite size pieces. stir in chicken, mayo, sour cream, and seasoning.

best served on croissants with the chow mein noodles mixed in, but also great alone or with pita bread or hamburger buns.

Mrs. Fields Cookies

This recipe is courtesy of my Mother-in-Law, who has been a Cook much longer than I have.

Cream together:

1 1/2 c sugar
2 c brown sugar
1 lb (2 c) margarine
2 tbs vanilla
3 eggs


Mix together in separate bowl:
6 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt


Mix in dry ingredients to margarine/sugar mixture. Add 3 c chocolate chips.

Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.

Makes a gazillion cookies. VERY yummy.

Grandma's Southern Sweet Potatoes

This is my favorite dish from the Thanksgiving spread. My grandmother has always made this dish and I always eat lots of it! This year I spent Thanksgiving with my in-laws and made this dish; it received rave reviews and is probably now a Cook family tradition too.

orange goodness:
5-6 cups sweet potatoes (I think I had 3 medium sized and one LARGE potato)
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar (I used a mixture of brown and white, you could use either or both)
1 tsp salt
1 cup of milk (I used 2%)
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg

topping:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup broken pecans
2/3 - 3/4 cup flour
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter

Cut yams into large chunks; boil until soft. Let cool a few minutes and then peel (the peeling should come off very easily). Place the cooked potatoes (works best while still warm) into a stand mixer or large bowl. Turn on mixer and gradually add in butter, eggs, sugar, salt, milk, vanilla cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix well until smooth. If it looks like baby food, you've done it right. Pour mixture into a 9x13 dish. Note: You could use a smaller but deeper dish for this recipe. I like this size because you have lots of room for topping. The topping really makes this dish.

At this point I wash out my stand mixer bowl and start new. Add brown sugar, broken pecans, flour and chunks of butter into bowl. Mix well. Spread crumbly mixture over the top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. You could refrigerate overnight before baking to make things easier. This dish makes EXCELLENT leftovers.