A dinner FAIL to confess and Chicken Pot Pie

rFirst the story of my dinner FAIL:


Last week I was having a guy over for dinner (A guy I wanted to impress with my great cooking skills.) I wanted to make something unique and wonderful but I wouldn't have a lot of time to cook. I decided to make a really great side dish and veggies and buy one of those rotisserie chickens from the store. That was sure to impress and not be too expensive. ( no I didn't try to pass the chicken off as mine he knew I bought it)


So the day before I went to Winco and bought some Quinoa from the bulk bins for the side dish( Quinoa is a grain you can cook like rice, it has a nutty flavor and great texture. I have made it at work a few times and really liked it) While I was there I also bought some Millet for another recipe later in the week. I was careful to label both the bags with the bin number and what was in the bag because they look similar. ( You can see where my FAIL is going huh?)

Quinoa cooked and raw

Millet raw

I didn't check the labels and I cooked the millet by mistake!!! Millet isn't supposed to be cooked the same as Quinoa it needs more water and seasonings. It was dry and bland and just plain not good. This is what happens when you try to impress someone, you make a mistake you would never make if you were alone. Great guy though he ate it as did the rest of my guests and didn't complain even though I said they didn't have to.

I feel better confessing that. Now on to the main event:

I bought two chickens  for that dinner and had a lot leftover so I decided to make chicken pot pie last night . I didn't make a traditional pie that would have been too much to eat before it went bad. I made one "pie" just big enough for three ( me and my room mates) and four one serving "pies" to freeze for later.

I didn't use a traditional crust either, I used puff pastry and only on the top.( I have never been a big fan of pie crust but I love puff pastry) I used a oval cake pan and four of those disposable mini loaf pans but you can use what ever baking dish you want.


Chicken Pot Pie

2 cups cooked chicken cut into bite sized pieces
2 potatoes peeled and diced
1 1/3 cup diced carrots
frozen corn
frozen peas
1 10oz can Cream of Chicken soup
10 oz (one can) Milk
Salt and Pepper
one sheet puff pastry thawed and kept cool wrapped in a paper towel.(or Pie crust)


Place the carrots and potatoes in a medium sauce pan with an inch or two of water and bring to a boil then turn the unit off and let the residual heat partially cook the vegetables. Spread chicken over the bottom of whatever bake ware you are using, next layer the potatoes and carrots that have been drained and last layer the frozen vegetables. Mix together the cream of chicken soup and milk and pour over pie filling, Season liberally with salt and pepper. Trim the puff pastry to fit over the top of your bake ware and place over filling. Cut a few slits in the dough and if you wish brush with an egg wash to help browning.  Bake in a 400 degree oven for 30-60 min depending on the size of your pie.

Single serving "pies" the two on the left had their crusts pieced together with scraps not very pretty but they taste good. They were wrapped tightly in foil, labeled, and frozen for later.

The big "pie"  Yum!!