Ryan & Verike: What's for Dinner? YANKEE CHICKEN POTPIE

I LOVE to cook, so I figured at least a small part of the blog had to relate to that. So every so often I'll do a "what's for dinner" section. I'll try to include the recipe and photos also. Yum!

So for my first installment, tonight we're having Yankee Chicken Potpie. And by we're I mean Ryan - haha. I'm a vegetarian, but Ryan eats meat. I love to cook, so he's kinda my guinea pig. Lucky for him, I'm pretty darn good (if I may so)! But feel free to ask him, and he'll tell you the truth :)

The great thing about dinner tonight is that it is made in the slow cooker. Have a I told you how much I love my slow cooker??? I have this Crock-Pot, made by Rival:

It's great because it can make A LOT of food. But also works for smaller recipes. The prep time probably takes about 20-30 minutes and the total cooking time is 4 hours on the LOW setting. Enjoy!

Yankee Chicken Potpie

(This recipe is adapted from Lynn Alley's Recipe from her book The Gourmet Slow Cooker, Vol. II)

Mashed Potato Crust

3 large russet potatoes (peel 2, leave 1 unpeeled)

1 cup low-fat sour cream

4 cloves garlic (I used the jarred, minced garlic)

S & P

1/2 cup finely chopped fresh chives

Potpie Filling

4 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups of chicken stock

Pinch of nutmeg

S & P

1 leek, white and green parts ONLY, thoroughly washed, sliced thin

About 3 large carrots, diced

2 celery stalks, chopped

2 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed

1 cup of frozen peas (optional...I left these out - we don't like peas!)

1/2 tablespoon tarragon

1 tablespoon of finely chopped fresh parsley

Mashed Potato Crust

Boil a large pot of water. Cut the russet potatoes into large chunks and add to boiling water. Add a few dashes of salt to water as well. Boil potatoes until very soft, about 40 minutes. Remove the pot from the stove and drain the potatoes. Mash. Add the sour cream, garlic, and S&P, to taste. The potatoes should be creamy. You can add a splash of milk or some butter, depending on what consistency and flavor you prefer. Add the chives at the end, and mix.

Potpie Filling

In a large saucepan (over medium-high heat), melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Add the flour and cook, for about 5 minutes, until lightly browned. Add the stock and continue cooking for about 15 minutes, stirring frequently. The mixture should be thick! Add the nutmeg and S&P to taste. Pour this mixture into the slow cooker.

In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Saute the leeks, carrots, and celery for about 10 minutes. The veggies should be just getting soft, not mushy.

Transfer this into the slow cooker. Add the cubes of chicken. Gently mix everything together in the slow cooker. You should have a thick stew-like mixture now.