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Chicken Pot Pie Recipe- Homemade

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Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
Shortly after making homemade Chicken Pot Pie!

This is my variation of a Betty Crocker recipe for Homemade Chicken Pot Pie:

Ingredients 

2 ready-made pie crusts (cheapest at ALDI)
1 1/2 cups of peas + carrots & potatoes cut up in small pieces
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup chopped onion
pinch of salt and pepper
can of chicken broth (14 oz)
2/3 cup milk
2-3 cups of cut up chicken or turkey (I cut up two cooked chicken breast halves)

How to Cook Chicken Pot Pie

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Melt butter in big cooking pot over medium heat.

3. Stir in flour, onion, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly; remove from heat.

4. Stir in broth and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute.

5. Stir in chicken and vegetables; remove from heat.

6. Stretch out one of the pie crusts over the bottom of an ungreased 13-inch square pan. Pour in the chicken mixture.

7. Cover with the other pie crust. Turn edges of crust over and flute. Cut out designs on top crust with knife or cookie cutter.

8. Bake about 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Tips and Tricks

When eating leftovers, I like to add some chicken gravy. I make the gravy by heating a can of cream of chicken soup with a little milk and it tastes great!

Share below what you think of my homemade chicken pot pie recipe!

Cream Soup Substitute

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Emailed to me from a reader as a great Cream Soup Substitute in your recipes:

This is a recipe that has worked for me.  I add left-over chicken, for cream of chicken soup, a can of mushrooms for cream of mushroom, a few shrimp for cream of shrimp soup., etc.  It is designed for a diet low in fat and salt.  Celery that is near the top of the stalk can be sliced thinly, and makes a lovely cream of celery soup.

 Cream Soup Substitute

CREAM SOUP SUBSTITUTE

2 cups non fat dry milk powder   

¾ cup cornstarch          

¼ c, low sodium chicken bouillon                       

2 tablespoons dried onion flakes

1 teaspoon dried, crushed basil  

1 teaspoon dried, crushed thyme

½ teaspoon pepper,

 

Store in an airtight container.

 To substitute for one can of condensed soup,

Combine 1/3 cup of the mix with 11/4

Cups water.  Heat to boiling.  Cook and stir

 until thickened.

Try some other soup recipes I’ve posted:

Homemade Soup

Potato Soup Recipe (with Bacon & Cheese)

Homemade Veggie-Sausage Soup

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homemade soup
Veggie-Sausage Homemade Soup

Soup is filling, healthy, and has limitless variations. It’s even better when it’s Homemade Soup!

My German grandparents eat it almost every day and they make it from scratch – even the broth. And it’s always delicious! They came to America 50 years ago with two children and nothing to start with so they had to think of ways to eat healthy foods for cheap.

I love to make soup from scratch, except I cheat and use pre-made broth, specifically Trader Joe’s because it’s the cheapest (around $2.29 for a boxed quart of vegetable or organic chicken broth – I use low sodium).

Here’s one type of simple yet hearty soup I make:

Homemade Veggie-Sausage Soup Recipe

  1. Quart (32 fl. oz) of vegetable broth
  2. 2.Add peeled, fresh chopped veggies – carrots, potatoes, celery, onions or leeks, peas
  3. Add spices to taste, like bay leaves, oregano, basil
  4. Boil, lower heat, cook until vegetables are soft
  5. I like to add grilled organic chicken sausages like sun-dried tomato or garlic variation (from Trader Joe’s or SuperTarget), as you can see in the picture.

I serve the recipe hot, but like many soups you can make ahead and store in a sealed container in the fridge.

Frugal Gift Ideas Great for Any Occasion

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I love gift baskets and frugal gift ideas – who doesn’t? (Well, maybe somebody who has too many baskets.) They can be a great way to make a gift both creative and personal.

How to start? Go to your local thrift store, where basket selection is usually pretty good (there are plenty in the Twin Cities – I like Unique Thrift Store, as you may already have read). Buy a simple basket there for cheap.  Then come up with an appropriate theme for the recipient. Here are some ideas for themes and suggestions for contents, though the possibilities are endless:

  1. Coffee-lover’s basket

    Coffee mug (purchase cheap at thrift store, Michael’s craft store, home goods store)
    Packet of coffee (Marshall’s, grocery store)
    Biscotti
    Powdered Creamer
    Chocolate-dipped spoon

  2. Movie Lover’s Basket

    (can use popcorn bucket/bowl)
    Gift card/certificate for movie rental
    Microwave popcorn
    Candy bar
    Sodas

  3. Child’s Rainy Day Basket

    Play dough
    Crayons
    Mini coloring book
    Silly putty
    Puzzle book

  4. Relaxation basket

    Shower gel or soap
    Lotion
    Shower pouf or sponge
    Scented candle
    CD of relaxing music

  5. Baking basket

    (use mixing bowl as basket)
    Dry ingredients for baked goods (just add milk, eggs, etc)
    Mixing spoon
    Apron

  6. Get-well basket

    (can use big soup bowl as basket)
    Chicken-noodle soup mix (dry, from supermarket)
    Tissues
    Vitamin C
    Comforting book

  7. College student’s basket

    Change for laundry
    Cocoa or coffee mix
    Prepaid phone card
    Anything relaxing (book, scented lotion)
    Gift card/certificate for local pizza place

Share your favorite frugal gift ideas below!

*Updated 11/9/19

Best places to buy…

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Based on my several years’ of shopping experience in the Twin Cities, I’ve come up with this list of “Best places to buy…”  in regard to various items often shopped for in our household. Here’s what I’ve got so far. (I started with baby items as lately that’s been consistently at the top of my shopping list!) I would love some help continuing the list, though… additions are welcome.

Item

Best place(s) to buy…

Baby food, formula

Walmart

Baby diapers

Walmart

Organic Milk

Varies, but shouldn’t be more than $6 for a gallon. SuperTarget has their own good brand of organic milk (Archer Farms).

Soymilk

SuperTarget

Other dairy (cheese, eggs)

SuperTarget (Target brand when possible)

Fresh beef, meat

Varies – try to spot manager’s specials at Cub or SuperTarget (I’ve gotten a pound of 94/6 ground beef for $2 or less)

Fresh chicken breasts

$3.50-$4 on sale for package of three (Gold’n Plump) at Cub or SuperTarget,

$7-8 frozen at Trader Joe’s, often $1.99/lb on sale at Rainbow which is good.

Nuts

Trader Joe’s, Aldi.

Produce

Trader Joe’s, though selection limited. If you want better selection + good price, go to Cub. Aldi’s is good sometimes.

Juice (100% such as grape or apple)

Aldi, though SuperTarget sells a gallon of their own brand of 100% apple juice for $3.04-$3.54 (depending on if on sale)

Vegetarian/meatless products

Trader Joe’s (For example, Morningstar Farms veggie bacon or sausage patties are around $2.99 here, and usually $3.99 or more elsewhere)

Cereal, oatmeal

Aldi, Trader Joe’s (large box of their own brand of Cheerios is under $3)

Granola bars

Trader Joe’s, otherwise watch sales

Bread (organic or natural, whole-grain)

Trader Joe’s

Grocery/canned/boxed products

Aldi, Trader Joe’s or Walmart

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unique Thrift Stores

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Great advice from my money-smart friend Marilyn on Unique Thrift Stores:

Bargains galore await the thrifty shopper at Unique Thrift Stores, located in New Hope, Burnsville, St. Paul and Columbia Heights.  The huge inventory of new and gently used items will attract those who are willing to comb the many racks and shelves for the best buys.  Every Tuesday is a 25% off day and selected holidays are 50% off days…watch the newspaper for sale notices, but be prepared for the crowds and long checkout lines.

 

Best buys:  Baby clothing and equipment, women’s shoes and purses, books, jeans for the whole family, gag gifts/white elephants

 

Limited selections:  Housewares, furniture, toys

 

Warnings:  ALL SALES ARE FINAL, NO RETURNS ALLOWED, unpriced items cannot be purchased at the checkout, watch out for double charges, forget about trying to use the make-shift dressing rooms, customer service is limited (this is not Nordstrom’s, after all!)

 

Recently overheard:  A dad telling his son he was looking for something to wear to an Ugly Sweater party.  Boy, was he shopping in the right place for a big selection of ugly, as well as pretty darn nice sweaters!

Read my first impressions of Unique Thrift Stores here!

Unique Thrift Store is a GREAT place to shop!

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I’ve newly discovered the “Unique Thrift Stores” (+ one “Valu Thrift Store)” in the area. There are five that I know of (New Hope, Burnsville, Columbia Heights, and two in St. Paul). OH MY GOODNESS…I got a whole bunch of good clothes there for cheap…well, cheap enough to consider them good deals. Brand name clothing in NEW condition (many ARE new) such as Eddie Bauer, Express, Christopher & Banks, Old Navy, Gap, etc. I’m going there from now on for clothes! Why pay more in a name brand store when you can get comparable quality and selection for a fraction of the price?

Oh yeah…selection…the place is HUGE!!! I spent an HOUR there recently and just got through 2 aisles…and there are probably at least 50! You need to make several trips to get through the whole place.

For a better review…see the next post written by my friend Marilyn who made me aware of (and now hooked on) Unique Thrift Store!

Great suggestions…Thanks, Chris!

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Some good ideas emailed to me by a wonderful woman I know named Chris who lives in the Twin Cities:

I drink “Funny Milk”.  It is Flavorite dried skim.  A box costs 10.96, and makes 20 quarts.  That adds up to $.2.19 a gallon.  I mix it up every day, and drink a quart of it.  I have really strong bones and I prefer the taste of dried skim to the fresh milk. I can eat away from home and not worry about spoiled milk in the refrigerator.

I zoom through the supermarket.  Pick one that appeals to you—do you need someone to load the groceries in the car?  Almsted’s is very nice, and to me just a cut above the Quick Stop kind of groceries.  I think they are too expensive. Their chicken pot pies made on Tuesdays are a real treat.

I have shopped at Cub since we moved to the Twin Cities.  My husband thought I ought to go to several stores and pick up their bargains.  That was a Depression era style when women were not working outside the home.  I read their weekly ad in the Sunday paper, pick up their coupon book that comes out every month, and MAKE A LIST.

I am familiar with the layout of the store, and I ZOOM!  Even though they are not as trendy as Byerly’s or Lunds, their produce is much fresher because they sell much, much more.  I find the lot behind the store on Nathan Lane convenient because it is smaller, and I use the street behind the store to go to the Post office and to leave—I am in the right lane of traffic without the congestion at the intersection.  I can be a dangerous driver, unintentionally.

MAKE YOUR OWN BABY FOOD.  It is better for the child, much cheaper, quick and easy.  I used a blender and froze the food in ice cube trays.  There are recipes on the internet. I pureed the vegetables we ate for our supper often—just made more than usual, and when I was straightening up the kitchen, tucked some morsels away for the current baby. Look at the jars and duplicate them at home. Takes just a moment of your time.

Don’t waste time or gasoline.  Please your family.  I have bought cardamom pods at the Mideast section of Cub for 1/10 the cost of the pods at Byerly’s.  I buy nutmeg whole and grind it up.  The same with cloves.  I am a spice nut—it is about the entire mystique I have, but people enjoy it.

I still cook in quantity, and make up my own dinners on plates I have saved from commercial meals.  Then I can goof off and be surprised—especially if I don’t label what I put away!  LABEL! LABEL! LABEL!

Aldi = the Future

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Aldi is the future!

Many of you are steps ahead of me here, because you’ve been shopping at Aldi for years (and therefore, saving money for years!). Here’s my new ditty: If you’re not shopping at Aldi, you’re paying TOO MUCH!

If I were to invest in a grocery store chain, I think it would be Aldi. Why? Because there will always be people trying to save money, especially now in what has finally been named a RECESSION in this country, and at Aldi, you DO save money.

No, I do not work for Aldi, nor do I have any connections with them. But I have shopped there and compared prices AND yes, quality. For a long time, I assumed that the lower prices there meant lower quality. Well, I haven’t yet tried everything in the store (who has?), but what I HAVE tried is pretty darn good and a pretty darn good deal for the price!

The produce is always a good deal. Today I bought a Del Monte extra sweet pineapple for $1.99 (elsewhere, no cheaper than $3.98), a bag of Sunkist navel oranges for $1.99, a bag of yellow onions that stunk up my car (that’s a good thing, they’re supposed to stink) for $1.29, and a pint of grape tomatoes for $.99. I tried EVERYTHING and it tastes GREAT! Fresh and flavorful. Not what the non-seasoned Aldi shopper would expect.

I looked around the store at prices and ingredients of their other products. The ingredients were comparable to those of other store brands. I didn’t buy much because I saw “high fructose corn syrup” and “hydrogenated”-this and that, which to me means typical processed, low nutrition, sweetened and flavored junk. But I realized that this is present in every store (except Trader Joe’s – see my “Grocery Stores in the Twin Cities” post).

The other produce and fresher products actually looked quite good – so I am planning a return trip this week to stock up. I would have bought more today but I didn’t pay the $.25 deposit for a cart outside the store (yes – you pay for a cart), so my arms quickly became quite full. But I will be better prepared next time I go there…with a big bag to carry my treasures in…and OUT of the store.

See, that’s a big reason their prices are so low. No bags for your groceries! They’ll leave empty boxes as they become available, but you need to bring your own bags. But this is easy to get used to, and is certainly better for the environment. So all in all, I recommend Aldi for at least some of your grocery shopping needs. Check it out!

Still not convinced? See why Aldi is the Future!

Ten Great Buys At Aldi

Organic Food Now at Aldi (Finally!)

Aldi Gets Better and Better…

Staying Fit for Cheap!

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I love to exercise. Being a working mom though, I just wish I had more time for it! But when I do it, I do it at home or in my neighborhood. I save money by not belonging to a gym, though if I did want a gym I’d probably go to my local community center, which has a workout room/facility for a lower cost than a regular gym. You just don’t get all the bells and whistles (personal trainer, childcare, large exercise equipment selection) there.

I like Denise Austin workout DVDs. Though some find her irritating, I often need someone with lots of positive energy to get me going. She does this very well. And she doesn’t change her moves constantly like some workout instructors do. I’d love to hear of some other good workout DVDs out there.

I also stay active with housework (who doesn’t have enough of that to do) and with mini-workouts throughout the day (a few squats here, a few ab-tighteners there). Denise Austin calls this “fidgetsizing” because people who “fidget” a lot, or can’t sit still I guess you could say, burn more calories than those who don’t. These help with staying slim and fit.

What do you do to stay fit for cheap?

Here are a few recent posts of ideas to stay fit for cheap:

How to Encourage Your Kids to Play in the Snow

How to Make your Children’s Youth Sports More Affordable

Spend only $33 to Get the Body You Want