Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Creamy Chicken Pot Pie (No peas or Carrots 😳)

Creamy Chicken Pot Pie

*Makes 1-3 Pies*


I love a good chicken pot pie. Traditionally they aren’t particularly creamy and they usually involve a bag of frozen peas & carrot mix. However, Julie doesn’t eat either so I subbed the two veggies she does eat - green beans and corn. You can use fresh or frozen veggies. I used the the steamer bags that came with garlic butter in the bag and I used fresh local corn cobs, boiled with kernels cut. They are crisp and sweet! I added cream and cream cheese to the filling to make it extra savory for my picky eaters!


I usually make & bake 1 pie, and freeze the rest of the filling for another day in a freezer bag


Ingredients:


(1) Rotisserie chicken picked and chopped. Place in large bowl.

(1) bag green bean steamer bag w seasoning - cooked and chopped

(1) bag little potatoes steamer bag w seasoning cooked and chopped

(1) Vidalia onion chopped

(1) yellow bell pepper chopped

(2) stalks celery chopped

(2) cloves garlic chopped

(1) Handful fresh poultry herbs chopped (sage, rosemary, & thyme)

Half stick butter

1/4 C flour

1-2 C half & half

1 C chicken bone broth

1/2 brick cream cheese

(2) ears of sweet corn boiled and nuggets chopped off

(1-3) Frozen Pie Crusts in pans

(1-3) pie crusts for toppers (by biscuits)


Cook the green beans and the potatoes. Chop them up. Add to a big mixing bowl with chopped up rotisserie chicken.


Place two ears of corn on in a pot and start heating to a boil. 


Melt butter in pan. Sauté chopped onion, pepper, & celery. Add in chopped garlic and herbs at the end for a min or two. Season w garlic salt and pepper. 


Remove corn from water and place aside


Preheat oven to 400 f


Stir in 1/4 cup flour with the sautéd veggies. 


Stir in about half cup of chicken stock and half cup cream. Stir constantly as you don’t want to burn the flour. Keep stirring in more cream and broth until it’s a good creamy consistency. Break up the cream cheese into chunks and stir it in until melted. Add more cream or stock as needed. Season mixture w garlic salt and pepper until properly seasoned. 


Add creamy mixture and veggies to the bowl of chopped chicken and veggies.


Cut kernels off corn and stir into the mixture. Season as needed, add more cream or stock as needed until the right consistency for the final pot pie. Taste it now because this is basically what your pie is going to taste like. 


Poke holes in bottom and sides of pie crust. Fill with filling. Top with one round of fresh pie crust. Trim edges. Use a fork to crimp to the other pie crust. Slit the top for venting.


Bake until golden brown. After 20 min in oven, cover pie edges with foil. If you like a “fancy” pie you can brush an egg wash over the top before baking.


Cool 5-10 min to set before serving. Freeze remaining filling for another day!




 







Friday, May 2, 2025

Crockpot Chili



From Barefoot Neighbor

Place ingredients in crockpot in this order:

2# LEAN ground beef (raw)
Season beef w: S&P, Chili Powder, & Garlic Powder
1 chopped onion
1 chopped bell pepper
1 chopped deseeded jalapeño
1 small can green chilis
1 can pinto beans drained and washed
1 can black beans drained and washed
1 can beef stock
1 can diced tomatoes
6 oz can cento tomato paste
1 packet chili seasoning
Stir everything on top (leave beef alone)

Cook on high 4 hours or 6-8 on low 

Half way through, chop up beef and stir into chili

season more if needed (s&p, hot sauce, etc)

Serve w Fritos, sour cream & shredded cheese


Philly Cheese Chicken Sandwiches (Crockpot)

From Barefoot Neighbor- Sooo good! Was a hit post Jazz Fest!

Dump ingredients in crockpot:

1 chopped onion
2 chopped bell peppers (I used yellow and red)
Salt & Pepper
Garlic Powder
Chicken Boullion
Cup of water
Brick of cream cheese broken up in pieces
2# Seasoned Chicken Breasts
(Don’t Dump) Hoagie Buns and Sliced Provolone

Cook 4 hr on high or 6-8 in Low

Break up chicken w forks and stir it all up.

Place 2-4 slices provolone on top and put lid back on until it melts.

Toast buttered hoagie buns in oven. 

Add slices of provolone to toasted buns until melted

Spoon chicken/pepper/cheese mix onto buns and enjoy!

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Cheese Straw Biscuits

  • Garden & Gun Cheese Straw Biscuits

    CHEESE STRAW BISCUITS WITH COUNTRY HAM (YIELD: 16 TO 18 BISCUITS)

  • FOR THE BISCUITS

    • 4½ cups sifted all-purpose flour 

    • 1½ tbsp. baking powder 

    • 1 tsp. baking soda 

    • 1 tsp. sugar 

    • 1 tbsp. dry mustard 

    • 2½ tsp. kosher salt

    • 1 tsp. garlic powder

    • ½ tsp. cayenne 

    • ¾ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

    • 8 oz. extra-sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded

    • 1¾ cups buttermilk 

    • Tomato chutney-mustard butter (recipe follows)

    • 12 oz. thinly sliced cooked country ham

  • FOR THE TOMATO CHUTNEY-MUSTARD BUTTER

    • ½ cup salted butter, softened

    • ¼ tsp. dry mustard

    • 2 tbsp. tomato chutney

    • 1 tbsp. grainy Dijon mustard


PREPARATION

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. Combine dry ingredients in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade; pulse 2 or 3 times to combine. Sprinkle a layer of cold butter pieces evenly over the mixture and toss with hands or a spoon until all the pieces are lightly floured (so they don’t clump together). Pulse 10 to 12 times until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top of the flour mixture in batches, tossing as before after each addition to coat with flour until you’ve added all the cheese. Pulse 2 or 3 more times to distribute cheese throughout. Transfer mixture to a large mixing bowl and make a well in the center. (You can also do the above with hands or a pastry cutter in a mixing bowl.)

  3. Pour the buttermilk into the well. Fold the flour into the buttermilk with a spatula until the dry ingredients are just moistened and no liquid remains. The dough will be a rough, shaggy mass. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead about a dozen times or until dough comes together, flouring hands and surface to keep the dough from sticking.

  4. Roll dough into a ½-inch-thick rectangle. Fold in one short side of the dough up and over the center of the rectangle and the other short side of the dough up and over the first. Roll the dough again into a ½-inch-thick rectangle. Repeat the fold-and-roll to create a ½-inch-thick rectangle. Cut out biscuits with a 2½-to-3-inch round biscuit cutter, pressing straight down without twisting. Or instead, cut the dough into squares with a chef ’s knife, cutting straight down rather than slicing. (Twisting or slicing flattens the edges of the biscuits, impeding their rise in the oven.)

  5. Place the biscuits close together on the baking sheet for a higher rise, or with room between for a wider spread. Brush tops with buttermilk, if desired. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until biscuits have risen and tops are golden. Transfer biscuits to a wire rack to cool at least 5 minutes.

  6. Make the tomato chutney–mustard butter: Beat butter and dry mustard with an electric mixer on high speed for a few minutes until light and fluffy. Gently stir in chutney and mustard. Transfer to a small bowl, cover, and chill until ready to serve.

  7. Assemble: Split each biscuit in half. Spread a bit of the tomato chutney–mustard butter on cut sides. Layer the bottom half of each biscuit with ham and top with other biscuit half. To reheat before a party, loosely wrap the assembled biscuits in foil and then place them in a 350°F oven for 5 to 8 minutes.


Monday, March 17, 2025

Sausage Cheese Balls

1 pound shedded cheddar
1 pound breakfast sausage
1 box of red lobster biscuits mix

Mix all together. Bake in balls on a cookie sheet or in a mini muffin tin. 350 for 20 min. 25-30 min for the mini muffins.

Melt half stick butter and stir in biscuit topping. Baste over tops of finished balls. Let soak for at least 10 min.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Steak and Pasta w/garlic parm cream sauce- Jack Approved!!


Ingredients:  
12 oz Pasta of your choice (I used angel hair)
1 lb sirloin steak  (I used one NY Strip and it was perfect for 2 servings) 
2 tbsp butter  
3 cloves garlic, minced  
1/2 cup heavy cream  
1/4 cup Parmesan, grated  (as un processed as possible- you want it to melt into the sauce & a lot of additives makes it gritty or clumpy)
1 tsp black pepper  
1/2 tsp salt  
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes  (Skip for the mild pallets)

Directions:  
Cook linguine and drain.  Toss w oil and cover to keep warm. 
Season steak on both sides, sear steak on both sides, remove to cutting board.  Don’t discard steak drippings. 

In the steak pan w the drippings on medium heat: Sauté garlic, add cream, Parmesan, and red pepper flakes.  Whisk until smooth. Turn off heat. Slice the steak.

Plate the noodles, top with sliced meat, top meat and noodles w sauce. Or, if you prefer, toss the sauce and pasta together then top w meat.

Prep Time: 10 minutes    
Serves: 4 (2 per steak)

Neiman Marcus $250 Cookies

Neiman Marcus $250 COOKIES


ingredients



directions

  • Measure oatmeal and blend in a blender to a fine powder.
  • Cream the butter and both sugars.
  • Add eggs and vanilla.
  • Mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and soda.
  • Add chocolate chips, grated Hershey Bar and nuts.
  • Roll into 1 inch balls and place 2-inches apart on a cookie sheet.
  • Bake for 10 minutes at 375° or until golden.

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Bayona’s Creamy Garlic Soup


  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 2 pounds onions (about 4 onions), chopped

  • 2 cups garlic cloves (about 4 large heads), chopped

  • 2 quarts chicken stock or broth

  • 1/2 loaf day-old French bread (about 1/4 pound), cut into chunks

  • 1 bouquet garni: 6 parsley stems, 9 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried, and 1 bay leaf

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 2 cups half-and-half

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • Croutons, optional

    Step 1:

    Heat the oil and butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over low heat until the butter has melted. Add the onions and garlic. Cover the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions and garlic very soft and are just beginning to turn golden, about 30 minutes. Remove the lid, increase the heat to moderate and continue cooking the onions and garlic, uncovered, stirring frequently, until deep golden, about 10 minutes longer.

    Step 2:

    Add the stock, bread, bouquet garni, and salt to the pot and bring the soup to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer about 15 minutes.

    Step 3:

    Remove the bouquet garni and discard. Puree the soup with an immersion blender or in a blender or food processor (let the soup cool a bit before pureeing it in a blender or food processor and puree it in small batches so the steam doesn't force the lid off the top). Strain the soup back into the pot. Add the half-and-half and pepper and bring back to a boil. Serve topped with the croutons, if you like.


Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Smoked Fondue

New year, new fondue! Give your classic fondue a smoky upgrade with this irresistible smoked cheese. 🔥🧀

Here’s what you’ll need:
2 cups white wine or apple cider
1 lb shredded Swiss cheese
1/2 lb shredded Gouda cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Bring wine to a simmer, stir in cheese and spices, turn heat to low and whisk until cheese is fully melted. Transfer pan to smoker preheated to 160-170 degrees F. Use your favorite mild hardwood, I like cherry! Smoke for 1 hour before serving with cubed bread, vegetables, etc.

#grilling #grillingseason #barbeque #barbecue #bbq #bbqseason #meat #meatlovers #steak #steakdinner #steaklover #grillmasters #fondue #newyearseve

Monday, December 23, 2024

Jane’s Cheese Ball

A Burks family favorite from John’s Burks’ mother, Jane.



Thursday, November 21, 2024

Give Thanks Coctail

Looking for a tasty cocktail to brighten up that family gathering this year? Try this one...and you can always make it by the pitcher in advance to make it easy when entertaining. 

Ingredients: Vanilla Vodka (of your choice), Cointreau (triple sec is ok too), Sage Simple Syrup, Muddled Fresh Cranberries, Prosecco, Lemon.
Instructions:
1.5oz Vanilla Vodka, 0.5oz Cointreau, 0.5oz Sage Simple Syrup, handful of Cranberries, Lemon Wedge, drizzle of Prosecco.
Muddle a handful of Fresh Cranberries with Lemon wedge and Sage Simple Syrup. Add Vanilla Vodka and Cointreau. Shake with ice hard until the ancestors tell you enough. Double strain the contents over Fresh Ice, and top with Prosecco for bubbles. Finish with a Sage leaf and a few Cranberries to garnish. Enjoy!!!

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Invisible Apple Cake

invisible apple cake

servings: 8
prep time: 15minutes 
cook time: 55minutes 
total time: 1hour  10minutes 

equipment

  • hand held mandoline
  • Large mixing bowl
  • loaf pan

ingredients

  • 3 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2/3 cup milk, slightly warmed
  • 3 tbs butter, melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 4 apples, (about 2 lbs)

instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 ℉. Line a 9x5" loaf pan with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, quickly whisk together the eggs, milk, butter + vanilla. And then also quickly add in the flour, powdered sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt and mix until smooth. Batter is supposed to be on the thin side.
  • Peel, core and slice your apples REALLY THINwith a mandoline (I used Fuji apples but Honeycrisp or Pink Lady are great here too). Add them into the bowl and mix to coat all in the batter. Transfer the apples only to the pan, a little at a time, gently flattening out any pieces that are sticking up. Pour on the remaining batter to the top of the loaf pan evenly. Transfer to the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes. Or until the top is golden brown. 
  • Allow to set in pan for 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool for another 15 minutes. Optional: sprinkle with a little powdered sugar and slice to enjoy.

notes

Batter is supposed to be more on the watery thin side.
You can use pears as long as they're thin slice and sweet.
Gluten free 1 to 1 flour can be used instead of regular all purpose.

nutrition

Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 4gFat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 192mg | Potassium: 162mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 303IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 1mg