Category: Main Dishes

Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken pot pie 6Chicken pot pies are one of my favorite foods with their creamy filling and buttery crust.  I remember enjoying Swanson Chicken Pot Pies in those little foil tins as a kid in the 80’s.  Everyone enjoyed their flakiness and had fun picking at the upside down pie on their plates.  Well as an adult I have never bought those pies.  I guess it’s because they look like they are half of the size they used to be and the quality of the vegetables and chicken is questionable.  Luckily I have a pot pie recipe that I have enjoyed for many years as an adult, which I am sharing with you today. This recipe is so simple that your kids can help make it on those busy weeknights.  And, it’s healthy since it’s packed full of vegetables so you can feel good about getting the kids to eat their corn, beans, carrots, peas, and green beans.  The best part of this dish is the flakey, buttery crescent roll topping that is woven over the filling.  So let’s get started on this simple weeknight meal.

chicken pot pie 4

chicken pot pie 2Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees.  Next you will need a 1/2 cup of onion chopped into fine pieces.

onionsThen in a microwave safe bowl cook your 16 oz package of frozen vegetables according to the package directions.  While the vegetables are cooking in the microwave, start cooking the onion over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of butter until the onion is tender.

cooking onionsNext whisk in the 1 (10 1/2) ounce can cream of chicken soup, 1 (10 1/2) ounce can cream of mushroom soup, 1 cup of milk, 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme leaf, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.

mixing in soups and thymeThen add your cooked vegetables.

mixing in vegetablesDrain the water out of the 9.57 ounce can of cooked white meat chicken breast and add it to the filling. Or you can use 1 1/2 cups of leftover cooked chicken.

mixing in chickenPour the filling into a greased 9.5 inch oven safe pie plate.

filling in the pie plateNow get the crescent rolls out of the package and spread them out on a cookie sheet and smooth out the triangular perforations.

smoothing out lines in rollsCut the crescent roll dough into 1 inch strips.cutting rolls in stripsPlace the dough on top of the filling in a lattice pattern. Putting one row down and then the next row on top.

rolls on top of pot pieBake the pie for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown in a 375 degree oven.  Let it sit for 5 minutes and then serve.  This pot pie is great served with mashed potatoes because you can pour any extra filling over the potatoes.

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Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup of finely chopped onions
  • 1 (16 oz.) package of frozen mixed vegetable (classic mix of: corn, carrots, peas, and green beans)
  • 2 tablespoons of butter
  • 1 (10 1/2) ounce can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 (10 1/2) ounce can of cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaf
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 (9.75) ounce can of cooked white chicken breast or 1 1/2 cups of cooked chicken
  • 1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls

Instructions

  1. Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees. Next you will need a 1/2 cup of onion chopped into fine pieces.
  2. Then in a microwave safe bowl cook your 16 oz package of frozen vegetables according to the package directions. While the vegetables are cooking in the microwave, start cooking the onion over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of butter until the onion is tender.
  3. Next whisk in the 1 (10 1/2) ounce can cream of chicken soup, 1 (10 1/2) ounce can cream of mushroom soup, 1 cup of milk, 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme leaf, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
  4. Then add your cooked vegetables.
  5. Drain the water out of the 9.57 ounce can of cooked white meat chicken breast and add it to the filling. Or you can use 1 1/2 cups of leftover cooked chicken.
  6. Pour the filling into a greased 9.5 inch oven safe pie plate.
  7. Now get the crescent rolls out of the package and spread them out on a cookie sheet and smooth out the triangular perforations.
  8. Cut the crescent roll dough into 1 inch strips.
  9. Place the dough on top of the filling in a lattice pattern. Putting one row down and then the next row on top.
  10. Bake the pie for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown in a 375 degree oven. Let it sit for 5 minutes and then serve. This pot pie is great served with mashed potatoes because you can pour any extra filling over the potatoes.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2016/03/01/chicken-pot-pie/

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Bratwurst and Potato Kebabs

kebab 1Have you ever noticed that food tends to taste better on sticks.  I don’t know why, but there is something more appealing and tasty about it.  I was just at the Iowa State Fair last week and I enjoyed a pork chop on a stick and a bacon wrapped rib on a stick…delicious! So, to keep the fair fun going in my back yard, I designed this tasty kebab with some of my ordinary grilling staples.  It includes potatoes flavored with olive oil, garlic, and dill. And when you thread that with onions and green peppers, the flavors meld beautifully.    

kebabs 4

kebab 5So get out your skewers and let’s start cooking.  If you use wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before using to prevent burning on the grill.  This is a picture of my skewers soaking in water on a cookie sheet.

skewersStart by cutting the baby potatoes in half.  Then place the baby potatoes in enough water to cover them. Bring the water to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer for 5-7 minutes so that the potatoes are fork tender. Then drain them and rinse them with cold water so they are easier to handle.

cooking potatoesThen cut up 1 green pepper into 1-inch pieces.

green pepperThen cut up the onion into 1-inch pieces.

onionsThen cut up the pre-cooked bratwurst on a slant in 1-inch size pieces.

bratsNow in a bowl mix the potatoes with 2 teaspoon of olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon dill weed, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.

potatoes and spicesAlternately thread bratwurst, onion, potato, and green pepper onto 8 12-inch skewers.

putting it on skewersGrill kebabs, uncovered, 6-8 minutes or until bratwurst is browned, turning frequently.

Bratwurst and Potato Kebabs 1Now you have a great twist on bratwurst to serve at your next backyard barbecue.

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Bratwurst and Potato Kebabs

Ingredients

  • 10 -12 baby potatoes
  • 1 Vadalia onion
  • 1 green pepper
  • 2 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 package of (cooked) Johnsonville Stadium Bratwurst or other pre-cooked bratwurst

Instructions

  1. So get out your skewers and let's start cooking. If you use wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before using to prevent burning on the grill. This is a picture of my skewers soaking in water on a cookie sheet.
  2. Start by cutting the baby potatoes in half. Then place the baby potatoes in enough water to cover them. Bring the water to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer for 5-7 minutes so that the potatoes are fork tender. Then drain them and rinse them with cold water so they are easier to handle.
  3. Then cut up 1 green pepper into 1-inch pieces.
  4. Then cut up the onion into 1-inch pieces.
  5. Then cut up the pre-cooked bratwurst on a slant in 1-inch size pieces.
  6. Now in a bowl mix the potatoes with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon dill weed, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
  7. Alternately thread bratwurst, onion, potato, and green pepper onto 8 12-inch skewers.
  8. Grill kebabs, uncovered, 6-8 minutes or until bratwurst is browned, turning frequently.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2015/08/20/bratwurst-and-potato-kebabs/

Pigs in a Blanket

pigs in a blanket 1Summer is here and this is a perfect recipe for a quick lunch or dinner. My mom has been making this recipe since the 1970s when I was a little girl, and I’ve always loved them since then.  Now as a mom I enjoy making them for my family. This is definitely a kid friendly recipe to try this summer.  And don’t be afraid to have your kids help you make them.  Kids love the fact that they taste like a cross between a grilled cheese sandwich and a hot dog on a bun; two of their favorite meals. Pigs in a blanket pairs perfectly with a bowl of tomato soup.  So let’s get out the ingredients and make this easy summertime meal.

baked pigs in the blanketYou will need one package of 8 hot dogs, 8 slices of American cheese, 8 slices of bread, and enough soft butter for one side of each piece of bread.

ingredients for pigs in a blanketFirst spread the butter on one side of each piece of bread and place it buttered side down on a cookie sheet lined with foil.

buttering breadNow place one slice of cheese on each piece of bread.

cheese slicesNow place a hot dog on each slice of bread.

hot dogs on bread

Pull each side of the bread up and secure it with a toothpick.

adding toothpicks

 

pigs in a blanket ready to bake

Bake them in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.

baked pigs in the blanket

Let them cool for a few minutes and serve with ketchup and your favorite soup. The kids and adults will love this quick summertime favorite.

Pigs in a Blanket

Ingredients

  • 1 package of eight hot dogs
  • 8 slices of American cheese
  • 8 slices of bread
  • butter (softened for spreading)

Instructions

  1. First spread the butter on one side of each piece of bread and place it buttered side down on a cookie sheet lined with foil.
  2. Now place one slice of cheese on each piece of bread.
  3. Now place a hot dog on each slice of bread.
  4. Pull each side of the bread up and secure it with a toothpick.
  5. Bake them in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.
  6. Let them cool for a few minutes and serve with ketchup and your favorite soup.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2015/06/14/pigs-in-a-blanket/

 

 

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Baby Back Ribs

baby back ribs 1Calling all rib lovers!!  This recipe is for you. This is my dad’s rib recipe, and it is so fall off the bone good that you are not going to make any other rib recipe ever again.  He cooks the ribs in a slow cooker first (which adds to the ease of making them and keeps them oh so moist) and then he finishes them in the oven to carmelize the barbecue sauce.  Everyone in my family loves this recipe; we are excited when he makes them for Sunday lunch.  While we are eating his ribs, we often tell him he should enter some barbecue contests.  Maybe someday he will.  baby-back-ribs-2Now go out and buy a couple of racks of ribs, get out your slow cooker, and wow your family and friends.

Start by mixing the spices in a bowl for the dry rub. Mix 1/3 cup of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of paprika, 1 1/2 teaspoons of chili powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of ground oregano, 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar.  

mixing spices for the rubNext get out the 2 racks of baby back ribs and remove the skin from the back of the ribs. Start at the small end and try to peel up a start with a knife and then keep peeling.

removing skin from ribsNow spread the spices on both sides of the ribs and discard the remaining rub . 

rub for ribs

 

ribs covered with dry rubNow place the ribs in the slow cooker. You may have to cut them in pieces depending on the size of your cooker.

ribs in the crock potNow cook them on high for 5 – 5 1/2 hours. Then remove them from the slow cooker and put them on a foil lined baking sheet where you will spread on your favorite bbq sauce on the top side of the ribs. Note: be careful as you remove them from the slow cooker since they are so tender they will fall apart.

sauce on ribsBake them in an oven that is preheated to 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.  Now it is time to enjoy some great ribs!

Baby Back Ribs

Ingredients

  • 2 baby back rib racks (2.5-3.5 pounds each)
  • 1/3 cup of brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon of paprika
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of chili powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon of black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of ground oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon of sugar
  • 1/2 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce

Instructions

  1. Start by mixing the spices in a bowl for the dry rub. Mix 1/3 cup of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of paprika, 1 1/2 teaspoons of chili powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of ground oregano, 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar.
  2. Next get out the 2 racks of baby back ribs and remove the skin from the back of the ribs. Start at the small end and try to peel up a start with a knife and then keep peeling.
  3. Now spread the spices on both sides of the ribs and discard the remaining rub.
  4. Now place the ribs in the slow cooker. You may have to cut them in pieces depending on the size of your cooker.
  5. Now cook them on high for 5 - 5 1/2 hours. Then remove them from the slow cooker and put them on a foil lined baking sheet where you will spread on your favorite bbq sauce on the top side of the ribs. Note: be careful as you remove them from the slow cooker since they are so tender they will fall apart.
  6. Bake them in an oven that is preheated to 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2015/05/26/baby-back-ribs/

 

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