Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner!

Happy Spring!
Once again I am listening to some great 80's hits, and writing a blog for the few that read it! Thank you for your support! I know I am pretty bad at updating in general, but the muse has got to hit me. Or there is nothing good on TV.
Chicken Pie in a Pan
I got this recipe from my Taste of Home Casseroles cookbook. I had a few issues with the recipe, which I will address. But other than that it was a good one. I am taking my husbands word for it. I would not eat this stuff unless paid a good bit of money.

Ingredients:
2 diced celery ribs, 2 diced medium carrots, 1 small chopped onion, 3 tablespoons butter, 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup 2% milk, 1 cup chicken broth, 1 can(10 3/4 oz) cream of mushroom soup undiluted, 4 cups cooked cubed chicken.
This recipe has pinwheels on top, the crust ingredients and directions will follow after the main part, but keep in mind you will need more ingredients!

So, I didn't picture the veggies because I was running late to make dinner and my husband had somewhere to go that night so I just didn't picture them. See that little gold cube? That's my chicken broth.

This is not in the directions, but I will show you how I cooked my chicken. I cooked them whole on the stove top in some extra virgin(teehee)olive oil with a little salt and pepper. It probably woulda been faster and easier to cut the chicken raw, then cook it. But if you have read my past chicken casserole you would know I can't stand raw chicken. I can't touch it, its so slimy and gross! So I cooked it then cut it. It took longer then I thought, which is why I was running so late.

I sampled a piece or too and found it quite yummy! Cooked chicken is much easier to deal with then raw! When I was taking this picture I looked behind me because I felt a presence. Rufus was on the back of our couch staring at the chicken.

"Can I have a smackeral of chicken?"
He was very good and didn't try to get on the counter, so yes I gave him just a tiny piece.

Directions:

In a large skillet, saute celery, carrots and onions in butter until tender.

I have been watching a ton of Food Network and I like when the cooks go to the fridge to get stuff and the camera zooms on the fridge. I like seeing what else is in there. I have no idea why, I just do! So I took a pic of just a spot of my fridge, since it is no where near as orderly as the ones on TV. At this point I called my husband to let him know 2 ribs of celery where called for in this recipe, I had already chopped them but I thought I should check with him. He is not a fan of celery, but said to use just 1 rib since its not so bad cooked. I didn't mind. I made my self a snack with the celery I didn't put in the recipe.

Snacking, doing it right!

While the verggies sauted, I made the broth. It took like a minute for the water to boil, and another minute for the cube to dissolve. So easy.



Stir in flour and salt until blended; gradually add milk and broth. Bring to boil; stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Stir in soup and chicken. Spoon into greased 13x9 in baking dish. Set aside.

To quote Milhouse from the Simpsons episode 'Boy Scoutsz N the Hood', where he and Bart purchase a Super Squishee made entirely of syrup, "Its so thick!"

For the Crust:

1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 tsps baking powder, 1 tsp salt, 3 Tbsp cold butter, 1/2 cup 2% milk, 2 cups shredded cheese

Oh, btw I used fat free milk, cuz thats all I had. I wasn't gonna buy specail milk for one recipe. Use whatever you want!

For crust, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Cut butter until crumbly. Add milk, tossing with a fork until mix forms a soft dough. Shape into ball.

On a lightly floured surface roll dough int oa 12x10 in rectangle.

I have NO idea if that was 12x10 inches. I just eyed it up.

Sprinkle with cheese. Roll up jelly roll style. Cut into 12 slices. Place on top of of chicken mix. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until crust is lightly browned.

So, I totally did the jelly roll things wrong! I cut them while they weren't rolled up, so I just had a big mess trying to cut them, then roll them up. I only got like 8 doing that way. Cheese was every where, it was a mess. So I will def try to do better next time.

Here it is, all done. My husband liked it, but he said that is was so thin on the bottom. Next time I think I will use a slightly smaller baking dish to fix that. Since the chicken mix is basically already cooked I don't think it will affect anything too much. Well I hoped you all liked it. I didn't. Cream of mushroom soup? No thanks! Onions? No thanks. Oh! Yes, I once again just used half an onion. A whole onion would be very oniony. See yinz next time!