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.

Thai Peanut Sauce {gluten-free dinner idea}

My sister-in-law introduced me to the world of homemade peanut sauce, and now it's become a regular part of our family dinner rotation. I serve this with chicken - either popcorn chicken from the freezer section or little chicken pieces sauteed in a little oil. I usually make some stir-fry vegetables and serve it all with rice and sometimes top with crunchy rice noodles.

Recipe Adapted from Rasa Malaysia

1 c creamy peanut butter

1 14 oz can coconut milk

2 oz thai red curry paste (I buy the Thai Kitchen brand and it comes in a 4 oz jar)

4 T apple cider vinegar

3 T sugar (or less if desired)

pinch of salt

This will make a large amount - but you will be grateful for the leftovers!

Mushroom & Spinach Chicken Bake

4 small chicken breasts (alternatively use 2 cans of chunk chicken)
1 c uncooked long grain white rice
2 c chopped mushrooms (about half an 8 oz pkg)
1 c fresh spinach (just tear the stems off and throw in )
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c sour cream
1 3/4 c water
1/2 c shredded colby jack cheese
1/2 t onion powder
salt and pepper to taste

Dump everything in a 9x13 pan, stir together. Bake at 400 degrees, about 45 minutes but make sure chicken is cooked through and rice is done

Cheesy Chicken Bake

4 small chicken breasts (alternatively use 2 cans of chunk chicken)
1 c uncooked long grain white rice
2 c frozen mixed vegetables
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 c sour cream
1 3/4 c water
1 c shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 t onion powder
salt and pepper to taste

Dump everything in a 9x13 pan, stir together. Bake at 400 degrees, about 45 minutes but make sure chicken is cooked through and rice is done.

Avocado Salsa

I love guacamole, but here is a healthier version that's still great for parties - or using as a topping for tacos, nachos, chicken - and it's so delicious!

2 diced avocados (unlike when making guacamole, you want them to be slightly firm rather than super mushy)
2 diced tomatoes
1 can corn (drained and rinsed) - fresh or frozen would also be delicious!
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
Fresh chopped cilantro
Italian Dressing to taste - I usually use 3/4 c.

Mix first 5 ingredients together in a large bowl. Drizzle dressing over the top and toss. Serve with tortilla chips or as a topping.

Mini Quiches

I made these for Katie's bridal shower. Yum!

Pie Crust
(Buy refrigerated or make your own)

2 eggs
1/2 c cream, half and half or whole milk
1/2 c 2% or skim milk

1 c shredded cheddar (or swiss) cheese

1 c diced mushrooms
1 c or 1/2 diced green pepper
3 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled (i use turkey bacon, gasp)

Start with a mini muffin pan and preheat your oven to 350. Use a circle cookie cutter to cut circles out of your uncooked pie crust. Use little circles to line each muffin cup in the tin; then bake for about 10 min (check at about 8). Take out of oven, and sprinkle a little bit of shredded cheese in the bottom of each "pie".

Now to saute the veggies. Start with about a tablespoon of olive oil in the pan. When hot, saute peppers and mushrooms. Add salt and pepper. When veggies are soft, add in bacon (you could also use sausage or some other meat). Turn off heat, and add mixture by small spoonfuls to the mini pies. Make a custard mixture by mixing eggs, cream and milk. Pour the custard over the veggies by spoonful - don't overfill. Sprinkle a little more cheese on the tops, and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes. Makes 24 mini quiches.

Yum-o Chili Mac

My version of Rachel Ray's Chili Mac. I don't usually like Chili because I don't like beans, but this is yum- o! It's super-easy and makes incredible leftovers.

1 pound of pasta (penne, macaroni, rotini or bowtie, something bite-size)
1 lb. lean ground beef
2 Tbsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 an onion
one green and one red pepper (or two green red are sometimes really expensive)
2-3 cloves garlic or 2 tsp crushed garlic (I LOVE the kind in a jar - my hands don't smell afterward)
1 cup of beef stock
1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
1 cup of shredded cheddar, smoked cheddar, colby jack or whatever you have on hand


Start a big pot of boiling water, add the pasta when ready. While pasta is cooking, brown meat in large stock pot. Drain meat if desired, and add chili powder and crushed pepper. Stir and then add onions, garlic and peppers, cook until peppers are soft. Add beef stock and crushed tomatoes. Cook a couple of more minutes, add the pasta, mix well and pour into casserole dish. Cover the top with shredded cheese, pop in the oven to broil (or put it on 400 if you don't have a broiler like me). Take it out and serve with sour cream, avocados or crushed chips.

Blaine Salad

This recipe is based on the Blaine Salad served at The Pizza Factory, a Utah-based pizza and pasta joint.

2 heads of romaine lettuce
1/2 cup craisins (dried cranberries)
3/4 cup toasted almonds
poppy seed dressing to taste

optional:
shredded or cubed chicken

Chop romaine lettuce into short strips. Toast almonds in the oven (400 degrees) or on the stovetop (medium heat) in a non-stick skillet. Be careful not to burn the almonds. After letting the almonds cool a little, mix craisins, almonds and dressing with lettuce. To make it a meal, add some leftover shredded chicken.

Sarah's Spinach Salad

One bag of baby spinach
1/2 carton of white mushrooms, sliced
1/2 a red onion, sliced
10-12 strips of bacon (can substitute turkey bacon or a 1/2 cup of bacon bits)
1 to 2 cups of shredded swiss cheese
8 oz of cottage cheese (drain it a little bit)
poppy seed dressing to taste

Mix spinach, mushrooms, onion, bacon and cheese in large bowl. Just before serving, add cottage cheese and dressing and combine well.

This salad is so yummy that my newest sister-in-law served it at her wedding. It's also a man-friendly salad since it contains bacon.

Chicken, Corn and Bean Goodness

2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 small bag (2ish cups) of frozen corn or 1 can corn
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1-2 green, red, orange or yellow peppers, diced (i like medium-sized chunks)
3-4 cups medium salsa

Dump everything into the slow cooker; cook on high for 3-4 hours or low 6-8 hours. About half an hour before serving, take chicken out and shred with two forks. Put the shredded chicken back into the cooker until ready to serve. Serve with chips, cheese, sour cream, avocado or use as a taco filling. Leftovers are great for tacos or enchilada filling. Tastes even better the next day.

Serves 4.