I don’t know where to start! It’s a chicken pot pie, a simple—simply amazing—chicken pot pie, that’s got me all tied up in knots. Crazy, right?

I know. I’ll start with my emotions, ‘cause getting in touch with one’s emotions is a good starting point, or so I’ve been told.

I’m…

… tickled pink … with my new-found chicken pot pie knowledge.

… dismayed … that I never ate chicken pot pie when I was growing up, and maybe not until this very week, canyoubelieveit?

… flabbergasted … that I wasn’t inspired to learn to make chicken pot pie before. But now I’ve seen the light, glory be!

… evangelical … about spreading the chicken pot pie love. Eat your hearts out, folks. Your soul will sing.

… infatuated  … with my lard crust—it’s the best savory pie crust out there, and I am not ashamed to say it.

… concerned … I’ve been eating a little too much chicken pot pie.

… craving … more chicken pot pie, even though I’ve already made two in three days.

… basking … in the glow of my husband’s approval. “If only we ate like this every night,” he sighs wistfully as he helps himself to seconds. (If I wasn’t so sated with pot pie, I might consider that a slam.)

Seriously, pot pie is my newest, puppy-love crush. Lots of sappiness, moaning, dreamy smiles and the like.

Need more convincing? Take this.

Pot pie perks:
*It tastes good (of course).
*It’s easy.
*When using a Dutch oven, it’s a one-kettle meal.
*It’s pretty.
*Preparing it makes you feel like a domestic goddess (or god).
*Parts of the recipe can be made ahead.
*It’s filling.
*It’s an all-in-one meal, though a green side is nice, too.
*Kids like it.
*Grown-ups like it.
*The chicken is moist.
*The vegetables are tender.
*The sauce is creamy.
*The crust is flaky.
*Leftovers are magnificent.

Pot pie cons:
*Over-eating. It happens.
*The crusty edges are guaranteed to inspire vigorous fights, the type that involves jabbing-stabbing forks.
*Leftovers, there probably won’t be any.
*Burned tongues, because waiting is impossible.

As you can see, the perks far outweigh the cons. Clearly, pot pie is, or ought to be, in your future. And the sooner the better.

So, here’s what you need to do. (It appears I’m destined to write this post list format. Maybe this is one of the side effects of too much pot pie?)

1. Obtain 4 cups of shredded cooked chicken. Roasted is fine, or poached.
2. Make this pastry. This pastry is made for pot pie. Seriously! Change the rest of the recipe as much as you like, but whatever you do, use the lard crust. It elevates the pot pie to astonishing heights. Tops off the whole dish, too, hee-hee.
3. Chop up some veggies.

All of that can be done in the morning (and points 1 and 2 can be done days in advance), so that a couple hours before supper, all you need to do is saute, top, and bake. In other words…

4. MAKE POT PIE.

Chicken Pot Pie
Adapted from the Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook

Cook’s Illustrated recommends simmering boneless chicken breasts (about 1 ½ pounds) in 2 cups of broth for 8-10 minutes. Shred the chicken and reserve the broth.

4 cups shredded, cooked chicken
4-5 carrots, chopped
3-4 stalks of celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 tablespoons butter
½ cup flour
1 ½ cups milk
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus more as needed
1 ½ teaspoons salt, plus more as needed
½ teaspoon dried thyme
2 teaspoons dried parsley (or 3 tablespoons fresh)
3 tablespoons dry sherry
1 cup frozen peas
½ recipe lard pastry

In a Dutch oven (or large soup pot), saute the carrots, celery, and onion in the olive oil for about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and wipe out the pot.

Return the Dutch oven to the heat and melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for 30-60 seconds. Whisk in the milk and then the broth and simmer till thick (which will be almost immediately). Add the thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat and stir in the chicken, veggies, peas, and sherry. Taste to correct seasonings. If using a Dutch oven, scrape down the sides to pretty it up, or transfer the meat filling to a 9 x 13 baking dish.

Roll out the pastry dough to the desired thickness and place atop the veggies, tucking in the edges. Make steam vents by slashing the top of the pastry in several places.

Bake the pot pie, uncovered, at 350 degrees for about an hour, or until the crust is golden brown and the juices are bubbling merrily.

This same time, years previous: snippets, odd ends, creamed chicken with cheese biscuits (this pot pie is much superior), cleaning up bad attitudes

It’s what I’ve been drinking round the clock and I’m not even close to being sick of it.

At the store last night, I bought more ginger and lemons. And some limes, too, to shake things up a bit.

You can catch the whole story here.

Ginger Lemon Tea
Adapted from Recipes for a Postmodern Planet

Feel free to swap lime juice in place of some of the lemon, and agave syrup for the honey. If you’re suffering from a cough, a splash of whiskey is a profitable addition, or so I hear.

Fresh ginger can be found in the produce section of any grocery store.

a 1-inch knob of fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
1-2 lemons, juiced
1/4 cup honey
pinch of salt
4 cups water

Pour the water into a saucepan. Add the ginger and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, add the lemon juice, honey, and salt, and simmer for five minutes. Strain and serve.

Variation: Fizzy Ginger Tea
Make a concentrate by using only 1-2 cups of water. Mix the chilled concentrate with 2-3 cups of club soda. Serve over ice.

This same time, years previous: odd ends, tortilla pie

The day before Valentine’s, I realized that I had nary a pink heart up my sleeve and my kids, especially the youngers, were zippy with excitement. My baby boy had been laboriously writing notes to his little friends from church for days, and the older children were holed up in their rooms to craft, cut, and write. Oh dear. I decided I’d better rise to the occasion. You know, reciprocate. So I sat down at the table and mapped out a plan:

1. Little newspaper-wrapped and red-ribbon-tied gifts placed on pillows, to be found upon waking.
2. All games and no school work.
3. Iced hearts.
4. A visit to Papa’s job site.
5. An afternoon movie.
6. The Opening of the Package from Grandma.

I was quite pleased with myself. My plan made it seem almost as if I wasn’t winging it.

The day went well. I added a heart-shaped chocolate cake to the agenda. The kids played games—Rummy, Dutch Blitz, Blokus, and Sorry—with more enthusiasm than I had expected. The finger lights were appreciated.

And that was that. Simple, fun, sweet. And a much needed break from the February humdrum.

This same time, years previous: just stuff, foods I never told you about, part II