Jackies Chicken/Turkey Pot Pie

So I am not much of a cook, I can cook, but it is just not a priority in my life.  I do enjoy cooking, when I find a good recipe that is fun to make.  This is one of my most favorite recipes that I got from my mother-in-law.  It is easy and fun to make, and it is yummy!  I also like to vary the recipe and switch up the ingredients from time to time.  You can use Chicken or Turkey for this recipe.

Jackie's Chicken/ Turkey Pot Pie
1 1/2 Cup Mushrooms sliced
1-3 Carrots- chopped into small pieces
1/2 Cup Onion chopped
1/2 Cup Celery Chopped
1/2 Stick Butter
1/3 Cup Flour
1 1/2 Cup Chicken Broth
1 1/2 Cup Milk
4 Cups Cubed Chicken
1 Cup Frozen Peas
1 tsp Salt
Other seasonings to taste
(Optional ingredients: Broccoli, frozen spinach)

In a Large Skillet Saute Butter, mushrooms, Carrots, Onions, Celery, and Garlic (broccoli) until tender.  Sprinkle with Flour.  Stir in Milk and Chicken Broth.  Bring to Boil for 2 minutes until thickened.  Add Chicken, Peas, (frozen spinach), salt, and other seasonings.
Pour into Greased 2 Qt Baking Dish 
Top with Bisquits (see recipe below)
Bake @ 350 degrees for 20-25min (make sure biscuits are cooked)

Baking Powder Biscuits  (taken from a 1933 recipe)
2 Cups Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
4 Tbspn Butter cut in cubes
1/2 tsp Salt
About 3/4 Cups Milk

Mix Dry ingredients, cut in butter (using your hands works really well).  Slowly add milk to right consistency.  Knead for 30 sec.  Roll into "tube" and cut discs to place on top of pot pie mixture.

Sorry I have no pictures of this right now, but trust me, it is yummy and easy!!


 

Pineapple Pay It Forward

A few weeks ago my friend Chris posted a message on her Facebook Page entitled Pay it Forward.  She said that anyone who commented on her post would receive a special handmade gift from her.  Then those people had to post the same Pay It Forward message on their Facebook pages, and give special handmade gifts to those who commented.  Becuase I love giving and recieving handmade gifts, this challenge was right up my alley.  Well, I have not gotten around to making my gifts yet (we have the rest of the year to complete the challenge).  But Chris has diligently finished her gifts, and she gave me mine today!  I was so surprised when she presented me with this beautiful and expertly made Pineapple Quilt block.  She used the foundation piecing technique to make this beautiful little block. She also promised to teach me how to foundation piece, which I am very excited about.  I think this will need to be our next sewing day project. Thank you Chris for such a gift of love, it will be cherished forever!

A Productive Day

Today was a "sewing day" with my dear friend, Chris.  It had been months since our last sewing day, so we were long overdue!  I love sewing days becuase I can be productive while catching up with a good friend.  I also love sewing days becuase they are totally inspiring and I always learn something new.  Thank you Chris for spending the day with me!! 

Bridesmaids Clutches

Lately, I have been making more clutches. I have had two larger orders from brides for clutches for their bridesmaids.  It has been really exciting to work with brides and create something for their special day!
I have made a some other clutches in a slightly different style as well.
Here are a few of my offerings...

Monkey See, Monkey Do

A friend recently commissioned me to make a baby quilt with a monkey theme.  I couldn't find any monkey themed fabric that made the grade, so I was forced to come up with another idea.  I have been experimenting with a new technique which could be considered a type of applique I guess.  I found a couple monkeys online that I really liked, but I wasn't sure how to duplicate the idea since I DO NOT draw.  Then I found a monkey that didn't look too complicated, so I thought I would give it a shot.  I figured anyone can draw circles, right? And much to my surprise I realized that it wasn't as hard as it seemed....  I actually took a couple monkey ideas and created my own... and this was the outcome...

Restore Innocence

A few months back I was made aware of a growing problem of child trafficking in our country.  This is a very real and very scary thing that is happening literally under our noses!  "600,000 – 800,000 people are bought and sold across international borders each year; 50% are children, most are female. The majority of these victims are forced into the commercial sex trade." – U.S. Department of State, 2004, Trafficking in Persons Report, Washington, D.C.
A dear friend of mine has started a ministry in Colorado to provide a safe haven for girls who have been rescued from Child Trafficking.  "It is for young girls who've been abandoned, neglected or orphaned and need a safe place to heal. Restore Innocence is trying to raise funds to open a shelter for these girls to come and be restored."  There are only a few shelters in the U.S. and there is a desperate need for more!!
I would like to help raise funds for Restore Innocence through my Etsy site, and I have chosen to give 30% of my sales of bags and purses to the Restore Innocence ministry.  When you visit my Etsy site you can click on "Restore Innocence Bags" under the shop sections area on the left to see all the bags and purses for sale.
To learn more about Restore Innocence and how you can help support the Cinderella House, please visit their blog at: http://cinderellahouse.blogspot.com/

Repurpose, reuse, recycle!

I have been staring at this ugly sports coat hanging in our closet forever, and wondering when in the world my husband was going to give it up.  He actually used to wear this coat, I could not believe it.  And being the practical person that he is, he would once in a while get it out and put it on just to see if it had come back in style...  it never has, and it never will.  He finally gave up his rights to the coat.  (Darn it! I forgot to take a picture of it...  I am so bad about that).  But no matter, it was ugly, trust me!  There were two fates awaiting this coat: 1.Be taking to Goodwill  2.Be repurposed as a bag.  #2 was the most obvious choice. (Besides, I didn't want some poor women to cringe when her practical husband brought it home from Goodwill hoping as my husband had hoped that it would come back into style someday...) 
So here it is.... given new life!

So ladies, if you have any of your old out of style coats that you are dying to get out of your closet, send them my way!