Category Archives: #life

Chicken Pot Pie

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Ingredients

▢ 3 tablespoons canola oil or olive oil

▢ 1 lb chicken breast meat or boneless chicken thighs (cut into 1-2 inch cubes)

▢ 1 small onion diced

▢ 1 tablespoon minced garlic

▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (optional)

▢ 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

▢ 1 1/2 cups chicken broth (low sodium)

▢ 3 cups wide egg noodles (uncooked)

▢ 1/2 cup water

▢ 1 cup sour cream

▢ 10 ounces mixed veggies, frozen ((I used a mix of beans, peas, carrots and corn))

Cornstarch Slurry:

▢ 1/4 cup cornstarch

▢ 1/4 cup water

Instructions

▢Set Instant Pot to Saute.

▢Once the IP is hot, add the oil.

▢Add the diced onion and minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

▢Add the cubes chicken and cook until no longer pink on the outside, stir occasionally. About 3 minutes.

▢Add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.

▢Add chicken broth.

▢Add uncooked pasta to the pot and gently push it using a spatula or wooden spoon so its evenly distributed and submerged in the liquid.

▢Add 1/2 cup of water over pasta.

▢Cover and seal the lid. Make sure the valve points to Sealed. Change setting to manual and adjust time to 6 minutes on High Pressure.

▢Once Instant Pot beeps to show that it’s done, wait 10 minutes and after that do a quick release, by changing the position of the valve to Vent. Carefully remove cover and stir.

▢Remove the lid and set IP to Sauté.

▢Add the frozen veggies and sour cream, stir to combine. Cook for about 2 minutes.

▢In a small bowl mix cornstarch and water until fully combined and add to the pot. Gently stir to combine and cook for 1-2 minutes, until it thickens.

▢Turn off the Instant Pot.

▢Serve topped with chopped parsley.

▢When reheating of the stove top, either add some milk, cream or broth, to make it creamier.

The Wren

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I opened our front door to pick up a package that was delivered. It was sitting right on the stoop so, I only had to bend down to pick it up which I did. I closed the door and went into our kitchen to open the package. As I crossed the kitchen to get a pair of scissors I looked out to the front room and saw what I thought was a bird hitting the front window trying to get in. This isn’t that unusual. We have lots of birds hit our windows. We have lots of feeders around the house. Upon closer inspection I realized that the bird was inside the house trying to get out. I ran to the front room to get a closer look. Sure enough, the bird was sitting on one of my military hats on display on top of our bookcase. I called my wife for an assist. She was raised in an old farmhouse and has lots of experience chasing bats out of the house. At first, she didn’t believe what I was telling her. After getting over her surprise, we agreed that I would open the front door, and she would try to chase the bird towards me.

I opened the door and she shooed the bird. It first flew into the window and then made a b-line for the wreath on our front door. It landed in the wreath, took a quick glance at me, and then headed in the opposite direction out the door. I quickly closed the door, and then it dawned on me. It was dusk when I went to grab the package from the porch and our porch light was on. The wren must have been roosting in the wreath and when I opened the door, I must have startled it. As I bent down to pick up the package, the wren must have flown over me as I bent down and into the house. We are now slowly opening the door and checking for birds!