Sunday, April 6, 2014

A Sunflower Necklace and Cornbread Pot Pie

Sunflower Necklace 
This sunflower is hand carved bone. When I started making jewelry I thought bone was a really creepy medium. Then I began to find it beautiful. Since we have no control over animals being killed for whatever reason I like to see everything to the bone utilized. 

With the dark tones on this piece, I think it can translate to being worn in any season. Available in my Bonanza shop.

Instagram
I finally joined and am trying to get my bearings on Instagram. If you would like to link up, you can find me here.

Cornbread Pot Pie
While home on a snow day from work I caught some of the Chew on TV. Chefs were competing for the best comfort food dish that falls under a healthy Weight Watchers dish. One chef made a cornbread pot pie. I was intrigued when Mario Batali stated it was the best thing he tasted all year! 

The original recipe can be found here which includes chicken. I'll explain why it looks funny!

Jim and I adapted the recipe to my vegetarian sensitive stomach liking by cooking the following on the stove for the filling. By the way, this is also gluten free.

1.5 cups chopped leeks
2.5 cups of chopped carrots
2.5 cups chopped celery
2.5 cups chopped portabello mushrooms
2.5 tbsp of all purpose gluten free flour
1.25 cups of low fat milk
2 cups of vegetable broth
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 cup green peas
thyme, salt and pepper 
This was cooked to desired texture and taste.


The topping includes (this was my job):
1 cup corn flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg white
1.5 tbsp olive oil
3 ounces milk
The topping was rolled out on parchment paper. The recipe calls for using eight 5 inch dishes which I don't have. So I went with a 9 inch square pan. The filling gets put in the dish and the corn topping gets laid over that.
On the show, the corn topping was messily place on top of each dish to ooze down the sides. Mmmm! 

Well my topping was super messy. Thinking I could invert the parchment paper and drop the top onto the dish did not work so well. Some of it ended up on the floor! Combine wine with my clumsiness and this it what happens. I guess that was a good thing since it allowed for proper ventilation of the dish!

This was baked at 375 for approximately 30-35 minutes until golden brown. 
While the dish does not look pretty in any way, it was delicious comfort food! We agreed while eating it that potatoes would be perfect in here too. Pot pie was my favorite comfort food growing up and the only thing I missed after becoming a vegetarian. I don't miss the chicken, its just that combo of veggies, gravy and crust that feels so good to eat!

Thank you for stopping by! 

My life is a little nutty right now but hopefully I can keep up with blog visits which is one of my favorite thing to do during a break. 

I'm still working while trying to find my replacement and the house is officially on the market starting today with an open house. Over 25 families came to see the house! Wow! So I now have to wait and see if an offer comes out of this. Anticipation!

Have a great week! ~Val

21 comments:

  1. This necklace is so pretty, Val. and that pot pie looks just delicious! Perfect for a cold winter day. Or a cold spring day! :-)

    Wishing you the very best of luck selling your house.

    Have a wonderful week ahead!

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  2. So long as it tastes good, that's the only thing that matters! Good luck with your house sale.

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  3. The necklace is gorgeous!! And the food looks marvellous, as long as it tastes great, it's perfect!! Makes me hungry now ;D I hope you have a great week ahead doll xx

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  4. I am not very active on instagram but I've started following you anyways! Gosh I hate it how TV shows make cooking so easy and mess free! Fingers crossed on the house sale!! By the way that sunflower bone necklace is very pretty!

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  5. Oh Val~ best of luck with finding a replacement and with selling the house! Busy times for you! This dish looks so delicious, and the necklace! Oh that necklace!!! I love it ~ the beads pair perfectly with that gorgeous sunflower!

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  6. I LOVE sunflowers. I have the same feeling about bone as you.
    I'm already following you via instagram and so glad to see you there. I was late getting on there too, but it's now one of my favorite things. =0)
    The cornbread pot pie looks good. I've never heard of it before, and I wonder if my kids would like it (they do like cornbread).
    Good luck with the house - 25 people is a good number for Day 1 of an open house!

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  7. I'm finally getting the hang of Instagram too, but I doubt I'll be on there that much, what with all the other social media etc...!
    The pie looks yummy! 25 families came to see your house! I'm pretty sure it will sell quickly :) Best of luck with everything!

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  8. Comfort food doesn't have to be pretty to be comforting! Good luck with the house. Surely an offer will come through with that many families at the open house.

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  9. Yum, yum, yum! I'll be right over :) Your necklace is beautiful, Val. All of your creations are stunning, but this one is quite lovely and unique.

    Hugs to you!

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  10. I am wishing you all the best with your house!! Sending lots of good vibes your way ;o) As long as the food tastes good, that is the main thing ;o) It looks really yummy for me ;o) Your sunflower necklace is so pretty! Have a great week my friend ;o) Hugs ;o)

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  11. what a beautiful necklace Val! I agree that bone seemed pretty creepy at first, but it is beautiful and is culturally part of many designs. That pot pie does look pretty tasty, but I love good comfort food - yum!

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  12. Best of luck on the house! This must be such a stressful time for you. 25 families is a good turnout, hopefully one of then will make an offer, maybe even more. Welcome to Instagram. I'm new myself. I think I have a whole 7 or 8 photos there. Hopefully summer will get here, which appears to be questionable, then I can have some more interesting photos to post.

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  13. I love the way you create posts! Thank you to share them with us!
    Your words are so ... inspiring! Thank you that you are!
    You are my inspiration!

    P.S.
    I show 125 DIY Easter Ideas - maybe you will find there something for yourself? :-)



    Regards,
    Katherine Unique


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  14. Mmmmm...pot pie is the best! And this recipe sounds tasty.
    That's great about all the families coming to the open house...wishing you the best on a fast sale!

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  15. What a lovely, earthy piece! And thank you for sharing the information about Bonanza; I'm going to check it out now!

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  16. Another beautiful necklace. Who knew, carved bone! According to one of my students, sunflowers are his favorite flower because it makes the ladies smile. So, in essence you've created the right necklace. :-)

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  17. beautiful necklace, good luck with your house sale, exciting times even if hectic..

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  18. Wow! Good luck with the house sale. That is a lot of visitors in one day!

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  19. Cool necklace!
    What a great recipe. I love the idea of all the veggies and the cornbread as a topping. Sometimes the crazier the food looks the better it tastes :)
    Valerie
    Everyday inspired

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Thank you for stopping by! I love reading visitor comments! ~Val