what's for dinner tonight {homemade chicken pie}.

let me just preface this as a very, very non-healthy recipe. but i was making a meal today for nick's brother and his wife who just had a baby, and anyone who has just had a baby knows what you need those first few weeks: comfort food.

lots and lots of comfort food.

you may not have sleep, shampoo-ed hair, painted toenails or a stitch of makeup. but you can have comfort food.

this recipe looks oh-so-good. let's hope it tastes just as good for our two-new-parents brother and sister-in-law.

homemade chicken pie

* 1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cubed

* 2 carrots, sliced

* 2 stalks of celery, sliced

* 1 potato, cubed

* handful of frozen peas

* 1/2 small onion, diced

* 1/3 c. butter

* 1/3 c. flour

* 1/2 t. salt

* 1/4 t. black pepper

* 1/2 t. garlic powder

* 1/4 t. thyme

* 1 3/4 c. water + additional for boiling veggies/chicken

* 3 chicken bullion cubes

* 2/3 c. milk

- preheat oven to 425 degrees.

- peel and prepare veggies, cube chicken. place in large stockpot and fill with water until veggies and chicken are covered. add one bullion cube. boil for 15 minutes. drain. set aside.

- in stockpot, melt butter and cook onions until soft. add flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder and thyme. stir in water and two remaining bullion cubes and milk. whisk and simmer over medium heat until thickened. remove from heat. prepare pie crust.

crust:

* 2 1/2 c. flour

* 1 c. butter flavored shortening, diced and chilled

* 1/2 t. salt

* 3-4 T. ice water

- combine flour and salt, cut in shortening until mixture resembles peas. add ice water until dough is formed. wrap in plastic wrap and chill in fridge for at least 30 minutes.

- combine sauce and chicken/veggie mixture. pour into bottom crust. layer with top crust. pinch edges top/bottom crust together, fold under and use fingers to create crust. slice three slits in the crust.

- bake at 425 for 30-35 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

my mom always serves chicken pie like this and it has always been my *favorite*. i just spiced up her recipe a bit and used my own pie crust recipe. add or subtract your own seasonings to suit your preference. mom serves her chicken pie with jellied cranberry sauce. just reminds me of home.

love it. comfort food at it's finest.