Menu Planning Monday

Hummm...the forecast calls for a blizzard tomorrow and spring to return the next day with Easter and a camping trip in our plans for this weekend.  What a mixed bag this menu planner will be. 

Monday - Ground Beef Tacos

Tuesday - Crock Pot Beef Stew - I will post that recipe tomorrow

Wednesday - Chicken Caccitore a la Giada De Laurentis

Thursday - Leftover night

Friday - Eat out

We're headed to the coast to camp and Friday is travel day. The rest of the weekend including Sunday Easter Dinner is a joint effort by the talented women who are joining the campout.

Saturday - Slider Burger Bar

Sunday - Instead of a traditional Easter menu we're going coastal.  We're making a Cioppino type stew using crab, clams, fish fresh from the nearby harbor and adapting a recipe I found in Sunset.  I can't wait until Sunday. 

Favorite Chicken Potpie Recipe

We love Chicken Potpie -

especially my eight year old son - he asks

for them about every other day. I probably make a version of this - depending on what ingredients I have on hand once every other week.Adapted from Biscuit Topped Chicken Potpie Recipe from Sunset magazine. I have made the topping per the recipe but sometimes I use a frozen or canned biscuit to top the potpie. Sometimes I use this recipe

from Barefoot Contessa for the topping. This is a really good crust recipe. Hint: Roll out the leftover crust, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, roll up and bake to make tiny

cinnamon rolls. Yum. The point is that potpies are really ad

aptable and I don't really follow the recipe but try to keep it simple by making it all in one pot. Cook the veggies first, add chicken, add liquid and seasonings until combined and seasoned to taste...it's a little like cooking without a net...but that's my style.

Here's the version I made this week.

1 medium yellow onion - diced

1/2 cup carrots - diced

1 cup (about 2 medium) potatoes diced

1/2 cup diced mushrooms

1/2 cup broccoli - rough chopped

2 cups diced cooked chicken

1 cup frozen string beans

1/2 cup frozen corn

1/2 cup frozen peas

Olive oil

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup milk

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup shredded cheddar

Salt, pepper, fresh thyme

In a large dutch oven heat 1 Tblsp of olive oil, add the onions and saute slightly. Add the potatoes and carrots and about 1/2 cup of the broth and simmer until slightly tender. Add the rest of the veggies and chicken and thyme. Combine. Salt and pepper and let is simmer a few minutes. Add the broth, simmer until it heats up. Add the flour and stir to coat. Add the milk and simmer until thick. Stir in the cheese. Taste - season as needed.

I pour about a cup of the mixture into greased ramkins and top with pastry. Bake per pastry instructions. Eat them while they are bubbly and delicious right out of the oven.