Catmus

Now that Atticus is slightly less destructive, Tim decided he was going to have a Xmas tree alternative for the apartment.  He ordered a wall tree and he hung it on a column wall in our living room.  Both Sookie and Atticus got right into the action right away!  It screams Catrastophe!

Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie

Getting ready for Christmas.  I am a total Grinch but with Mom here - I committed to Tim to try and get in the spirit of the holiday.  Spent the weekend putting up the tree and finding tubs of ornaments and hanging lights.  I have ornaments from when I was 5 years old - these pitiful elves that I have kept forever - they are so beat up but mean a lot to me. I grew up with icicle trees and I love them.  I don't care but that's the tree for me.  It was such a nice day and Tim made this delicious faux pot pie. Maybe our crock pot was on the fritz because he cooked it on high for 4 hours instead of low - so just adjust y'all!

Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 pound red potatoes, diced
• 1 onion, diced 
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cup corn kernels, frozen, canned or roasted
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 (16-ounce) tube refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 
  
• For the sauce 
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• Pinch of paprika
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

• To make the sauce, melt butter in a large saucepan. Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1-2 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in chicken stock, thyme, basil, oregano and paprika. Cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce has begun to thicken, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Lightly coat the inside of a 6-qt slow cooker with nonstick spray.
• Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper, to taste, and place into the slow cooker. Add potatoes, onion, carrots and celery. Stir in chicken stock mixture and bay leaves. Cover and cook on low heat for 3-4 hours or high for 1-2 hours. Add corn and peas during the last 30 minutes of cooking time.
• Remove chicken thighs from the slow cooker and shred the chicken before returning to the pot with the juices. Cover and keep warm for an additional 30 minutes.
• Prepare biscuits according to package instructions.
• Serve chicken immediately topped with biscuits, garnished with parsley, if desired.