Month: March 2016


Mar
2016

Spring Pasta Salad

categories: Recipes, Salads, Side dishes

garden pasta salad 8

The first day of Spring was last Sunday and if you are like me you are starting to plan and dream about your garden. I have a large flower garden in my back yard so usually I am dreaming about what flowers to plant.

FullSizeRenderHowever, for the past few years I have grown a few vegetables, and many of the vegetables I have grown are included in this flavorful Spring Pasta Salad: radishes, green pepper, red onions, and grape tomatoes.  These four main vegetables come together beautifully as they get tossed into a tangy dressing with shell pasta.  This combination is perfect for any celebration including Easter which will be here before you know it.

pasta salad 12pasta salad 10

Start by boiling 1 (16 oz.) package of medium pasta shells according to the package directions.shellsboiling pasta

While the noodles are boiling, chop 1 cup of red onions, 1 cup of green peppers, 1 cup of sliced radishes and cut 1 pint of grape tomatoes by cutting each tomato in half.tomaotes , onions, green peppers and tomatoes

Now set the vegetables to the side and mix up your dressing.  In a bowl combine the 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk, 2 cups of mayonnaise, 1/2 cup of white vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 cup of sugar.

mixing dressing

Drain your pasta and rinse it in cold water.  Now you can mix everything together in a large bowl.

shells mixed into pasta

Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before you serve to let the flavors mix together.

garden pasta salad 14

garden pasta salad 11

Print
Spring Pasta Salad
 
Ingredients
  • 1 (16 oz.) package of medium pasta shells
  • 1 cup of chopped red onions
  • 1 cup of chopped green peppers
  • 1 cup of sliced radishes
  • 1 pint of grape or cherry tomatoes (cut each tomato in half)
  • 1 (14 oz.) can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 cups of mayonnaise
  • ½ cup of white vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup of sugar
Instructions
  1. Start by boiling 1 (16 oz.) package of medium pasta shells according to the package directions.
  2. While the noodles are boiling, chop 1 cup of red onions, 1 cup of green peppers, 1 cup of sliced radishes and cut 1 pint of grape tomatoes by cutting each tomato in half.
  3. Now set the vegetables to the side and mix up your dressing. In a bowl combine the 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk, 2 cups of mayonnaise, ½ cup of white vinegar, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and ½ cup of sugar.
  4. Drain your pasta and rinse it in cold water. Now you can mix everything together in a large bowl.
  5. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before you serve to let the flavors mix together.

 

 

 

  • Comments Off on Spring Pasta Salad

Mar
2016

Chicken Pot Pie

categories: Main Dishes, Recipes

Chicken pot pie 6Chicken pot pies are one of my favorite foods with their creamy filling and buttery crust.  I remember enjoying Swanson Chicken Pot Pies in those little foil tins as a kid in the 80’s.  Everyone enjoyed their flakiness and had fun picking at the upside down pie on their plates.  Well as an adult I have never bought those pies.  I guess it’s because they look like they are half of the size they used to be and the quality of the vegetables and chicken is questionable.  Luckily I have a pot pie recipe that I have enjoyed for many years as an adult, which I am sharing with you today. This recipe is so simple that your kids can help make it on those busy weeknights.  And, it’s healthy since it’s packed full of vegetables so you can feel good about getting the kids to eat their corn, beans, carrots, peas, and green beans.  The best part of this dish is the flakey, buttery crescent roll topping that is woven over the filling.  So let’s get started on this simple weeknight meal.

chicken pot pie 4

chicken pot pie 2Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees.  Next you will need a 1/2 cup of onion chopped into fine pieces.

onionsThen in a microwave safe bowl cook your 16 oz package of frozen vegetables according to the package directions.  While the vegetables are cooking in the microwave, start cooking the onion over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of butter until the onion is tender.

cooking onionsNext whisk in the 1 (10 1/2) ounce can cream of chicken soup, 1 (10 1/2) ounce can cream of mushroom soup, 1 cup of milk, 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme leaf, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.

mixing in soups and thymeThen add your cooked vegetables.

mixing in vegetablesDrain the water out of the 9.57 ounce can of cooked white meat chicken breast and add it to the filling. Or you can use 1 1/2 cups of leftover cooked chicken.

mixing in chickenPour the filling into a greased 9.5 inch oven safe pie plate.

filling in the pie plateNow get the crescent rolls out of the package and spread them out on a cookie sheet and smooth out the triangular perforations.

smoothing out lines in rollsCut the crescent roll dough into 1 inch strips.cutting rolls in stripsPlace the dough on top of the filling in a lattice pattern. Putting one row down and then the next row on top.

rolls on top of pot pieBake the pie for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown in a 375 degree oven.  Let it sit for 5 minutes and then serve.  This pot pie is great served with mashed potatoes because you can pour any extra filling over the potatoes.

pot pie 1

Print
Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup of finely chopped onions
  • 1 (16 oz.) package of frozen mixed vegetable (classic mix of: corn, carrots, peas, and green beans)
  • 2 tablespoons of butter
  • 1 (10 1/2) ounce can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 (10 1/2) ounce can of cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaf
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 (9.75) ounce can of cooked white chicken breast or 1 1/2 cups of cooked chicken
  • 1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls

Instructions

  1. Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees. Next you will need a 1/2 cup of onion chopped into fine pieces.
  2. Then in a microwave safe bowl cook your 16 oz package of frozen vegetables according to the package directions. While the vegetables are cooking in the microwave, start cooking the onion over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of butter until the onion is tender.
  3. Next whisk in the 1 (10 1/2) ounce can cream of chicken soup, 1 (10 1/2) ounce can cream of mushroom soup, 1 cup of milk, 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme leaf, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
  4. Then add your cooked vegetables.
  5. Drain the water out of the 9.57 ounce can of cooked white meat chicken breast and add it to the filling. Or you can use 1 1/2 cups of leftover cooked chicken.
  6. Pour the filling into a greased 9.5 inch oven safe pie plate.
  7. Now get the crescent rolls out of the package and spread them out on a cookie sheet and smooth out the triangular perforations.
  8. Cut the crescent roll dough into 1 inch strips.
  9. Place the dough on top of the filling in a lattice pattern. Putting one row down and then the next row on top.
  10. Bake the pie for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown in a 375 degree oven. Let it sit for 5 minutes and then serve. This pot pie is great served with mashed potatoes because you can pour any extra filling over the potatoes.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2016/03/01/chicken-pot-pie/

Chicken-Pot-Pie-Long-Pin

  • Comments Off on Chicken Pot Pie