Easy Chicken Pot Pie

It's been raining for what feels like the past week straight. So much rain that it has ruined the potted mums on my front door step! My mom and I are going to attempt to bring them back to life this weekend, but I don't have high hopes.

When it's raining or really chilly outside I crave soup or something hot for dinner. I've made this chicken pot pie twice in the past two weeks - it's too simple to not make. Using a mixture of frozen and fresh veggies, cream of chicken soup, pre-made crust and herbs make this pot pie taste like you spent so much more time in the kitchen than you actually did.

My Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Ingredients:
1 can of low sodium cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup of non/low-fat milk
2 1/2 cups frozen/fresh veggies (I used carrots, corn and peas since I didn't have a mix)
2 chicken breasts
1 package of low fat croissant rolls
2 sprigs of rosemary or thyme
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt (regular or celery) and pepper

Directions:
Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees. Add oil oil and chicken to an oven safe dish. Make sure both sides of the chicken are coated in oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until chicken is cooked thoroughly and shred using two forks.

Bring your fresh/frozen  veggies to a boil and cook until al dente (they still have a little bite to them). Drain and add your veggies back to the pot. Add milk, soup and herbs to the mixture and heat until the soup and milk have combined. Pour mixture and shredded chicken back into the oven safe dish and roll out croissants and layer on top. Bake until top of croissants are golden.

October To Do List

Besides from the last minute wedding items we need to tackle like the seating chart, place cards, last minute decor items and so on I want to squeeze in some fun - after all, fall is my favorite season!

I make it a mission every year to visit a farm and go pumpkin picking. I cheated this year already with buying a pumpkin for our front porch from Trader Joes, but I have a plan that doesn't involve carving them so that's my excuse for dragging hubs to the pumpkin patch if he asks!

This year I want apple cider fresh from the farm. Usually I always have a gallon in my fridge around this time of year that I pick up from the grocery store or Trader Joes, but nothing beats the real deal.

So this one is half way crossed off since we already have a game night scheduled with a few friends for the first weekend in October, but that still means we need to make sure the bon fire happens! My mom helped us build an amazing fire pit and seating area in our back yard this spring/summer so we need to put it to good use!

I know this sounds simple, but it's our first actual year having to buy Halloween candy! In college we never had to, and after college we lived so far out in the middle of nowhere that we never had any trick-or-treaters. We are going to get slammed this year - our neighborhood is HUGE and there are tons of surrounding neighborhoods. I can't wait to see all of the kids!

I've spotted a few cute costumes for pets and this year I intend to dog shame our pups! haha Plus, who doesn't love a small dog dressed as a ladybug or penguin?

This one will be easy - minus the raking part. Since our house backs to woods it creates a lot of privacy, but also a TON of leaves! This is a freebie to-do item and I plan on jumping into at least 1 big pile of leaves this fall.

I've been pinning tons of pumpkin themed desserts on pinterest and plan to make at least one of them! Maybe a pumpkin trifle for our game night?!

I plan on hitting up Hobby Lobby for some DIY wreath items to make one weekend. Our front door could use the lovin' and I am digging these DIY wreaths I have seen on other blogs! Okay, maybe the succulent wreath doesn't scream fall, but how gorgeous is that?

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Trader Joe Fall Favs

Who doesn't love Trader Joes? Especially when you are greeted with stacks of pumpkins and mums on your way inside? Next year I'm tempted to decorate our front door step with those Cinderella pumpkins on the right. I love the white ones!

 

I saw this pumpkin Greek yogurt on Trader Joes website when I was looking for dinner inspiration and crossed my fingers that my local store had it in stock. I can't wait to try it with some sliced apples, cinnamon and maybe even a drizzle of honey. Ugh, mouth watering...

I had to pick up some avocados when I saw they were only 99 cents. I love the sign that they put up - who knew that storing an avocado half with a piece of raw onion in the fridge would keep it from browning?! Thanks for the tip TJ!

I am obsessed with these and am so excited to find them at the store again! I love spreading the the fig butter on toast - it tastes just like a fig newton bar! The honey apple butter is amazing also - and I love that these have no fat (and only 40 calories and 9g of sugar per tbs). I haven't tried the pumpkin butter yet.

If you pick these up, look on the side of the label for their suggestions of how to use it - the pumpkin butter's label says, "We suggest using Trader Joe's Pumpkin Butter as a pastry filling, poultry glaze, ice cream topping, on toast or mixed with fat free cream cheese for a unique spread." It also gives you simple instructions for turning it into pumpkin soup!

I have such a hard time finding Quinoa in grocery stores so I always grab some when I am at TJ's. I'm planning on making BBQ chicken quinoa salad one night this week.

Canned pumpkin. Enough said. I'm sure I could find a way to use this in 2 seconds looking on Pinterest.

Last, but not least. I found the gem - pumpkin spice coffee... and  get this - for only $3.99. If I wasn't sold at pumpkin spice, I was definitely sold on that price. I can't wait to try this with some vanilla or caramel creamer. I might need to stock up on this!

I also grabbed some eucalyptus and placed it on our entry table - it's already made the entire first floor smell amazing. I love fall!

The Proposal

Are you ready for a photo and story overload? I'll try to start from the beginning...

Last Christmas we recieved a hot air balloon ride as a gift from Chris' family. Little did they know that Chris isn't exactly cool as a cucumber with flying and I have always been terrified of heights.

But nbd. We played it cool and were excited to get a once in a lifetime gift.

Months pass and we kept putting off the ride. Finally, in September we decided October would be the perfect time to take the ride because of the cool weather (it's warmer up there) and all the leaves changing colors. Who could ask for a better view? Fall is my favorite season after all!

The day before our ride I saw a hot air balloon fly over my parents property. I don't know what it was, but after seeing that (which we never have before) I knew I was meant to take the ride and I had to stop being such a chicken. Of course the only thing out of my mom's mouth that night was "Oh my, the balloon was SOOO high. I'm so glad it's you and not me". She said this probably five times. haha Thanks mom!

Little did I know she knew what was about to happen the entire time and my mom, like myself, is horrible at keeping good news a secret!

A lot of people ask me, "how did you not know?" "that's a perfect set-up if he didn't use that opportunity he is an idiot". Well peeps. Little did anyone know... we are looking to buy houses and the day before I was having mini anxiety and heart attacks filling out loan applications and going to see houses by myself. I even went into Chris' bank account to grab his information and I was so stressed I forgot to print the bank statements. Yup. I am Mrs. Oblivious! Also, we were both already so nervous about the flight it didn't cross my mind that he might be nervous to pop the question!

And so begins the proposal day.

This is our balloon. I had no idea the balloons were so large and the baskets so small! I prepared everyone else on our flight that I was a nervous talker and I was petrified.

Chris was asked to help fill the balloon with air. Look at that fire!

Hey Cutie!

Us before take off. Bob Barker was our pilot and he couldn't take his eyes off our love. hahaha But really, doesn't he look like him!

The view of the runway as we took off. About this time I asked if this was a test ride and if we were afraid at this height could we go back down. They obviously laughed at me and we kept getting higher and higher! Note to self: work on my scared face. It apparently doesn't work.

Chris looking amazing! We were about as high as the top of trees here.

Proof that my face can in fact look as round as a pumpkin. They invented the term pumpkin head for me... :)

The view. I love how the trees had started changing colors. It was so beautiful.

The cows look like ants from up above!

Our pilot offered to take some model shots. I obviously was holding on for dear life.

Can you spot the two corn mazes.

Then came the best part of the ride. My best friend proposed to me.

Is this the right finger?

I was so happy. As soon as he started reaching into his pocket I burst into tears. I have dreamt of this moment my entire life and have asked myself a million times, "will I cry?" You bet your cute butts I did!

Thankfully our pilot realized what was going on and we tossed him the camera mid speech so he could catch these moments for us!

I said yes!!!

Floating back down to earth, but I was still on cloud 9!

(and still am. I don't plan on coming down anytime soon)

We landed! So overwhelmingly happy!

The ring. He did perfect! 

We announced that we had lived to tell the tale...

That we were engaged!!

(Notice how I'm not used to standing on the right side?!)

Two days later our couples photo shoot became our engagement shoot.

It's been a whirlwind week, with more than just these events going on. I am definitely the luckiest girl in the world and feel so blessed to call my best friend and partner of 4 years my fiance and soon to be hubby!

We are planning on an October wedding in 2012.

<3

Pumpkin Lovers Unite! Pumpkin Pancakes and Cookies

I love weekends and we couldn't have asked for better fall weather!

Fall means lots of pumpkin flavored treats and that makes me one happy girl!

I bought a can of pure pumpkin this weekend to dive into a few recipes I have been seeing on Pinterest and other blogs. Although I made both pumpkin cookies and pancakes this weekend, it was clear who was the star of the show!

These pumpkin pancakes had the perfect hint of pumpkin. They were moist and melted in your mouth. These pancakes are going to be a staple from here on out in my home and I hope yours too!

The Perfect Pumpkin Pancakes
Ingredients:
1 and 1/4 cup pancake mix
1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
1 egg
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup milk of your choice
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix until smooth. Turn your skillet on medium and spray with non-stick or melted butter. Scoop your pancake mixture out with a 1/3 cup measuring cup. This will make all your pancakes the same size and cook evenly together! Flip when the little bubbles start popping and serve when cooked fully. Smother in syrup and enjoy being in pumpkin pancake heaven :) This makes 8 pancakes perfectly.

 All my ingredients pre mixed.

 Almost there!

Heaven! Seriously, so good :)

For my pumpkin cookie recipe visit my Facebook page or guest post on Love, Eat, Run this upcoming week!

Yesterday we went to our friends house for dinner. They were recently married and we wanted to catch up with them on their honeymoon!

 Sweater Dress H&M ($30)

I made my Mediterranean Orzo salad. I just love this pasta salad with seafood. It's light, packed with flavor and a crowd pleaser.

You can grab the recipe here.

I'm off to enjoy this gorgeous weather! What's your favorite pumpkin flavored recipe?