Southwestern Chicken Pot Pie

Southwestern Chicken Pot PieSouthwestern Chicken Pot Pie White Lie!

I thought I was a genius when I first came up with the Southwestern Chicken Pot Pie, but as it turns out, I didn’t come up with it.  Here I was, making Southwestern Egg Rolls for the family and toying with the notion of filming them, which I didn’t,  then later that evening, I was scrolling through Pinterest when I saw a picture of a traditional Chicken Pot Pie made with Grands Flaky Layer Biscuits.  Needless to say, that’s the exact moment lightning struck my brain.  Southwest BlendSouthwestern Chicken Pot Pie!  I even knew how I was going to make it.  But did I do any research before it was done?  The answer isn’t just no, it’s Hell No!  I was sure my idea was so ingenious that I was just going to pave the way to a new Frontier Pie.  Boy was I wrong.  The only real reassuring and comforting thing I can say after discovering other recipes for the same thing is that my recipe tasted great, and I didn’t consult with any book or anyone to make it, and it was exactly how I envisioned it!  So check out the video and the ingredients below and hopefully you’ll be convinced to try this for yourself next time you’re craving a homemade Pot Pie.

Southwestern Chicken Pot Pie Ingredients:

1 bag Southwest Blend or 2 cups of assorted Black Beans, Corn, Onion and Peppers
3 chopped Boneless Chicken Thighs
2 Puff Pastry Sheets (Puff Pastry sheets should be thawed 40 Minutes in advance)
2 Cups Chicken Stock or Bouillon
1 thawed and strained Frozen Spinach
1 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Cumin
1 tbsp Butter
3 tbsp Flour
2 shakes of Garlic Powder (1 for veggies and 1 for the chicken)
Chopped Cilantro and Parsley (optional)
Oil for frying
 

Combine all the vegetables first and season with Garlic Powder and 1/2 tsp of the Chili Powder.  Prepare and Cook the Chicken in 1/8 cup cooking oil and season with the rest of the dry seasonings, then combine the cooked chicken with the Southwest Blend.  Using the same skillet melt 1 tbsp butter, add 3 tbsp flour, stir to form a light Roux, then slowly add 2 cups of Chicken Stock to make a gravy, then poor the gravy into the Southwest Blend.  Now fit one Puff Pastry Sheet to a well greased pie tin and trim the edges.  Add the Southwest Blend to the pie until it reaches the Brim.  Fit the Second Puff Pastry Sheet over the top and press the edges firmly in a circular motion around the pie to combine the top and bottom crust.  Again, trim the edges, then oil the top or egg wash and cut 3 small slits in the center of the Pastry dough for baking ventilation.  Bake the Southwestern Chicken Pot Pie at 425 degrees for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown, and serve.

Rack of Lamb with a Mint Panko Crust

Rack of LambTraditional Rack of Lamb!

Who can deny a Rack of Lamb for Easter or for Christmas?  It’s tradition, isn’t it? Well not in my family.  Not that we don’t celebrate these holidays or enjoy many of it’s benefits, but the whole Rack of Lamb mystery seemed to evade our house when I was growing up.  I didn’t understand until recently, and unfortunately I haven’t found another way around it.  An eight rib rack of lamb can run you upwards of $45 bucks, easily.  That’s about 15 bucks a pound considering the average rack weighs about 3 plus pounds.  But I figure, much like Christmas, you’ve got to enjoy life and splurge now and again.  So if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it right here in the Poor Man’s Gourmet Kitchen!Rack of Lamb in a Mint Panko Crust

Don’t let the idea of this recipe intimidate you; not one bit.  This recipe is very simple, and it breaks down like this.  First, clean the meat.  Cut and trim away the flap and some of the fat.  Season then sear.  Smear with Mustard.  Roll in the seasoned bread crumbs and bake.  Sound easy enough?  Good, because it really is, and my video instructional, as always will walk you through it step by step and show you how simplified this rack of lamb recipe is.  Not to mention how proud of your self you’ll feel when you take your bow from the applause you receive from your guests.

Rack of Lamb Ingredients:

1 Trimmed Rack of Lamb
1 cup of Panko Bread Crumbs
1 cup Mint leaves
2 green onions
Horseradish Mustard or Honey Dejon Mustard
Salt and Pepper to taste (1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper)
Orange Chile Sauce for dipping or Mint Jelly