Thursday, March 14, 2013

Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Butternut Squash and Kale

It is no secret in our house how much Apollo loves Roasted Chicken.  I usually make one every few weeks.  Honestly, I don't make it just for him, we all love chicken and I love all the dinners I can make with the leftovers.  The latest Food and Wine had Julia's Favorite Roast Chicken and I HAD to try it, we were not disappointed!  The only problem, I had so much going on, I forgot to take pics.  No worries, this is a do over and next time I will have camera in hand.
A lot of times with the leftover chicken, I make a basic chicken pot pie.  I have tried many times to change it up, but Gordy loves it the old fashion way (just no frozen carrots)  I was in the mood for something a little different the other night.  I looked in the fridge and I had butternut squash that had to be used.  I went looking for a chicken pot pie with squash and I found the perfect one to try on Epicurious!  I love that it is ALL made in my cast iron skillet and used puffed pastry instead of pie crust. 
 I even had some fresh kale.  I sauteed some onions in olive oil until soft.  I stirred in chopped garlic and fresh sage, cooking until soft.  I added the kale,
cooking until wilted.  I added 1/4 cup of flour, and stirred constantly for about 4 minutes.

I stirred in chicken broth, 1/2-cupful at a time, then added the squash. I brought it all to a boil, reduced the heat, and simmered until squash was just softened and broth was thick, 8-10 minutes. I added the chicken to the skillet, stirred, and seasoned with salt and pepper.
I unfold the thawed pastry and smoothed out any creases. I placed the pastry over the skillet, allowing corners to hang over sides. I whisked an egg and 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl.  I brushed pastry with egg wash and cut four 1-inch slits in the top to vent. 
I baked the pot pie until pastry was beginning to brown, 15-20 minutes. I reduced my oven temperature to 375° and baked until pastry was a deep golden brown and crisp, 15-20 minutes longer.  Gordy loved this version of an old favorite! 
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie 
with Butternut Squash and Kale

1/4 cup olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
1 small bunch kale, center ribs and stems removed, leaves chopped
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 small butternut squash, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, meat torn into bite-size pieces
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (such as Dufour or Pepperidge Farm), thawed
1 large egg

Place a rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 425°. Heat oil in an 8-inch cast-iron or other heavy ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions; cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. 


Reduce heat to medium-low. Add garlic and sage to skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic begins to brown, about 2 minutes.


Add kale and season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing often, until wilted, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle flour over. Cook, stirring constantly, for 4 minutes.

Stir in broth, 1/2-cupful at a time, then add squash. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until squash is just softened and broth is thickened, 8-10 minutes. Add chicken to skillet, stir, and season with salt and pepper.

Unfold pastry and smooth any creases; place over skillet, allowing corners to hang over sides. Whisk egg and 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl. Brush pastry with egg wash; cut four 1-inch slits in top to vent.

Bake pot pie until pastry is beginning to brown, 15-20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375° and bake until pastry is deep golden brown and crisp, 15-20 minutes longer. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving


 


Monday, February 25, 2013

Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken Breast {SRC}


Woo Hoo,it's time again for a Secret Recipe Club post!!!  This month, I was lucky to be assigned to Lynsey Lou's!  What a fabulous blog.  She says "The kitchen is definitely the heart of our home.  We spend about 75% of our time there."  That is so true of our house also.  I had no problem picking a recipe, her Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken Breast had me drooling and I had jalapenos in the fridge I had to use.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Chipolte Sweet Potato Soup


I am trying hard to stick to my New Year's resolution to lose some more weight, so far, I have gained a pound!  Guess I better try a little harder.  The weather the last couple of days have been brutal here in Florida, highs only in the 70's and lows all the way down to the 50's, BURRRR.  I was craving some hardy winter soup for dinner, but it HAD to be something low calorie and healthy.  I found the perfect recipe on Homesick Texan, Chipolte Sweet Potato Soup. 

Monday, January 28, 2013

Kung Pao Chicken {SRC}

Where has the month of January gone? I have only 3 post for the month of January, and we are all ready in the last week.  Oh well, my New Year's resolution to blog more is not going well.
The good thing about the end of the month is it is time for another Secret Recipe Post!  This month I was so lucky to be assigned Nicole from Colie's Kitchen.  Wow, what a hard decision it was to choose just one recipe!  Nicole's recipe index is FULL of wonderful, yummy recipes!  I finally decided on her version of Kung Pao Chicken, a dish I love, but have never attempted to make at home.  Her recipe was as promised, "a very easy recipe to make, but better yet, this recipe exceeds the work you put into it. It taste like you worked much harder than you did."

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Spinach, Ricotta and Blue Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast

For some strange reason on my last trip to Sam's I bought a huge container of ricotta cheese.   I wasn't even sure what I was going to do with, but it was such a dog gone good price.  I ended up making VERY good use of it in a couple of different recipes.  Gordy's and my hands down favorite was Spinach, Ricotta and Blue Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast!

Monday, January 21, 2013

Brie and Artichoke Soup

Last time we were at Trader Joe's I purchased two bags of frozen artichokes and one bag of frozen kale.  They have been in the freeze since just before Christmas, it was time to use them.  I also had a large wheel of Brie that I had brought for Christmas and forgot to put out.  One of our local tea rooms, The Tea Cup, makes and awesome Brie and Artichoke Soup that I had been craving.  I have never been able to convince them to share the recipe with me, so I had to try my hand at my own version.  I began by thawing some of the artichokes and some kale.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Peanut Butter PUPcakes and Apollo's 8th Birthday

 We love to celebrate birthdays in our house, especially for Apollo and Belle!
 Last week was Apollo's 8th Birthday, he loves his birthday bandana.  As always, to celebrate a birthday, I make my baby's favorites. 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Meyer Lemon Mojito

Okay, I know, when you think of Christmas Cocktails, you really don't usually think of one made with a Meyer Lemon, right?  

Monday, November 26, 2012

Cottage Pie {SRC}

I cannot believe that November is almost over!  We had such a fantastic Thanksgiving, it was so great to have all our family together!  The best part, they were all here for our 5 annual Gator Golf Scramble and Party.  GO GATORS!!  I will post more about the party, food and of course the CAKE later this week. 

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

Easy Baked Acorn Squash

We have been doing a lot of squashing in our house, something I am not too familiar with, but have really been enjoying the experiments!
I have tried Acorn Squash in soup, but have never tried it roasted. This is a great and EXTREMELY easy side dish for Fall.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Chipotle Chicken Pasta {SRC}

Wow, where oh where has October gone?  I can not believe Halloween is the day after tomorrow!  The best part of the end of the month is another post with The Secret Recipe Club.  This month I was so excited to have Jocelyn from Inside BruCrew Life, her blog is AWESOME, especially if you have a sweet tooth!  I have been trying hard to stay away from the sweets, but oh some of her recipes were so tempting.  She doesn't post too many savory recipes, but I was able to find one that was perfect for us, Chipotle Chicken Pasta.  Not only is the recipe from one of my favorite restaurants, Cheesecake Factory, but Jocelyn posted it on my birthday!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Dieting Doesn't Have to be Boring, Shrimp Scampi over Spaghetti Squash


I am still trying to drop some of the pounds I gained on our 7 day cruise.  One way I have been accomplishing this, is to replace most of our pasta, rice and potatoes with something a little healthier.  I was very nervous the first time I substituted spaghetti squash for angel hair pasta.  I mean, Gordy has always been a meat and potatoes kind of guy and up until 2 years ago, we ALWAYS had bread with dinner.   I thought it would be a big step for him to have the shrimp scampi over a squash, but I was wrong, he LOVED it!  Matter of fact, you can use spaghetti squash in most recipes that call for pasta!  This scampi goes together so quickly.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Friday, October 12, 2012

Apple Cider and Rosemary Chicken and A Belle Update


 Wow, I can not believe how long it has been from my last post.  The day's just seem to be disappearing and before I know it, dinnertime has rolled around and I am too tired to take any pictures.  September was not the best month for us, but October is getting off to a FANTASTIC start.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Baked Quinoa and Chicken Parmesan {SRC}

Wow, the end of September is here all ready.  I love Fall in Florida!  And I love another post with Secret Recipe Club.