CHICKEN POT PIE FOR A WINTRY DAY

This is a real quick, easy-peasy recipe for you busy women. Your own chicken pot pie will be real comfort food, especially on these chilly winter days.

I made this recipe up out of desperation awhile back, loved it and try to make it often.  You do NOT have to purchase the items from Trader Joe's, the broasted chicken from Costco, or have a pre-made pie crust in the freezer as I did; but feel free to duplicate from elsewhere, remembering the point here is to make something that tastes like you've slaved for hours in short order!

1 large ONION (bigger the better)

1 BROASTED CHICKEN from Costco

2-16 oz. bags frozen Trader Joe's VEGETABLE MELANGE

2-16.9 oz. jars Trader Joe's ALFREDO SAUCE

1 or 2 4-oz. cans SLICED MUSHROOMS

1 pre-made, frozen PIE CRUST, thawed

Remove pie crust from freezer and place in the refrigerator to thaw THE DAY BEFORE.

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

Remove all meat from your broasted chicken, cut up into chunks the size you like, and have ready in a bowl.

Chop large onion, fry in a big fry pan or dutch oven in 2-4 Tbsp. real butter ("One can never have enough butter"~Julia Child) over medium heat until translucent.

Cut open two bags TJ's Vegetable Melange (which contains more butter!), pour into pan mixing with onions, stirring until just thawed (not over-cooked) and vegetables are a bright color.

Pour in the two bottles TJ's Alfredo Sauce (getting every last bit out with a spoon), stir until all is coated and warmed nicely.

Add one or two 4-oz. cans sliced mushrooms, incorporate.  You can add fresh, sliced and fried gently in butter mushrooms if you like, but this takes away from the easy and fast aspect.

Stir in chicken chunks and bring it all to a warm stage, but not so it bubbles.  I guess I have a horror of overcooking things!

Have a clean casserole dish ready that will hold the pie filling comfortably, to within 1"-2" from the top.  Pour it in, level off.

Roll out pie dough on floured surface so that it is 1"-2" wider than the casserole, lay over top, crimp edges, cut several steam holes in middle (see photo), and place in a pre-heated 375-degree oven for 20-30 minutes until the crust is golden brown (keep a watch).  Since ovens vary so greatly, I do underline that you check toward the end of the baking time.  I also think it wise to place casserole on a middle rack and place on a lower rack a cookie sheet just in case your pot pie oozes a bit.

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To serve:  Because there is no bottom crust, I often serve my pot pies in a bowl.  Dip into the steaming yumminess, close your eyes,  and enjoy!

This recipe is definitely a keeper.

Like you.

MYSTAGOGY RESOURCE CENTER: St. Isaac the Syrian on the Harm of Foolish Zeal

MYSTAGOGY RESOURCE CENTER: St. Isaac the Syrian on the Harm of Foolish Zeal: By St. Isaac the Syrian A zealous man never achieves peace of mind. But he who is a stranger to peace is a stranger to joy. If, as it is s...

HERE AND SOON GONE: SUMMER

While it lasts...
How will you do it?

Take a walk in the country.

Take your shoes off, and run on the grass.

Pack a picnic!

Don't forget the lavender lemonade...

Kiss a horse.

Write a long-lost friend.
Pick up the same pen and write 
a list of things you're thankful for.

Watch the birds gather a nest.
Enjoy seeing the babies leave it.

Make memories at the beach.

You've wondered what's behind that door--

open it!

Make homemade ice cream!

Visit your favorite nursery.

Have crepes at the Saturday Market!

Put "Visit Castles" on your Dreaming To-Do list.

Make jam…

Pick blueberries.

Pick every kind of berry…
strawberry, marionberry, blackberry,
lingonberry, raspberry, on and on
'til they're gone.

Find a field of lavender, 

bury your face in a bush and smell

a fragrance like no other.

Take a vacation with friends.

So do it…

…and plant a tree.

Smell the flowers.

Make a bouquet from them.

Plant a vegetable garden in the sun.

Salute the flag!

Plant one on the moon.

Gather wild honey.

Love on a little one.

Love on a big one.

Don't just look at the flowers, pick one

and make believe it's a real dragon,

like when you were a tiny person.

However you spend it,

may you be filled with JOY!

But whatever you do…

And don't forget your hat!!

Fill every sunny summer moment to the brim, 

because if you live where I do,

then you know that all too soon

THIS

will

happen…

And then THIS...

SO PICK YOUR PEACHES WHILE YE MAY!

AND MAKE A RUSTIC COBBLER WITH THEM;

EVEN IN WINTER YOU WILL REMEMBER

THEIR SUN-KISSED JUICY GOODNESS...

A HAPPY BLESSED SUMMER

NO MATTER WHERE OR HOW YOU SPEND IT!

TRAPEZA AT ST. ANTHONY'S

Images of Mount Athos
from The Ascetic Experience

While receiving hospitality at this Greek Orthodox monastery in Florence, Arizona, 

these thoughts came to mind becoming

my spiritual food.  I wanted to

share them with you.

This WATER I drink will leave me thirsty again, but the water you give, O Lord, is Living Water which wells up in me unto eternal life.

This BREAD I break and eat points to you, my Savior, who said, "This is my Body which is broken for you."

The FRUIT on the table speaks of the righteous fruit of the Holy Spirit produced by love, devotion and obedience to Thee.

OLIVES speak of your passion in Gethsemane, where you sweat what were like great drops of blood under the groaning ancient olive trees.

The SALAD proclaims the verdant nature of the green pastures to which we, your sheep, are continually being led.

The OIL in the flask reminds me that you have given the pressed life of the olive to man, "to make his face shine."

And the VINEGAR takes me to the foot of your Cross, where "They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall:   And when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink."  Oh! the bitterness of the cup you did drink from the hand of your Father out of pure love for man, your creation run afoul of original intent.  You willingly took that cup and drank it to the full...and now offer it to me, as I follow thee.

The WINE we drink, which gives us joy, cost you great sorrow, for you trod the winepress alone separated from your Father, with whom you had existed from all eternity.  You declared at that final supper, "This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me."

O sinless One, what incomprehensible love you poured out, and are still pouring out, upon all mankind.  It is when I struggle with  my whole being to apprehend and understand this love (always beyond my finite mind), that I remember there remains an invitation from the King of kings and Lord of lords which I must not ignore:

"BEHOLD I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears My voice and opens the door,

I will come in to him and dine with him,

and he with Me." Rev. 3:20

'ABOVE ALL THINGS LEARN TO LOVE SILENCE"--ST. ISAAC OF SYRIA

IN THE MORNING LIGHT...

I walk in the garden, sensing Him speaking

in and through His creation...

in the "cool, green gloom"...

in dappled shade, 

lying gently

on hopeful life...

through vibrant color,

shouting His love...

in shadows amidst tender growth...

in places of rest,

caressed by elegant blooms...

amidst moist lowly life

where water bubbles lie...

and over and through it all

the soothing sound of water;

water, which gives life to all--

and speaks peace to my garden,

and to me.

"A gardener is never shut out from his garden,

wherever he may be.  Its comfort never fails.  Though the

city may close about him, and the grime and soot

descend upon him, he can still wander in his garden,

does he but close his eyes."

BEVERLY NICHOLS

"We garden because we remember Paradise."

GEORGE LEWIS