I rarely follow recipes when cooking dinner – never baking, that’s not a good idea – rather creating something new and tasty each and every time I serve a dinner plate. I do have a few steadfast dinner options I return to again and again, but simply the basics with some flare and small tricks each time! One kitchen creation I return to again and again is chicken pot pie, with a personal twist!
Ingredients: Chicken (baked breasts), Carrots (real or frozen, never canned), Peas (frozen petite sweet, never canned), Onion (powder or real), Garlic (powder or real), Salt and Pepper, Chicken Broth, Roux, Mashed Potatoes, 2 Cans of Cresent Rolls
Equipment: Oversized muffin tin or individual 8 oz ramekins. Stovetop and Oven. Pots, pans, measuring cups, spatulas, ways to not burn your hand – essentially, a functional kitchen is required.
Prep: Peel and uniformly dice carrots, dice onion, mince garlic, cube cooked chicken breast. Cook carrots and frozen peas in 2-3 quart saucepan until carrots slightly firm. Mix cubed carrots, onion, garlic, and salt and pepper to warm in 8-10 inch frying pan. When onions are translucent add 2 cups chicken broth, carrots, and peas. Heat until broth starts to boil, then add cornstarch roux (2 tbsp, 1/4 cup cold water) for thickening.
Assembly: Layer in the following order, bottom to top. Dough set as crust in the hole it’s going to cook in – this requires two triangles from the crescent rolls can (total of 4 per can). Mashed Potato – thin layer to soak up the liquid to avoid issues with soggy crust. Delicious chicken and veggie mix. Topped with generous glob of mashed potatoes.
Cooking: Bake on center rack at 350 degrees for 16 minutes, or until tops are browned. If needed, can check and turn pans at 10 minute mark.
Serving: Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes. Gently coax out of the ramekin or muffin pan with firm spatula.
Eating: I’d recommend any way that results in your tastebuds thanking you. Spoon, fork, hand – anything goes.
words of the wives:
- Always take the lids of boiling potatoes with a pot holder over your hand, especially if your hood fan does not work. Otherwise, you will likely burn your hand on the steam and probably yell quite loudly and make your wife come running.
- There will be leftover filling – it makes excellent leftovers for meal prep and jazz, so no worries about exact measurements.
- Use a firm rubber spatula to remove – anything metal will puncture the crust and no one likes an early release.
- Silverware is optional. Seconds are required.
- Pairs well with Malbec or IPAs.
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