HappYness!

So I’m a SharePoint SME (Subject Matter Expert) by day for Chevron and a scrabble lovin’, spotify listenin’, Parks n Rec  watchin’, hardcore foodie and YELPER! by night :)  

I set a goal for myself late last year that by the end of 2013, I wanted to become a member of a group that I really admire and follow.  . . . just a couple of weeks ago, I was notified of my nomination and approval to join the YELP! Elite Squad!  Woohoo!  So you’ll probably see a few links on my blog about reviews and whatnot! 

Here's a link to my YELP! Profile:  http://cucmonsta.yelp.com/.  I would really like your feedback; YELPing gives me the opportunity to combine two of my loves, writing and fooding! 
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A few years ago, I started jotting down recipes that I thought maybe I’d like Jonah to have one day . . . I’m big on TITLES, so the first version of this collection was called:  The CUCbook.  Second iteration:  Onion powder, Garlic Powder and White Pepper (I promise this will make more sense later). 

For what it’s worth, this blog only increases the size of my canvas to share the little things that conjure up my HappYness.   I hope others enjoy reading it as much as I will enjoy writing it!   As soon as I figure out how to blog more creatively and do crazy things like upload videos and stuff, this may become a full-time job (JK, a sugar daddy is not in my immediate future;  I’ll leave the leisure living to my world traveling sister—it’s good to be VANJ )!  

If there are recipes that you would like, this is the place to ask for them J  I plan on making Pho again soon before the Texas heat hits us, so you’ll see a good recipe for some yummy homemade Pho.  There is a link to COMMENTS at the bottom of each entry; it would warm my heart to hear from you guys!

Chicken Pot Pie

I’ve never really had homemade chicken pot pie . . . The closest would probably be one of those single frozen pot pies you can get at the grocery freezer; for the life of me, I can’t remember how that went over, maybe it’s been blocked out for obvious reasons ;)

Josh asked me a while back to make this for him, I didn’t admit it at the time but I really didn’t know how . . . chicken soup?  Got it!  Chicken n dumplins – Been there!  Chicken Pot Pie – Just CUC it! J

It was really pretty easy, aside from the intimidation factor, it really is like chicken soup without the soup.  I took a few shortcuts that you will LOVE!!!

So here are the ingredients, all obtained at your local HEB (I love me some HEB!):

• 1 whole rotisserie cooked chicken (Honey BBQ or Mesquite BBQ, the sweetness is good)
• 1 Stalk of celery (funny enough, what many people call a “bunch of celery” is really a stalk and what people call a “stalk of celery” is really a branch J) – sliced and then chopped)
• 3 large carrots (or a bag of baby carrots – enough for a half cup  chopped)
• 1 large white or yellow onion (chopped)
• 2-3 cloves of garlic or 2 tsp of already minced garlic
• 4-6 large mushrooms (sliced into  1-inch size pieces)
• 3-5 potatoes (cooked through ahead of time, peeled and cubed)
• Fresh parsley – 1/3 cup chopped
• 1 container of Cresent prepared Dough  (contains 8 pieces)
•  Flour
• Ramekins (recipe will make between 4-6 individual pot pies)
• 1stick of butter
• Salt, pepper, oregano, thyme
• 1 can of cream of chicken
•  Better than Bouillon – 2 tbsp

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1.  In a large pan, sauté the garlic, carrots, celery, onions with 1/3 of the stick of butter.
2. Once onions are translucent, add the Better than Boullion and the cream of chicken
3. The mixture will thicken up a bit, add the chicken, mushrooms, and parsley
4. Add  a couple of tsp of pepper, 1 tsp of salt, a good 8-10 shakes of oregano and thyme
5. Cook a few more minutes, then take off heat and let cool.  *If you try to place the crescent dough on top of the mixture when it is too hot, it will start to melt the dough – it does not have to be cool, just not piping hot.
6. Preheat the over to 425 degrees
7. Clear an area on your counter for rollin some dough!  I used a pint glass in lieu of a rolling pin J  sprinkle a little bit of flour on the space and rub some on the glass or pin, remove the dough from the container, they will be pre-cut into triangular shapes.  Depending on how many pot pies you plan on making, divide the dough to accommodate your needs.  I made 4 from this recipe, but my ramekins were pretty big.
8. Roll the dough in a circular shape to drape on top of the ramekin. 
9. Place a layer of potatoes in each ramekin
10. Fill each ramekin with chicken and veggie mixture to the rim
11. Cover each ramekin with the crescent dough, make a couple of slits in the top for the dough to breathe
12. Place in the oven for 25 mins or until dough is golden brown!

EAT!!!! Nom Nom Nom!!!!

Just CUC it!

Bam!   Bazinga!  Kick it up a notch!  That’s CUCing it ;)

I wanted to start journaling about some of my favorite things:  cooking, driving, music, laughing, loving . . . living :-)

I have to give credit where credit is owed, the phrase “You CUCed it!” spawned from the brain of my Josh (current boyfriend of Cuc, little league baseball coach extraordinaire, IT ninja and tickle master).

I am dedicating this first entry to tell you a little bit about myself.  The blog though is not a my so-called life kind of thing, it really is meant to be a place for me to share MY SPIN on things. 

This is Jonah phish, my 18 yr old.  College kid, too cool sometimes for mom (but not really).  He currently studies at SMU, in Dallas, which is really close to Arlington where his Nana and Papa live!  It is a blessing to know he has family near when I am 4 hrs away!  He ruvs me lots and thinks I’m super neato in my own special way!  I can tell ;)

This is Winnie Cooper, the newest edition to my tiny little family.  I have always wanted to own a mini.  4 BMWs later, here I am!  She’s the best!  Vrrrrrroooom! Beep beep! Move, get out da way!