This is a print preview of "Easy Chicken Pot Pie; life IS like a box of chocolates" recipe.

Easy Chicken Pot Pie; life IS like a box of chocolates Recipe
by Katie Zeller

We went to the 'city' yesterday.

Bordeaux.

It was for an annual doc appointment for mon mari (it was fine) and the shopping we save to do in the big stores.

Our little provincial backwater, lovely though it is, is somewhat lacking in the choices offered by the mega-stores in Bordeaux.... You know, the kind where the staff wears roller skates to get around.

One of the more important things for our little household, that I can only find in the big Carrefour, is doggie diapers.

They're not really for dogs and they're not really diapers (they're like hospital bed pads) but when one has a big old dog that is getting more and more incontinent, one, ahem, adjusts.

To put it bluntly: she leaks when she sleeps.

She still has to go outside for a proper pee every 2 hours.... Day and night, but in between, sometimes, she leaks.

It's easier to put the pads where she lays than be washing dog beds and floors all the time.

Of course it would be a lot easier on me if she and Emma would be consistent about their beds, but they like to switch off between day and night.

Sedi, is, however, very considerate about trying to put the right, er, end on the diaper. She's a little tipsy and confused since her stroke and sometimes she miscalculates the obligatory 3 turns before lying down.... But, usually she ends up with her bum in the right place.

When I came out from the monstor store with my trolley full of 'adult diapers' (yes, it's embarrassing, I just keep mumbling about sick old husbands....) I found this sitting on my car seat. (Mon mari refuses to go in with me when I'm buying the diapers).

First thought was 'How nice, mon mari bought me a box of chocolates!'.

Second thought was 'No, he didn't.....'

He has lots of good traits, but impulse presents is not one of them.

And he wouldn't buy a box of chocolates this big for any reason:

I was right.

He didn't buy them.

He was hit by car.

Makes perfect sense now, doesn't it?

He was sitting in the car, in the parking lot, waiting for me. The space next to him emptied and another car pulled in.

And hit our car.... Hard enough to give him a good shake.

The driver, a guy in his 30's, got out of his car and hurried away.

Mon mari jumped out of our car and kindly suggested that he not do that (hurry away).

A discussion ensued, part French, part English, mostly much gesticulating.

The guy had thought he had bumped the car in front of him - bumper to bumper, which happens all the time, and so had ignored it.

He had in fact, hit our car door.

Mon mari had thought the damage was much more serious than it was. Once they got it cleaned up so they could get a good look he could see it was just scratched.

Mon mari said it was insignificant, the guy apologized for hitting the car, they shook hands and agreed it was not a problem. (Could there be just a bit more to this story?)

Ten minutes later the guy tapped on the window and handed mon mari the chocolates, along with another apology and wishes for a happy New Year.

That's why we live here.

Chicken Pot Pies.

How many of you spent a period of your life living on micro-waved chicken pot pies?

This is better.

Still comfort food; and I still manged to make it without actually making a pie crust (have never made a pie crust, not about to break the record now).

I love the individual baking dishes I found - perfect for pot pies!

Heat oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and brown. Add leeks, carrots, celery, paprika and sauté 5 minute. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute longer. Add stock, wine, herbs and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Add peas and simmer 5 minutes longer. Add cornstarch mixture and stir until thickened.

Divide stew and place into 2 individual baking dishes.

Cut puff pastry to fit and place on top.

Bake, 400F (200C) for 20 minutes. Remove and serve from baking dishes.

Isn't that easy?