Comfort food day! Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

This is a cold, snowy Saturday and it was just screaming something hot & yummy to eat.  Chicken Pot Pie sounded great, but I wasn't sure I had the ingredients in the house, and I didn't want to go get anything.  So, time to start digging - found chicken breasts, vegs, etc., but that would mean I'd have to make my own crust!  That sounded a bit overwhelming, but I thought "I can do this"!
                                                       Simple pot pie ingredients: 
3 large chicken breasts
1 small bag of frozen mixed vegs
1 can Healthy Request cream of chicken soup
1 stick of butter or margarine
1 onion-chopped
1 stalk of celery (I didn't have this!)
1 tsp salt


 Pie crust:  
3/4 cup of Crisco
 2 cups of all purpose flour
 4-8 T ice cold water

Put the chicken breasts in a 3 qt pot of boiling water while you start the crust. Use a pastry blender to cut crisco into flour until it is a "mealy" consistency.

Add cold water 4T at a time until the crust will ball.  Separate into 2 balls.  Flaten into discs and wrap in plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator to chill.
While the crust chills, and the chicken is boiling, chop onion & celery.  When chicken is done, drain & put aside to cool.  Use the same pot to mix the filling.  Put butter or margarine in the pot, when melted, add onions & celery.  Then add cream of chicken soup.  When all is blended and heated through, add chopped chicken breasts. 

Take pie crusts out and roll each one into 9" round.  Spray 9" glass pie dish and add 1st crust.  Add pot pie filling.    Top with second crust.
Bake @  375 degrees for 30-45 minutes.

So yummy on this cold, snowy day!  Enjoy!

color with love,
joyce

Crochet?

Valentine's Day is coming and I saw these great little crocheted hearts at twocrazycrafters.  I loved them and was inspired to try something I hadn't done in years.  A trip to Hobby Lobby for yarn and a hook, then to get to work.

 

I used this pattern:

Directions:

Row 1 - ch 12, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 4 sts, 3 hdc in next st, hdc in next 4 sts, 3 hdc in last st, work around the backside of the chain, hdc in next 4 sts, sk next st, hdc in next 4 sts, 2 hdc in last st, join to top of ch 1 that was the ch skipped in the very beginning.

Row 2 - ch 2, hdc in next 6 sts, 3 hdc in next st, hdc in next 6 sts, (2hdc in next st ) 3 times, hdc in next 3 sts, sk a st, hdc in next 4 sts, 2 hdc in each of the last 2 sts, join with a sl st to top of ch 2

Row 3 - ch 2, hdc in next 7 sts, 3 hdc in next st, , hdc in next 8 sts, ( 2 hdc in next st) 4 times, hdc in next 3 sts, sc in next st, sk a st, sc in next st, hdc in next 3 sts, ( 2 hdc in next st) 3 times, join with a sl st to top of ch 2

Row 4- ch 2, hdc in next 8 sts, 3 hdc in next st, , hdc in next 10 sts, ( 2 hdc in next st) 5 times, hdc in next 3 sts, sc in next st, sl st in next st, sk a st, sl st in next st, sc in next st, hdc in next 4 sst, ( 2 hdc in next st) 4 times, join with a sl st to top of ch 2. Fasten off.
(I added an extra "round"with pink yarn before the fasten off.)

Ta da!!

It took me over an hour, and every stitch is not exactly right, but I am thrilled with my crocheted heart!

color with love,

Hooray! The Fed Ex truck was here!

It was only a couple of weeks, but it seemed much longer!  I've been watching the beckyhiggins.com site for the announcement that the new Project Life kits were available.  What is it?  A VERY simple way to scrapbook, with all the cutting, planning, etc., done for you.  The kit is designed to hold pictures that are taken daily.  I know, that sounds overwhelming, and I know I won't do that.  But, the layout is your own, it can be used for daily, weekly or monthly pictures or a combination of both.

And, look at all the fun stuff inside.  The album is large and the color is more beautiful in person.  The small boxes are full of fun little cards for journaling.  You also get a pack of 12x12 paper if you want to add more stuff.  You could add more embelishments, too.  But, that sorta defeats the purpose, huh?  There's even a little date stamper!  (I love little things!)

The page protectors are made of a high quality, photo safe, plastic.  They are divided for pictures and cards. Everything fits in it's spot, perfectly.  I left a few empty so you can see how easy it would be to change things around or add more cards/less cards, more pictures or not.  Fun!

 

This has to be the easiest way to scrapbook ever!

What a perfect way to document your life, your faith and tell your story.  I think I'm going to use mine to remind me to be thankful for the blessings and be thankful in the trials. 

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess. 5:18).

I may find out what my life focus is, or what I spend the most time doing, who I spend the most time with, or where I am most of the time!  I don't think I can keep up daily, in fact, I've already missed some days this month, but I'll do what I can and see what happens!

color with love,

joyce

fabulous give away.....

Looking for a new piece of bling?  My precious friend, Traci is having a give away!!  Go visit Traci at Beneathmyheart.blogspot.com. Comment on Traci's blog to register to win a beautiful piece of jewelry from queenbeedesignsbyamanda.blogspot.com!  Go be blessed by Traci's talent and her love for our Father.  While you're there, look around at all the inspiring and wonderful "Traci projects" and posts!  She is one of the most talented people I've ever known, and there's so much fun goin' on at her place!
color with love,
joyce

"Crayon Cakes"

When I saw these cute "cakes" on the internet one day, of course I had to try them!!  I made some tonight and thought I'd share the recipe with you.

2 large eggs
3/4 C water
3T vegetable oil
1 17oz box of cinnamon swirl quick bread
1/2 C M&M candies

Preheat oven to 375.  Whisk together eggs, water & oil.  Stir in bread mix and spice mixes until blended.
Divide batter into muffin pans, and put 1 T M&M's on each muffin.  Stir through batter and bake 20-25 minutes.
Enjoy!

color (and bake) with love,
joyce

starting the new year!

I am so happy to have had time to work in my craft room! It feels so much better when you walk in and everything is where it's supposed to be. I am so blessed to have all of the fun things you see in my room. This room has been years in the making.  My husband is the best at building and supplying a craft room, take a look........

This is a great and wonderful space.  I cherish my time here!

color with love,

joyce

2009.....a wonderful year of blessings!

So many wonderful and fun things in 2009, I'll share some of them.....
January snow & ice, so beautiful!

                           

Valentine's Day

Brittany's here! 3/09

Brit's first trip to Keeneland! 4-09

Brit's Bday =)     

Bryan Jr. is 18!

Vacation July '09

Michael's 16th birthday!  Nana & Grandaddy gave him a car!

My boys going to work.... 

Bittany's first trip to an apple orchard.  10/09

Christmas 2009

Fun day at the office!

I am encouraged as we move into the new year, lots of things going on.  Today, it's very cold outside, and snow flakes are blowing around in preparation for the big "storm", hahaha.  I'm enjoying my time at work today, it's quiet and I'm focusing on new things, and moving foward.

Today I'll work on some administrative things, and a really fun bulletin board for the preschool suite.  Maybe I'll post a pic when I'm finished.

That's it for now.

color your life with love,
joyce

Christmas '09

This has been a wonderful Christmas season!  We had some of the same traditions and some new ones.  All of them wonderful and fun!  I tell myself all the time "life is short, make the most of it!".

We always put our tree up Thanksgiving weekend.  Our tree is a traditional mix of all kinds of things.  Lots of multi colored lights and old and new ornaments.  Each year the kiddos pick a new ornament, one they will take with them when they have their own tree someday.  We have old ornaments, even one I made when I was in the second grade, new ornaments that catch our eye, and gift ornaments from friends & family.  My tree skirt is a hand made felt skirt, with hand stitched felt shapes & lots of sequins.  My great aunt made it for my Mom.  I was blesssed with this treasure when my Mom passed away.  She also made us each a stocking when we were born, and one for our beloved when we married.  For some reason when the boys were born, I decided to break from tradition and use a "kit" for their stockings - what was I thinking?  This year I would be blessed with the opportunity to add one more.  Brittany would be with us on Christmas morning this year!  I finished her stocking in the wee hours on

December 23rd and cherished each minute I spent beading and stitching her

stocking, just as I did with Bryan & Michael's.

Another tradition we have came from my mom, she always made homemade waffles on Christmas morning.  Not the mix kind, but the kind from beaten egg whites and baking powder!  I tried to sneak in the mix, didn't work!  We have a relaxed afternoon meal with Honey Baked Ham for sandwiches, chips & simples sides.  This allows me to enjoy the day with my family, I like that.

For the first time, we went to the movies on Christmas night!  We went to

see Sherlock Holmes with friends, and had a wonderful time!  I worked at the cinemas when I was in school, but I had forgotten how busy it is on holidays.

Everything is packed away, ready for next year.  Now, I'm thinking about things to do and make for Valentine's Day!

color with love,

joyce

The Eve of Christmas Eve

It's been a while.  I'll tell you why....I've been trying to work on the look a bit before the big blog reveal.  Still so tech challenged that it's still not done, ughhhhh.

What a crazy day!  I started at Dick's Sporting Goods, picked up a couple of little things.  Then on to Gordman's - they didn't have what I went for.  Then....on to Walmart, just for stocking stuffers!  Called to check on Daddy & Nana, oh no.....Nana still can't get her email, so off to Palomar.  I updated her computer several weeks ago, which changed the look of her AOL, she has not been able to get her email since that time.  Bless her heart, I helped her find it again.  I drew her a little picture this time, I didn't really want have the updated version, I knew it would confuse her.  But, all is well now, I think.

Grant & Bryan are chillin', Jenny is downstairs with Brit, and I'm going to pick up Michael from Wills.  Another fun day with my crazy bunch, love it!

color with love,
joyce