Chicken pot pie- my way

Okay people this is My recipe for chicken pot pie. There are a ton of different variations that I will list at the end but let me do the easiest way that I tend to do the most first. Here we go.

INGREDIENTS (serves 4)

Package of Pillsbury pie crusts (comes with two in each box- you will only need 1-unless you skip the bisquick topping and use the other pie crust for the top then of course you will use the whole box)

1lb boneless skinless chicken tenderloin/or breast (cut in chunks)

Frozen bag of mixed veggies (greenbeans, peas, corn, carrots) 

1 can cream of chicken (with or with out herbs)

1 cup bisquick mix

1/2 cup milk (additional 1/3 optional)

1 egg 

Garlic powder (I like to use tastefully simples garlic garlic and onion onion) 

Onion powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Steps: preheat oven to 375

1. Take your pie crust out of the box and allow the wrap to get to room temperature, as well as pull your veggies out and allow them to defrost a tiny but either in a warm bath in the bag in the sink or just on the counter. 

2. Line a baking sheet with tin foil and place chunks of bite sized chicken on the  sheet and season with garlic, onion powder, salt and pepper. I place my chunks in the oven for about 20 ish minutes at 375. I like it to be just barely cooked through because they will be making another trip in the oven for about 25 mins. 

3. Spray dish with Pam and Unwrap and unroll your pie crust to fit in your deep casserole pan/dish. Make sure to press sides to make sure it won't slide down in the pan onto itself. Place pie crust in casserole dish in the oven (with nothing in it yet-just the crust) for about 10 minutes. Monitor it u want it to be just under golden brown. 

4. After chicken is cooked- In a mixing bowl place chicken (I end up breaking my chunks even smaller), mixed veggies, and contents of the cream of chicken soup and mix well till thoroughly coated. Now this is where that optional 1/3 cup milk comes in to play- if you want it to be a little thinner (I sometimes do) add that additional 1/3 cup in here and mix well. 

5. After removing your pie crust out of the oven- empty contents of mixing bowl into casserole with browned pie crust.

6. Topping: combine the 1 cup bisquick mix, 1/2 cup milk and 1 egg into a bowl and mix well until no lumps. Pour over the top of your chicken/veggie mix already in your casserole dish. 

7. Place back into oven for 20-25 minutes or until the top is golden brown. 

After it's done go to town on the sucker. 

Now for the additional things you can do to it or change about it- the cream of chicken soup in a can -some people don't like serving it so if you have the time and supplies to make a homemade version by all means -go for it-

Another thing I sometimes do is before adding the final topping is making some garlic mashed potatoes (they can be instant -it's okay) and putting them on top of the veggies first THEN putting my topping on top of the potatoes. You might want to be careful in this step your casserole dish tends to be pretty full at this point depending on the depth. 

Another thing you could use instead of cooking raw chicken is using a rotisserie chicken and just chopping that up too. 

All the additions really depend on how much time and or energy you have.

Bath paint fun

My son loves to paint. As do I. I'm glad we have that in common. I don't paint every night with him but I do some sort of painting whether it be bath or water color or washable finger paints - at least once every week and a half.

Going into painting anything with a toddler you have to have the mindset "I'm going to have to clean in some sort of way." Obviously. 

This post is specifically about bath paint. It's awesome. I even join in. And I know kids as old as 10-12 to enjoy it. 

This is what you will need.

1.Shaving cream (white and already foam) don't know how it will work with the shaving cream that's a gel first. 

2. Food coloring

3. A small bowl to mix. 

Now I put the finished paints one by one as they are done into a 1/2 dozen cupcake pan. It is metal and it works for basic colors. (Just a suggestion you could use a plate or some other thing like six tiny cups) [also-pan is not pictured above]

Step one: spray about a handful of shaving cream into a bowl and take your first basic color of choice (I chose green).

Use your best judgement in how many drops to use. I use about 6-8 drops. 

And then you mix. (My son is helping me mix- and he wanted to do the red) 

The colors you should be able to make using just the food coloring are red, green, blue, and yellow. 

The colors you will need to make as well but require mixing two colors are purple and orange. 

Purple- 4 drops red and 3 blue. 

Orange- 3 drops red and 4/5 yellow. 

You will end up with six colors. 

This is what mine turned out to look like. 

They are good to go! 

I grab a few different sized paintbrushes and sometimes a sponge brush and plop my son into the tub ;naked or you can have just a diaper on your kid-it's up to you- I like to merge right into bath time after this activity...so were usually "ready" ;)

Look at that huge canvas!! He has such a good time! A little tip don't plug the drain in the tub during painting the water will turn colors. But keep the water running.

Best thing is the clean up is relatively easy. I use a cup to pour water over the mess or if you have a removable shower head -I am SO jealous- all you have to do is 1. Snap a picture of your loved ones artwork

2. Rinse with water! And viola! Awesome right?!

Don't make me put you in the time out boxy thingy

My son already loves hitting a baseball or well anything really. I am in full support of him being entirely active in sports and activities and enjoying being a kid while he can. I want to try to encourage him to try out for anything he wishes to attempt.

Now on another side note my son is being groomed slightly to lean towards playing hockey. My wonderful husband played it all his life and he loved it. So naturally my son is going to at least get a taste of it. Okay okay mom did play a little floor hockey in high school and ended up elbowing a girl in the face because she was crowding the ball- but that's besides the point. Hockey is a crazy sport to watch and for those of us who enjoy it- it scares me as a mother to think of my son out on the ice being pushed and shoved around. 

As the person who brought him into the world I feel like I have some say as to who gets to lay a finger on my son...and I imagine it will be hard for me to stay seated in the stands with my mouth shut and butt glued to the bleachers if my son got hurt by some malicious play. Oh mama bear would emerge. 

I think there is a reason that there are no mothers coaching or refereeing boys hockey -I can see it now-  "Both of you...Settle the f*ck down. You say your sorry. And you say your sorry. Don't make me put you in the time out-y box-y thingy."

good grief.

I will say this, as my sons BIGGEST FAN (wudd-up); I WILL be the mom with all the teams matching sports gear, a giant poster with bright colors, and yes ill be the one screaming the loudest you can bet your butt.
Because at the end of the day I want my son to know how much i love, support, and care about him. And when one of those other kids says "Dude your mom is CRAZY" I hope his answer will be "And your mom is LAME"
Haha no but seriously. ;)

Mommy's scary voice

Mommy has a scary voice. I'm waiting for the day my son decides to tell a story of a time I had to use my scary voice. I call it mommy's monster voice. RAWR.

You know the one I'm talking about right?  The one that peeks out at wits end. My lucky husband has witnessed it a couple times. And even he said out loud "ooohhhhh mommy got angry".

D*MN STRAIGHT

I had a right to be angry. When the day isn't cooperating and everything seems out of control, and no one is following directions that moms put in place so things run smoothly-  that voice peeks out to let surrounding ears know "mom means business". 

I didn't know my voice could go that deep- or that...well monster-y (lack of a better word). The maybe two times I have ever resorted to using it out of desperation - the look on my sons face was turned from "mayhem" to "okay mom is way more upset than I am.." Eyes all big and everything. I don't raise my voice often. But when I do raise my voice it's for good reason. 

I have to say either I'm blessed with a fairly well behaved toddler currently in his terrible two's or my mommy's monster voice is legitimately scar worthy. Hmm I guess only time will tell. 

When does your mommy monster voice come out? I wanna know!

I had to have at least one picture on here. 

Hello world!

Lets try this thing out! I am Mom. Mom I am.
Sorry I read a lot of Dr. Seuss Books to my beautiful baby boy.
What a splendid way for me to bring up my son...also he is not so much a baby any more. More or less a toddler who uses me as a trampoline, napkin, jungle gym, and a healer of Boo-Boos. Great job description right there!
So this is my first post and I figured i would just lay down the law right here...well MY law.
Okay so its not really a law either. Its just basically telling a little bit about me and why i do the things I do/post the things I post.
I am sicilian. AND PROUD. For those who don't really know what Sicilian is---My ancestors reign from Sicily...

BOOM. 

Any who like many other ITALIANS/SICILIANS- I have this rule where any recipe I have attained through my wonderfully crazy family I will not share with the world. Basically you have to have my blood running through your veins in order to peek at my awesome book of family recipes. I have two books. 

One with Family recipes, and the other with recipes I have conjured up all by myself. And those are the ones I will be happy to share.  So when you see me using gravy [AKA pasta sauce] {the red kind} I appreciate the need to know how to make it, but you can bet your BISCUT you will not be receiving my recipe for my one of a kind-family retained gravy. Don't hate me. Im working on making it purchasable. Give me time. 

Now DISCLAIMER: I love comfort food. I also love healthy food. ACTUALLY i love all types of food. great disclaimer eh? I feel like the recipes i cook the most often are comfort food. I do have my bursts of foods/recipes where Im all "Im going on a diet.." (you know, where you stick to healthy eating and taking the stairs until your period hits) [then you're all] CARBSSSSSS

YEEAAHHHHHHH

OK. Also i am a first time mom. Not a perfect mom but a good one---if i do say so myself. 

I love being a mom. I have a little human punching me and prodding me for 9 months then KAPOW! 

Push--push--PLOP you gotchyerself a screaming, pooping, beautiful cheesy baby you get to attempt to bring up in the world to make good decisions. That thought alone during pregnancy was SCCCAARRRYYY and truthfully brought me to tears on a few occasions. I also cried at the fact that i was going to "Get fat" Hahaha. 

Besides the point. I trail off in talking quite a bit 

I promise I WILL LAND THE PLANE. 

Another thing i feel you should know is I am an artist. I have my bachelor of fine arts. And frankly you can ask my mom...I have loved art since i was a youngin'. I signed up for additional art classes to go to when i was NOT even in school. Dedicated right here! Need to let you guys know that my posts will probably include creative exploration with my family. I love making messes and WHUDDYA know my two year old does too! PERFECT! So we get messy, but i have learned some awesome things in the past two years to control messes, maintain a two year old, tire out a two year old, and prevent forest fires {thanks smoky!} Join me as I continue my messy, crazy, creative life with my loving husband, and my adorable two year old---and lets see what trouble we get into. :)