end/beginning-week meal share: mini chicken pot pies

So this past week has just been one for the record books. PayPal still has me fucked up but that's just an issue we're trying to just stomach. This weekend was eventful, but that will come later. For now.. FOOD. GLORIOUS FOOD. THE ENTITY THAT FIXES ALL!

And especially this one. So yummy and comforting, even if you forget to add the peas. Which truthfully I was really bummed about.

Cost effective: more pricey than usual, but anytime you add meat the price can jump a bit, so at $24 you're able to get 6 medium pies.

Easy to concoct: slightly time consuming and you do have to get a little crafty puff pastry.

The list is long with this one:

2 tbsp butter

1 cup chopped carrots (I went with canned and sliced)

1 cup chopped onions

½ cup chopped celery

2 cups chopped potatoes (I went canned and diced)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

2 tsp garlic powder (1 tsp minced garlic)

½ tsp thyme

½ tbsp dried parsley

4 cups chicken broth

2 cups cooked and cubed (shredded) chicken

2 tbsp flour

puff pastry

egg wash

If you do not want to use a Crock-Pot go ahead and boil, bake, or grille your chicken and begin at step 3! Also do not forget to allow your Puff Pastry's to thaw (40 minutes)!

1. So the absolute first thing I did was whip out my Crock-Pot. Once I started cooking and shredding chicken in that bad boy I have never turned back. 2 pounds of breast tenderloin with a bottle of marinade on high for 3 hours? Fo'get about it! And hey, leftovers!

2. If you are like me and took the Crock-Pot route you'll want to start in on the other steps once you have about 30 minutes left on the timer.

3. In a medium-large pan melt your butter. Since I can never remember that it's 2 shakers of onion powder I have and not 1 garlic and 1 onion.. SO I used minced garlic and I added it right in with the butter to assure better mixage in the end.

4. Once your butter is melted go ahead and add in your carrots, celery, onions, salt and pepper.

5. I can assure you I cooked as recommended: until onions are translucent.

6. Trip over Piper and her random slice of half eaten bread while you head back to the stove with your chicken broth. Once again, please ask in advance and I can provide you with a Piper so you can properly cook this meal.

7. Add your chicken broth, potatoes, thyme, parsley and your garlic powder if you have the appropriate spices in your pantry.

8. Bring this mixture to a boil.

9. If you've opted for Crock-Pot method, now should be the perfect time to get your chicken out and shred it to bits. These claws are still one of the best kitchen tools I own.

10. Once your broth is boiling, add your chicken.

11. Throw your flour into a small mixing bowl. From your pan, ladle out some broth to mix into your flour. Once you've mixed it together pour back into your mix.

12. Wait for mix to thicken and add in your peas. Please add in your peas FOR ME. At this point I turned the mixture down to the lowest heat setting to prepare my puffs!

13. Preheat your oven to 400°F.

14. One egg plus a splash of water or milk and you have your egg wash. And be proud! I can't keep my spice pantry in check but I bought a proper tool!

15. Roll out your Puff Pastry's, and since I reminded you at the beginning you will not have to twiddle your thumbs for 20 minutes waiting for them to thaw.

16. I used a small Pyrex bowl for size and was still able to get two bowls from one sheet. Cut two and leave as-is, cut two and cut a ring around the outside - do not pull it out, leave in tact.

17. Brush your egg wash on the uncut pieces, then place your cut pieces on top, then egg wash again.

18. Place in oven for 20-25 minutes.

19. When Kennedy see's you about to throw 'Play-Doh' in the trash she'll want to play with it first. And it really did seem like their was a lot of wasted Puff Pasty.. damn geometric shapes!

20. Once they're done, cut out the top piece, pull out some potential undone bits from the center, and fill with your wonderful pot pie filling!

21. Enjoy!

These were so good. I was actually surprised at how well the little bowls turned out!

I thought for sure they would have been a flat little mess. Instead my disappointment came from forgotten peas. But hey! I didn't know how important the frozenness was and left them in the freezer and the rest is history. We will definitely be making these again.

Marie Callender, who?

Leia



planting cat grass: a photo series

On Saturday, before things got really nasty with PayPal, Kennedy planted cat grass. A few weeks ago we visited my mom, Granny, at work and one of the other office ladies gave Kennedy a 'grow your own cat grass' kit; mind you, my mom works at an animal hospital. Unfortunately between school and work and more school and homework and then just trying to catch up from exhaustion (which usually takes all 6 of my off days), I find that I am constantly asking Kennedy to hold on, or telling her I'll just be one more minute.

I feel horrible about this, but right now it's just my normal and I'm hoping in her four year old brain she can rationalize this and continue occupying her time with dad and lil' Pipes.

Either way! She's had this kit for weeks and she has been ever asking me if we can plant it. So, we finally did. I also let her have an ice cream sandwich for no reason aside from her asking for one, and when we took a trip to see Granny I let her pick our lunch spot. I wanted Arby's, she wanted Culver's. I went with Culver's out of 'fairness' but of course she didn't eat more than three bites because of that damn ice cream sandwich.

Ta-da! Poor Piper just wanted to play in that dirt so bad, but c'est la vie.

*waiting for grass to grow*

Leia

paypal schmaypal: part 2

Everything is still in the hands of the buyer. We've opened another case with UPS and I got into an emailing match with the buyer now that the PayPal case is officially closed. Locked and thrown away the key closed. Professionalism was maintained even though I didn't want it to be.  

The police department of his city said if I wanted to start a case there, it would need to originate in my jurisdiction since I'm the victim. Our police department would then forward the case to the appropriate police department in California. I think I am going to gather my documents and take them to the police but a huge part of me knows that it will be waste of time because at the end of the day: $1,300 isn't a lot of money to a lot of people and taking our case further would only result in us losing more money.

I feel like crying, but I have Organic Chemistry homework to do.

Leia

paypal schmaypal

I'm sure most of you are familiar with PayPal, but maybe you haven't used it for yourself. Over the past few days Brendon and I have been in the middle of a money battle between someone who we sold a remote control car to.

The problems started on the night of my birthday (YIPPEEEEE), January 11. The buyer contacted us saying he never received the car. First, let me rewind a minute for you. The car was sold for $1,300. OKAY, so buyer says he never got the car. The tracking information provided by UPS stated that the car had been delivered on January 11 at 12pm. So now we begin a fun game of "who can send the most professionally condescending email."

January 11
Missing package per buyer; delivered package per UPS.
Buyer: "Uhh, can you make sure the address you sent it to is correct, the package didn't arrive."
Me: *sends screenshot of PayPal - and note he provided us with this alternate address outside of his PayPal account.*
Buyer: "Well, that's the right address. You should call UPS and see what's going on."
Me: "I can try tomorrow, did you check to see if it was delivered at your neighbors by mistake?"
Buyer: "Um, I get packages delivered here all the time with NO issues."

Well, shit can go wrong a time or two, no?

January 12
Me: "Has the package turned up?"
Buyer: "No, I'm going to check with my neighbor shortly. Have you called UPS yet?"
Me: "No. Let me know when you check with your neighbor."
Buyer: "Yeah, the neighbors don't have it."

*later in the evening*

I call UPS, give them specific information about the shipment, transaction numbers, blah blah blah. They ask for his phone number though which I don't have. I email him and wait for that and then I call UPS back once I have it. Hooray, a claim is now opened. They tell me that they have 8 days to locate the package and if it's not located within that time frame they will escalate it further.

*later still*

Copied straight from an email from the Buyer:
Just got off the phone with UPS and they said they will try a to locate the package and it could take up to 8 days. I still have to check with my neighbor when he gets home. Otherwise I'm not sure what else to do, hopefully they find it.

Okay great! We're on the same page, guy!

January 13
Buyer:Hi Leia,

Doesn't look promising, I just got off the phone with my neighbor and he has a FED EX package that is missing that was supposed to be delivered on Monday. You might want to call UPS and tell them that. Also ask them what the outcome will be if they don't find the package. 

Me: *confused*
Me: Well, if you think something criminal is going on then you should probably call the police, but you can update UPS if you want, but they will escalate it further if the package isn't found. I'm busy with work and school all day.

Liiiiiiiike what the hell is UPS gonna do bro? Call FedEx and say "oh yah, we've got a serial package thief on our hands!"

January 18
Buyer: Anything from UPS?

This time I just ignored him. I truthfully had no idea what he wanted from me or expected. I took it as he was thinking that UPS was solely going to update me and that I was withholding information from him. At this point they still had 2 days per their investigation parameters.

January 19
Me: Unfortunately I still haven't heard back from UPS, they still have another day open for their investigation where they will escalate it further. I can try to call later but I have to work so I can't guarantee that I'll have time.

And here's where shit gets twisted.

I get an email from PayPal saying a dispute has been filed regarding a missing package. And note, the shipping label was bought for $95 THROUGH PAYPAL. It had all the tracking information linked to the transaction! PayPal "loophole": the seller isn't protected in a case like this (where the merchandise is more than $750) unless you opt to have a signature at delivery. This is something I didn't realize until now.

SO, now my evening at work is thrown off kilter and I'm angry. Luckily I was working with Adam and I was able to step away to make some important calls. I call UPS where I'm told they don't have any new updates and that they still have until tomorrow. I try calling PayPal but nothing was seeming to connect me to a live human. Dead end for now. All I can do at the moment is electronically dispute the claim and stating 'why'.

UH BRO! THE TIME FOR UPS WASN'T EVEN EXPIRED! THEY HAD ONE MORE DAY! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING?!

And now our PayPal balance is negative because what good is money sitting in PayPal? Most has been withdrawn and deposited elsewhere at this time. Now we have a 30 day window for the claim.

Last night, four days after the UPS investigation window is close I realize I haven't heard from them. So I give them a little jingle and what should they tell me? That the package had been located AND that the Buyer had acknowledge receipt ON JANUARY 19! The same day the PayPal dispute was filed. You fucking snake! I was suspicious the whole time! If you had the package why didn't you notify PayPal and resolve the dispute?

Ring, ring, ring OH PAYPAL! I'm wondering why the dispute is still open, I just got off the phone with UPS and they said the Buyer confirmed delivery of the package. "Well, this is great news! Anytime there is proof of delivery (which mind you, they had the whole time) it's sort of a done deal! To be impartial though, I have to send him an email to confirm this information and he has three days to respond. If we don't hear anything, it will be resolved in your favor."

*waiting*

Well, not one hour later did I get an email from PayPal saying the claim was resolved.. IN THE BUYER'S FAVOR?!?!?!?!!?!?WHAT?!?THE!!?DAMN!?HELL!?!?!?!?!?!?!!! Oh buyer, buyer, buyerrrrrrr! What are you trying to pull?

At this point it's 10pm. I'm pissed off and stressed and I don't have any episodes of Making a Murderer left. PayPal is closed, but hey UPS is still open so I give them a call back. When the claim through them was resolved a system generated letter was mailed to me showing the results. They told me it left on January 20 from their facility. And holy golden letter, it arrived in the mailbox today. I scanned it into PayPal today, called PayPal to verify they could see it, and filed an appeal. PayPal is still going back to the whole "$750 no signature" thing, but he said since the letter shows that the Buyer acknowledged and has his contact information it should be a done deal.

I said and what if you guys rule in his favor? Do you have people escalate things through other agencies? He said it doesn't usually come down to that but all I know is that this dude is on my shit list and Brendon has already confirmed the phone number for the police department in the Buyer's city. Ya know, steal from The Gap if you so feel inclined, but we don't have the means to pay for your scumbag shit.


Thanks for listening.
Leia

mid-week meal share: spaghetti with creamy marinara sauce

Good evening from a bad blogger! Today was my first day off after my long stretch and after school this morning and a list of other errands, the girls are bathed and in bed and I'm finally able to get to my post from yesterday.

On one our last trips to the grocery store I was picking up one of the major staples in our family's diet: pasta. Kennedy begged me for some rotini because "it's twisty". When we got home and I was looking at the box I thought it was some weird retro version of Barilla that our extremely old and out-dated Kroger was still able to keep in stock via a worm hole.

Clearly this is a box of linguine, but that's because I used these for the ridiculously cheap and easy meal I'm sharing this week. Barilla Pronto. After looking at the box I went to Barilla's website and realized that Pronto products seem to be fairly new. Time-space continuum pasta: 0. As the box says: One Pan-No Boil-No Drain. Let's get on to the recipe! And this is one that in the future I probably will stop giving credit to and just take it allllllll for myself.

Cost effective: $5 y'all.

Easy to concoct: probably the easiest yet next to take out and all you need is 10 MINUTES!

Nutritious: I think I might keep this portion out from here on out.. the recipes have proven to be full of carbs and other things that are not leafy salads.

Here's whatcha need:

1 box of Barilla Pronto half cut spaghetti (or other)

3 cups COLD water

1 jar of Barilla marinara sauce

½ cup of heavy cream

½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese

salt and pepper to taste (needed)

1. In a large skillet, pour in your spaghetti. Or pour in your linguine if you grabbed the wrong box on the damn shelf.

2. Pour cold water on top; enough so that the noodles are covered.

3. Turn your burner on high and set a timer for 10 minutes.

4. Once the water is boiling, stir frequently to continuously. The noodles definitely start sticking once the water starts to absorb. So they aren't 'no boil' noodles, but you don't need boiling water before you begin to cook them.

5. When the water is almost gone (for me it was when there were 3 minutes left on the clock), you'll go ahead and add in your sauce and cream. I recommend turning the heat down to medium.

6. Mix the sauce in evenly and continue to cook until the consistency is to your liking.

7. Remove from heat once said consistency is achieved.

8. Top with cheese and enjoy!

Is this recipe quick and extremely easy? Yes! It's also extremely affordable. Does the flavor show the ease? Kind of. It is completely tasty but I personally felt that there were many flavor elements left out. The easiest way to achieve this without altering "anything" would be to pick a different flavor sauce. Tomato and basil sauce would cook the exact same way, no?

GCWOK approved.

Leia

freaky fast

Gaiz,

Here's the issue I have with the convenience of working in a food Mecca that is Ann Arbor; most any meal you're craving can be delivered to your 'front door'. Brendon was hangry and he suggested Jimmy Johns; something that could easily be delivered to the hospital just before I left for home. Oh, husband what good ideas you have! These subs were going to be absolutely scrumptious companions for our final episode of Making a Murderer (soooooo many thoughts and feelings btw).

11:15p rolls around and I get the much anticipated confirmation food-mail, I mean e-mail. Good job again, husband! You put the delivery time for 11:45p-12:00a which will give me the perfect amount of time to give report to the midnight clerk and head downstairs. 

Bingo bango. Problems in paradise. Since I rotate desks every shift, the number Brendon put on the order was my cell phone versus a number to the hospital. 

1. The driver calls my cell phone to let me know he's outside. 

2. It's 11:32p. 

3. I don't have relief. 

4. I am in the middle of work. 

5. I can't leave my desk. 

6. I'm actively arguing with a deliver driver on my cell phone at my desk. (Just kidding, boss)

Here's where the spoiled princess syndrome comes to the surface. If I place an order for 6:45p delivery at 5p because my 30 minute lunch starts at 6:40p, I expect that you will arrive on time. When an order is placed for 11:45p because I will not physically be able to meet you for my late night calories until, I don't expect you to show up 12-28 minutes early! 

Sure, I love when my delicious, probably crack-laden sandwich arrives early and not hours behind schedule but damn! Be cool, Jimmy Johns! I can't even be happy about your prompt delivery because I'm so pissed that I need to try and meet you without getting fired for leaving my post early. 

Luckily my midnighter came shortly thereafter and John Doe delivery driver was still waiting with a Club Lulu just for me which allowed me to call down a bit. Then the torture of driving 25 minutes home. 

Full and sleepy,

Leia

tips for enjoying winter weather playtime

You know, I really was fine with the whole no snow, 50° winter we were having this year. But it's more than official.. winter has arrived in Pure Michigan.

Of course when the snow is accumulating outside and the sun is trying to shine through, guess who wants to play outside? That's right, your four year old! And surely it will be the most miserable experience for you. Oh sure, it's cute and makes for great photos; watching the little one's catching snowflakes on their tongue and rolling up mounds of snow for (do you wanna build) a snowmannnnnnn. Actually slipping on all the cold weather gear for something you want to end before it's started? Nope.

So, how do you combat your conflicting emotions?

GRANDPARENTS!

1. Call them up! No, not specifically to freeze to death but to also bring you Popeye's chicken (because there is one that Papa passes on the way home).

2. Eat a nice meal of crunchy, spicy, fried chickeny goodness and then "bungle" up your kid.

3. Watch them play around in the snow and trace their names in the snow from the comfort of your well-heated home.

4. Watch with glee as the grandparents actually have a blast because it's been 20-some odd years since they've gotten to do this.

  5. Make hot cocoa  from the comfort of your well-heated home so the snow yeti's can warm up once they get inside. Hell, maybe you'll start a cozy little fire preferably at the flick of a switch!

If you're still reading this, it means you took my advice and let someone else frolic in the winter wonderland with your offspring. 



And then she cried when I made her come in after 30+ minutes outside.
Leia

alan rickman 1946-2016

This has been a horrible week for 'prominent' losses. First David Bowie (on my birthday of all things) and now Professor Snape.

It's a hard loss especially being so unexpected.

Always.

Leia

mid-week meal share: blueberry croissant bake

I present to you: blueberry croissant bake, a warm and yummy anytime meal. I made it for breakfast but have it for dinner for all I care!

I was pretty nervous to make this because of how shitty the last 'bake' I made turned out, but it just looked so good in the video that I just couldn't resist. Seriously, people keep posting these recipes but I am like 98% certain I'm the only one hangry enough to try them. So, if you've tried any of the recipes thus far, you can thank my glamorous friends on Facebook.

Cost effective: yepskerdoodles! $9.

Easy to concoct: absotootly!

Nutritious: sure.

Here's what you're gonna need to gather:

1 tube crescent rolls (2 per my adjustments)

¾ cup bluberries

8 oz/1 package cream cheese

¼ cup milk

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

⅔ cup sugar

When I first saw this recipe it seemed like there was a lot of 'sauce'; in the end it's clear that it is supposed to mimic the cream filling of a cheese danish. Me being nervous about the recipe being ruined, I used a 13x9 in dish, added 4 extra croissants but used the same amount of sauce.

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.

2. If you're anything like me and forget about the fact that you don't have a hand mixer because you blew out the 'engine' during a bake sale fundraising event, then you're going to want to grab the next best thing.. your blender. Combine the cream cheese, milk, eggs, vanilla and sugar.

 3. Blend until creamy. Not too shabby if you ask me, and you know what? Only one thing to clean! No fussing with the damn mixing blades which always seem impossible to clean.

 4. Pop open your dough and roll into crescents.

5. Evenly space them in a baking dish.

 6. Sprinkle in your delicious blueberries.

 7. Force your husband and toddler daughter into pouring in the sauce mix. Note: Piper is such a food hound she didn't even put her Timbit down to help.

 8. Have a minor freak out because you're certain there is still too much mixture somehow and that it's going to turn out like garbage.

 9. Place in the oven for 35 minutes.

10. Ding, ding, ding! Fingers crossed you didn't burn the damn things.

 11. Enjoy!

It was a success! They were a little crispy on top but that helped compensate for the 'sogginess' on the bottom, which really,there was none. It was almost exactly like the consistency (and flavor) of cheese danish. Brendon got seconds which really confirmed things for me.

The next time I make these I think I'm going to to a mixed berry something or other.

Yay, we have a new water softener!

Leia