Deep Dish Chicken Pot Pie [Recipe]

It's fall y'all (aka my favorite time of year). And with the cooler temperatures comes comfort food. On Friday night when our desert temps dipped to 60 degrees, I decided to dust off my deep dish chicken pot pie recipe I found several years ago from Kraft. It's simple, looks fancy and I'm pretty positive you'll love it. I always forget how much I enjoy this dish.

I made a few slight variations to the original recipe and here's how.

WHAT YOU NEED

• 1 lb. chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1/4 cup KRAFT Lite Zesty Italian Dressing
• 4 oz. Neufchatel Cheese, cubed
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 1/2 cup fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 3 cups frozen mixed vegetables
• 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter (optional)
• Salt, pepper & parsley to taste (optional)
• 1 ready-to-use frozen pie crust
• Egg wash (one egg + 2 Tbsp water)

Sautee veges in 2 Tbsp. of butter over medium low heat to soften. In a separate skillet, cook chicken in dressing in large skillet on medium heat 2 min. Add cream cheese; cook and stir until melted. Add flour; mix well. Add broth and vegetables; simmer 5 min. 

After you pour mixture into deep dish 10-inch pie plate, arrange pie crust over filling and flute edges. Cut slits in crust to allow steam to escape. Brush pie with egg wash. Bake 25-30 min. or until crust is golden brown.

The cream cheese is the secret. Enjoy.

[RECIPE] Mock Mashed Potatoes Using Cauliflower

I typically don't get home from my Skyrobics trampoline class until almost 9PM at night. I go straight from work to make it to the 7PM class. Since I am getting home so late these days, I am trying to limit my carb intake so at dinner, which resulted in me finally trying this dupe for mashed potatoes.

I saw Laura from Laura Must Lose Weight vlog her recipe and I was still skeptical when I watched it a few months ago. And if you've never tried this, then I'm sure you're going to still be skeptical after I tell you how great it was. I don't blame you. But I'll also tell you that you are missing out. This stuff is legit. I Instagrammed a photo of the mashed cauliflowers and I had a few requests for the recipe, so here you go. It's super easy to make.

You need:

1. A head of cauliflower, chopped
2. One ziploc steam bag (can be found where the oven bags are)
3. 1/2 C of cottage cheese
4. 1 clove of garlic minced
5. salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Put chopped cauliflower in ziplock steam bag and steam for 5 to 6 minutues or until soft
2. Mix all ingredients in a blender and blend untill smooth
3. Enjoy!

 

I served mine with zesty tilpia and sauteed mushrooms (I use a slight variation of that recipe). I didn't use oil for any of this, just fresh lemon and lime juice, salt, pepper and mrs. dash original seasoning. BAM.

January/February 2013 Recap via Instagram

It's been a long time since I filled you in on what I've been up to. I just realized I have not really done any sort of life update since my Christmas recap. With March (yes, March) upon us already, I thought I'd do a brief January/February recap. Not only for you, but I like to be able to look back on my blog and remember what I did and where I've been. But mainly for you, of course. Is anyone even still out there?? I feel like I completely fell out of the blogging universe.

January began with New Year's Eve. I swear I passed out before midnight. Yes, my first New Year's Eve in Vegas and I was in bed before midnight with Nyquil and Reese's teddy he left behind at Christmas.

If this isn't an attractive NYE look, I don't know what is

I've enjoyed my new owl coffee mugs from West Elm that I got for Christmas.

I've perfected at home soak off of gel nails without ruining your nails. Tutorial anyone?

essie marshmallow topped with sally hansen shall we dance

I think after 6 months of living here, I've officially learned how to navigate my way around the Las Vegas Strip.

stuck in morning traffic

It's been a while, but you may remember that since I moved here, I was using my coffee table as a TV stand, I finally bought a TV stand from Joss & Main a month of so ago and I was very proud of myself for putting the entire thing together all by my lonely.

Do we approve?

Have a few FaceTime sessions with the nephew:

Finally put pictures in picture frames in my room 3 months later.

Saw George Strait in concert at the MGM when an old college roomie was in town.

pre hair trim. Can't even fit my hair in the picture it was so long. #michelleduggarhair

Decided it was finally time to trim my hair. If you know me at all IRL, you know I am psycho when it comes to my hair. I've had several traumatic experiences throughout the years and finally found an amazing hair stylist who I've been going to for the past 6 years in Dallas. Well, I could not wait any longer, so I went to a new person here. I was not traumatized from new hair cut, but let's just say I'll be flying back to Dallas for my next one. No pics, sorry. Maybe soon. Don't love it. Actually, that experience could be it's own post.
I'm in the stages of planning a baby shower for my bestie who lives here. She's due very soon. I just sent invites out a few weeks ago. Here I am watching The Bachelor (don't love any of the girls this season) and addressing the invites:

Have come to the conclusion, no where is off limits for gambling or boozing in Vegas. When I was getting my prescription filled on Valentine's Day, I had to shake my head when I saw this while I waited to check out in line at my neighborhood CVS.

Only in Vegas

And most recently, I spent last weekend relaxing. I made an enormous omlette on accident, went to the grocery store, painted my nails and made my slow cooker beef stroganoff, which I've every night since Sunday except last night because we had a work dinner. (single girls who live alone problems)

Mushroom, onion and bacon omelette with a side of freah Whole Foods salsa

Essie Strawberry Shortcake

As much as I love this recipe, after 4 days in a row of it for dinner ... I'm ready for something else

That about sums up January and February. Like I said, it's not too exciting. I leave you with a pretty picture of the sunset from my balcony this past Sunday night. I love the mountain sunsets here. One thing you cannot get in Texas.

The pictures don't come close to doing justice

TGIF. Everyone have a great weekend! I'm going hiking at one of those gorgeous montains Saturday afternoon for the first time. Wish me luck, and please have the paramedics on standby. Thank you.

"The Best" rolled sugar cookies with icing

Happy Halloween goblins! In the spirit of the holiday, I made some homemade Halloween sugar cookies with icing last night to take to work. I Googled "best sugar cookie" and was directed to allrecipes.com, which had a recipe for The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies.  I also found this Sugar Cookie Icing recipe, which was legit. Actually, both recipes were legit, so I'm sharing them with you today.

The Bargain Blonde's adventures in baking:

Do you love the breast cancer awareness eggs?

Bats, pumpkins and boo! shapes, oh my

Halloween Cookiepalooza

If you don't own a silicone slipmat and you ever plan on baking, I'm telling you right now that you need one in your life. They make baking so much easier. The bottom of cookies turn out perfectly every time and are so easy to transfer to cooling racks.

I baked mine for exactly 6 minutes at 400 degrees F and transferred them to cooling racks immediately after taking them out of the oven. They were the perfect chewiness. Ice after cooled. Full recipes below:

The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies

1.5 cups butter, softened

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

Sugar Cookie Icing

1 cup confectioners' sugar

2 teaspoons milk

2 teaspoons light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Food coloring (Orange = 4 drops red + 2 drops yellow)

Anyone have any fun Halloween plans? Since I live in an apartment, I am going to my bestie Kristina's house to pass out candy because I want to see all the kiddos in their costumes.

Speaking of kiddos ... how cute is Reese in his costume for preschool on Monday? This is his "Captain America pose" he said:

Ugh, he's the cutest ever. My heart can't handle it.

Friday Favorites! LINK-UP!!!!

You may have noticed I was MIA last Friday, which means Friday Faves was a no-go. I was sick with a cold and it's still lingering, but I think I'm going to pull through.  

Soooo .... exciting news today! Several of you commented that you wanted Friday Faves to be link-up, so your wish is my command.  I created a button, which you can grab below and link-up with me today for Friday Faves.  Let's spread the faves!  

<center><a href="http://thebargainblonde.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e215/LindseyLeeTTU/ffbblogo.jpg"/></a></center>

So flattered! On Monday I was featured on a local blog called The Dallas Socials! If you live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, you should follow this blog. Betsy, the beauty and brains behind the blog, posts daily about whats going on around town – from events, to freebies, to shopping, to fun stuff in the burbs. Check it out.  

I can't make this stuff up and yes, this happened in real life in front of my very eyes.  So last Friday night I made the mistake of running into Wal-Mart to grab a few things.  "Wal-Mart" + "Friday Night" are two words that should not go together in the same sentence. This I know.  
Anywho - I'm checking out and about to go on my merry way when a man with a brown paper bag on his head walks by me and heads for the McDonald's at the front of the store.  Anyone who knows me IRL knows my phone is in my hands at all times, which comes in handy for moments like this.  My intent was just to snap a pic of this dude walking with a bag on his head, but things quickly escalated.
Next thing I know, he is stumbling backwards and falls to the ground. I'm pretty sure I had one hand over my mouth and the other still snapping pics.  I thought this was some freak under the influence of the sweet nectar and security would be over at any moment to escort him out.  That didn't happen.  Paper bag man just quickly popped back up and just walked right of out of Wal-Mart like what I just saw didn't even happen.  I felt like I was in the Twilight zone. Don't go to Wal-mart on a Friday night is the moral of this story. 

The Bianca Tassel

If you saw this beauty in person you would die.  I had to have it and now it's on it's way to me! Yipee.

via

Found these instructions on how to make bacon in the oven at the blog Mom & Wife and have been cooking bacon like this for the past month. Legit, the easiest and best way to make bacon IMHO.  You just put the bacon on a foil covered pan, put the pan in cold oven, turn to 400 degrees and bake for 20 minutes. While the bacon is baking you get to make the rest of your breakfast!  Life changing.  

Excuse me, sir.  Not liking my TV choices?

Poor guy got neutered and had to wear this cone when alone! ha.

via

Remember Alana, the Honey Boo BooChild break-out star from last season of Toddlers & Tiaras?  I posted about her here.  Yesterday it was announced that home girl is getting her own spin-off show on TLC!  I swear, this made my week.  If trashy reality TV is wrong, I don't want to be right. 

K, now it's your turn! Link-up bishes! What are you favorites from the week?

Recipe: Baked Summer Squash and Tomatoes

Ello!  I hope y'all enjoyed your extra long Memorial Day weekend.  Long weekends are the best, but going back to work after one of them is the worst.  Am I right or am I right?  However, the good news is that we now have a short work week, so yay to that.  

My cousin drove to Dallas from Houston Saturday morning and stayed with me this weekend.  Saturday we went to the lake, Sunday we took it easy and yesterday after brunch I insisted we go to my local Farmer's Market because it's been on my "to-do" list forever. 

Here are pictures from the market and a recipe for Baked Summer Squash and Tomatoes, which I made yesterday evening for dinner.  So fresh, so good and so easy. 

My cousin Sierra is in the white pants although you can barely see her.

The tomatoes were enormous, a gorge deep red and perfectly ripe.  There is no way I would ever find that kind of produce at my local grocery store.

blackberries, peppers and strawberries

I didn't even notice the wall of coffee beans and tea until I went to check out.  The clerk ringing me up said the Country Special Blend variety was their best seller and so I got half a pound of it.  I brewed a cup of it this morning and the flavors were magical.  

Call me crazy, but there is something fun about taking your produce home in a box.  I left with a cucumber, corn, avocados, new potatoes, eight ball squash, jam, coffee and those jumbo tomatoes.

Sitting pretty in my kitchen. 

I knew I wanted to bake the squash, so I took to Google. I combined a few ideas I found online to make the recipe I'm sharing below.  I loved it so much, I will be making it again this week and all summer long for that matter.  I used eight ball squash, but you could make this with the longer, Italian squash as well.  

Do you visit your local farmer's market?  What's your favorite way to cook squash?