In my kitchen

Each time I'm on here, I promise I will post my blog my frequently.  However, life just keeps getting in the way and I don't make it back for months.  This time, I just have to share a quick and easy recipe I created as a last minute "what am I going to fix for supper" stab.  Earlier in the day I purchased Pillsbury pie crusts for a Broccoli and Ham quiche along with  whipping cream and had these items on hand.  I had a hankering for Chicken Pot Pie and with the help of Pillsbury pie crusts and the whipping cream I surprised even myself with this concoction .  Are you reading this Mom? It was actually really good!  NOTE: In my mind it has to be Pillsbury pie crusts because the other pre-boxed pie crusts are not as flaky.

I took a boneless chicken breast from the freezer (I thaw them in the fridge overnight) and when it was partially thawed, I cut it into cubes about 5/8 inch square then tossed the squares into a hot skillet with a little bit of olive oil.  I lightly covered the bottom of the skillet with the olive oil.  Once the chicken starts cooking, I stirred the chicken to turn it and added 1 1/2 teaspoons of garlic salt (from Sam's club), coarse cut pepper and sea salt.  I also added 1 1/2 Tablespoons of dried minced onion as we like onion, but I didn't want the onion to over power the dish.

Once the chicken is cooked through, I added 1/2 a bag (2 pound bag) of frozen mixed vegetables to the mixture and stirred them in so the could be cooked until no longer frosty.  While this was sizzling, I took 1 1/2 cups whipping cream and started whipping it with a wire whisk.  Once it started getting thick, I added a large serving tablespoon of Campbell's cream of chicken soup.  I then whipped it in.  When it was thick again, I added another spoonful and continued this method until the entire can of cream of chicken soup was added.  I also whipped in 1 1/2 Tablespoons of sifted flour to this mixture.  Let mixture sit while tending the skillet.

Now back to the skillet.  While it is sizzling, there will be a small amount of liquid in the skillet.  Sprinkle over the top of all this about 1 Tablespoon of flour and stir until is blended in well.  Turn off the stove and pour into a waiting deep dish pie pan with the crust in it.  Once the skillet is into the pan, pour the cream mixture (this will be thick like icing) over the top of the veggies and chicken and spread evenly.  Add the second crust over the top and crimp around the edges.  Cut slots in the top for steam to escape.

Place in a preheated oven of 350 degrees Farenheit for 45 minutes. Might put a cookie sheet on the shelf below the chicken so that any run over does fall in the bottom of the oven. Turn the oven up to 375 degrees Farenheit and continue baking for 5-10 more minutes.  This browns the crust nicely.  Take out of the oven and let set for 5 minutes before serving.  My friend is a light eater, but took 3 helpings because it was so good.  I would post a picture, but between the two of us, there isn't anything to post.  It was eaten before I thought to post it here.  Be prepared to hear how good it is.  My friend who never compliments anyone stated, "This is really good.  I want more." That's why there isn't any left over!

Prius Adventure

Wow! What a day! Farmers' Market was really entertaining today.  A woman sat and played a harp so beautifully that it was like being in heaven.  Then after Market, I discovered my car wouldn't start.  Let me tell those of you who are Prius owners, it is no picnic when the Prius will not start especially on a Saturday afternoon.  Once I discovered that the car wouldn't start I made a few quick calls to the dealership wit no results because everyone had left 10-15 minutes earlier. So I was on my own.

It had to be the battery as I was pretty sure that when I turned the car off it had half a tank of gas.  The dealer told me that the battery is in the back of the car down where the tire tools are.  However, when there is no electricity to this car the back tail gate won't raise.  But there is an emergency switch for the back hatch down very low along the edge.  To get to all this stuff I had to unload all my Farmers' Market stuff from the car, climb in and start pulling up the carpet and the lid to the tire followed by the cover for the battery.  Then we had to figure out where the emergency switch for the back lid was.

While it seemed like hours standing in the 90 degree sun for over an hour while we were doing all this, we finally got the battery charged and the car is running as good as ever now.  Word to the wise:  don't let anyone sit in the car and check things out if they are not a Prius owner.  The car was accidentally turned on and sat there for about 3 hours going nowhere working on electric.  Not good. I, too, am a smarter person from this experience.  I have learned that if a hybrid car breaks down on Saturday after 12 noon, I might as well find a ride home and wait until Monday as there is no one available to work on the car.  Good luck Prius owners as your car's mileage creeps up over 100,000 and the warranty expires.  No one is willing to do the extra mile for a car that they feel has outlived its life.

UPDATE:  My Prius has developed a personality.  We can no longer sit in the driver's seat once the ignition is turned off.  To do so results in the car not starting.  I now carry jumper cables with me and it is standard practice to ask for a jump if I have sat in the car for more than 15 minutes.  What a bummer!

I am so excited!!! I have a Bluefaced Leicester ram lamb awaiting my arrival in Nebraska to bring him home to Indiana.  Will the weather please cool down so that I can make this trip?  I think he will bring a nice influx of beautiful fibers to my Border/Bluefaced Leicester girls.  His lambs will be more than 65% BFL.  This will be awesome!

Wow! I helped make history! Please read on.



Anyway, I  contributed to this by doing records for the 1940 census to enable those looking for generations passed can find them.  Roots...it's what it's all about.

Here it is Monday again.  I haven't done a very good job of keeping up with my blog.  I must do better.  Lambing was very slow this year.  It began in February and is still going on.  The non-winter really fooled the sheep as far as cycling goes, but the billy goat and his crew seemed to be right on target.  I got 3 beautiful kids! A little red billy and a set of twins with a billy and a doe. 

For those of you with goats, we all know how daring those kids can be.  If you have a short livestock tank with a flat edge on the top (Rubbermaid's is round on the top), remove that from the pen as my little white billy must have copied the little red billy and walked on the edge.  Unlike the little red billy, the little white billy either fell in or was knocked in and drowned.  I was heart broken!

Since then, I have gotten them large spools to climb on and jump off of.  They have to have something to climb or they climb on unsafe things.  However, their favorite climbing spot is the wheel-wells on the horse trailer.  ;-)

Farmer's Market will soon be in its third week.  The heat is keeping people from coming as it rises in waves from the pavement of the Cummins Corporate office parking lot.  Please don't let this summer sizzle us like it did last summer!

Got to get a cord for my camera so that I can upload pictures.  I'd like to know who the Gremlin was that took my camera cord!