Turkey Pot Pie

Hey Y'all!

One of my favorite things to make with left over turkey is turkey pot pie. It is very easy and can be changed to fit different styles or to just use what is in the pantry. For a long time I though that pot pies were overwhelming,  but after making a few I realized they are super simple!

Turkey Pot Pie

Ingredients:

3-4 Table Spoon Butter

1/2 Cup Chopped Carrots

3/4 Cup of Frozen Peas

3/4 Can of Green Beans

3 Cups of Chopped Turkey (or Chicken)

2 Pie Crust

3 Cups of Water

1 Chicken Bouillon Cube 

Healthy Splash of White Wine

1/4 Cup Flour

1 Egg

Fresh Rosemary

Fresh Sage

Thyme

Oregano 

Garlic

Basil

Fresh Pepper

1. Place butter in pan on medium heat

2. Add Vegetables, Stir for 1-3 minutes 

3. Add Turkey, Stir until fully mixed

4. Add Flour, Stir until Turkey and Vegetables are sticky with flour

5. Add Water, Wine, and Chicken Bouillon Cube

Stir everything and let liquid thicken

6. Chop spices (I used one sprig of Rosemary - remove stem)

(And three Sage Leaves - remove stems)

7. Add Spices to pan, Fresh Spices and Jar Spices, and stir (For the jar spices, I just sprinkle a heathy amount all over the pan and stir them in)

8. Unroll Crust, place one on the bottom of pie dish

9. Poke small holes in dough for ventilation 

10. Pour in filling 

11. Place second pie crust on top and pinch the edges of the top and bottom crusts together

12. Shape the edges of the crust, I use a fork (neat and simple)

13. Use a egg wash on the top crust, also make slits in the top for ventilation 

14. Bake in oven at 375 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes (to help make the crust not burn, place foil over the pot pie for the first half)

15. Enjoy!

A few other notes:

-Pot Pie can be made a million and one ways. If you aren't making this after a holiday, use chicken. I used white meat, but if you like dark - use that! If you don't eat meat - use potatoes! If you don't like peas, add celery. This recipe can be mixed and matched to fit what you like most!

-The spices are used are almost all the same that I used to make the Thanksgiving Turkey (I wanted to keep the favors similar since I was using that turkey), but you can use whatever spices fit your taste. 

-Lastly, this really is a perfect meal to make after the holidays. I had peas, carrots, turkey, fresh spices, and wine all left over, so all I had to buy was the pie crust and a can of green beans! Plus it is the kind of meal that can be taken as lunch the next day and of course, it is so yummy!

xo

bre

Thanksgiving Appetizer

Hey Y'all!

My family likes to eat Thanksgiving dinner a little later in the day, around 3 or 4, so we end up snacking through out the day - which we all love!

Normally our snacks consist of cheese slices, cheese balls, crackers, dips, and sausage. This year we added a couple new appetizers

Pastry Wrapped Brie Cheese

(Since it leaked out, it looks a little messy, but I promise it is yummy!)

Ingredients:

Block of Brie Cheese

Pastry Dough (I used buttermilk muffins, but crescent rolls or pastry puff sheet can also be used)

Jelly (I used a Strawberry Pepper Jelly)

1. Take out pastry dough and flatten into one large sheet using a rolling pin

2. Scoop a couple table spoons of jelly onto pastry and spread evenly with butter knife

3. Unwrap Brie Cheese and place in the center of dough

4. Wrap dough around cheese, pinching at the top with the dough meets to create a tight seal

5. Bake according to pastry doughs instructions, mine was on 350 degrees for 10 - 12 minuets or until golden brown

If some of the cheese or jelly leaks out a little, that's okay, pour over the top and around the pastry when out of the oven.

Serve with crackers, apple slices and place a knife on the plate so guest and cut some the bread with the cheese.

xo

bre

Thanksgiving Turkey

Hey Y'all!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine was very nice. We had a small group of family and friends over and spent the day watching the parade, football and eating until we were as stuffed as the turkey.

This is the third year that I have made the turkey. The first year my mom held my hand and helped the whole time, the second year she still helped quite a bit, but this year it was all mine! The recipe I used was a mix of several recipes and tips my mom has shown me.

Thanksgiving Roasted Turkey:

Ingredients:

Turkey (I used a 19 pounder, which was way more than we needed, normally do about 1 pound per person)

1 stick of butter

Half a cup of Basil infused Olive Oil (You could also just used Olive Oil with Fresh Basil)

*Fresh Thyme

*Fresh Basil

*Fresh Sage

*Fresh Rosemary

1 Orange

1 Lemon

1 Large Onion

1 Celery Stick

Handful of Baby Carrots

Garlic Clove

1 Chicken Bouillon Cube
Water

*If you are unable to find fresh spices, you can use the jar ones.

1. Defrost the turkey according to package -  I took mine out on Sunday.

2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees

3. Rinse off turkey and take out the neck, heart, liver, etc. (Normally they are in a bag inside of the turkey)

4. Set turkey in roasting pan, use a small rack under turkey so that it will cook all the way around

5. Melt Butter

6. Add Oil Olive to Butter

7. Rinse off vegetables

8. Cut Onion into 4ths and place 1/4 in turkey

9. Cut Orange in half, peel Rhine off of one half and place Rhine in turkey

-Squeeze juice from half of the peeled Orange into Butter/Oil Mixture

10. Cut Lemon in half and squeeze the juice from 1/2 of the Lemon into Butter/Oil Mixture
11. Cut 1 Celery Stick into about 4 or 5 pieces, place in turkey
12. Place handful of Baby Carrots in turkey
13. Take 4 pieces of garlic from the clove and peel them, then place inside turkey
14. Pour the Butter/Oil/Citrus Mixture over turkey. This part might get messy! Rub the mixture all over the turkey - breast, wings, legs and sides
15. Rinse off fresh spices and place a stick of each inside turkey, also place a few around the turkey(Or sprinkle healthy amount of powder spices over turkey)
16. Pour about 1 - 3 cups of water around the turkey (just have about a inch of water around turkey)
17. Place 1 Chicken Bouillon Cube in the water
18. Reduce over Temperature to 350 degrees
19. Place turkey in oven with lid/foil over it (Turkeys need to cook about 13 minutes per pound, So my turkey took 4.25 hours)
20. Baste Turkey ever 45 minutes with juices in the pan

When Turkey is done, take out and let it rest! It is super hot and will continue to cook a little.

I used to watch a lot of cooking channel shows, so that is how I learned to carve a turkey - here is a video I found that demonstrates how I cut it.

I know tradition is that the man of the house carves the turkey, but I am a little picky over how it is done, so I typically just do it. But the choice is up to you!

Once you have all the meat of the platter (or if you leave the bird whole and carve it at the table) place the extra half of the orange, lemon, onion pieces, a few sprigs of fresh spices and a few carrots on the platter for some decoration around the meat.

And that's it!

I have tons of left over turkey and I will be putting up some other recipes of how to use the leftovers soon!

xo
bre

Top 5: Thanksgiving Food

Hey Y'all!

 

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I love Thanksgiving. I love spending time with family, watching football, having a day off and most importantly - I love the food. I love to cook it and eat it. Over the last couple years, my mom and I have done all the cooking together. This year my mom and I are doing most of it, but we invited a few more people and they are all bringing a couple dishes which I can't wait to try. 

 Here are my Top 5 favorite food items from Thanksgiving!

Turkey 

The main star of the show. I love cooking the turkey. I know it takes forever, but I still love to do it and this year I will be adding a few new flavors so I can't wait to see how it turns out!

 

Gravy

So I know gravy isn't really a dish, but it is necessary and delicious.

 

Green Bean Casserole

I think this might be my favorite dish. I love the leftovers and I have even eaten it for breakfast the next day. Don't judge, its good!

 

 Deviled Eggs

When I was younger we used to spend a lot of our holidays at my cousins house and her grandmother taught us how to make the deviled eggs. It was the first holiday dish I learned to make so that makes it one of my favorites. Plus they are super yummy!

 

Pumpkin Pie

Last, but certainly not least, PUMPKIN PIE. I loooveee pumpkin pie and wait all year for it! It is the best dessert in the world.

I will share some of my receipes after the big day. :)

What are your favorite dishes?

xo
bre

A Blair Waldorf Thanksgiving

Hey Y'all, it is confession time.

 

I once truly obsessed loved Gossip Girl. I read through all of the books while in high school and when I found out they were making it into a show, I moved on to that. Blair Waldorf was my hero. She was pretty, smart and little crazy. Well, more than a little. But I loved her, flaws and all. I started wearing headbands, tights, and I even got that orange phone she had in season 1. But about half way through the show, I stopped watching. *GASP* Life just got a little crazy, it was around the time I was getting married, so Gossip Girl and Blair fell to the side.

 

But don't worry, I will finish the series. I actually just started watching again, picking up around the time I left off and I am already sucked back into all their drama. It's great.

 

Earlier today I watched "Gaslit" from season 4. It is the Thanksgiving episode of the season, which makes it one of my favorites. I love the Thanksgiving episodes. Thanksgiving is Blair's favorite holiday (and mine), but unlike me, their Thanksgiving is served with a side of crazy.

 

My absolute favorite thing about each Gossip Girl Thanksgiving episode is Blair's fashion.

 

(Season 1)

(Season 2)

 

(Season 3)

(Season 3)

 

(Season 4)

 

(Season 6)

 

I am pretty much in love with with her dress from season 4, but I honestly love all of her looks. And if any one can pull of patterned tights it is Blair Waldorf - look at the bows in season 1 and the flowers in season 2!

 

xo

bre

 



Top 5: Thankful List

Hey Y'all!

 

It is time. Thanksgiving is just over a week away, so I thought it was time to be a little mushy and let you know the Top 5 things that I am thankful for.

Family

(My Mom, Me and Ken)

(My Brother, Me and My Dad)

I love my family. My parents are awesome and I'm lucky to have a great relationship with each of them. My brother, Brandon, and I didn't go up in the same household and we are 8 years apart, but as I have gotten older I am very grateful for him and our relationship. Ken is probably my favorite person in the world and my best friend. Above everything else I have in my life, my family is the best and I am so thankful that I have them to be there for me.

 

 My Job

Towards the end of the college I started to panic about what I was going to do with my career. I majored in English Literature and minored in Religious Studies...yeah, not a lot of choices. So during my junior year I started an internship with a wedding coordinating company and I fell in love with the event industry. I didn't care what part is was, I loved it all. So I finished my internship and stayed with the coordinating company for another 6 months. During that time an awesome opportunity came up to work for an amazing hotel that I love. So I took it. And now I get to work with an incredible hotel and see pretty events every weekend. It's perfect for me.

 

My puppies

So they aren't actually puppies anymore, but they will always be puppies to me. The one on the left is April (13 years old, 14 in January!) who I get as a birthday present when I was 10. The one on the right is Jaidyn (2 years old, 3 in February) who I get as a birthday present when I was 21. I love them both and they bring me lots of joy. They each have very different personalities and I am uber thankful for them.

 

Texas

More specifically - where I live. I love the part of Texas that I call home. I love that if I want to go to the beach its only a 30 minute drive or if I want to be in a big city its only a 30 minute drive. Also, thanks to my dad, I can hop on a sail boat and be in the middle of the Gulf. I also love that my area has a small town feel without actually being a tiny town.

 

Harry Potter

Y'all knew this was coming right? As many of you know, I love Harry Potter. I love that I grew up with Harry Potter. I am thankful that any time I feel sad or upset I can put on a Harry Potter movie or pick up one of the books and I can escape into an amazing world that will brighten my day.

 

Well thats what I am thankful for, what about you?

 

xo

bre

Top 5: Things about Fall

I pretty much love all seasons and I get equally excited for each one. These are my Top 5 favorite things about Fall.

 

Pumpkins:

 

I adore everything pumpkin. First of all just look at them. I love the colors and different shapes. I love the classic pumpkin pie, pumpkin spiced lattes, pumpkin pudding, pumpkin pastries and pumpkin truffles. I also love their smell and I love making my whole house smell like pumpkins candles. I even enjoy roasting pumpkin seeds after the kid in me carves one just for fun.

 

Coziness:

Fall is all about being cozy to me. Cozy sweaters, comfy jeans, hoodies and wrapping up in a warm blanket while drinking tea. I love wearing soft sweaters and cardigans. 

Football:

  Oh football. Football is king in Texas. I love watching games while wearing my teams colors and eating wings. 

 

Food:

 

  Food is the fall is the best. Chili, Tortilla Soup, and Pot Roast - Oh my!

The Holiday Season Begins:

 

The holidays finally come back around the fall. First Halloween comes and I love to decorate my house and watch the 13 nights of Halloween on ABC family. Then Thanksgiving comes and it's time to cook and eat until hearts content (and my stomach is exploding) while watching another fall favorite - football. Plus I love Thanksgiving because it reminds me to be thankful not just for what I have but also the family I spend the day with. 

Those are my Fall Favorites. What are yours? 

Xo

Bre