Chicken Cobbler

Last night I tried one of my favorite chef's recipes. Her name is "Paula Deen". She is such an amazing woman for raising her children on her own and supporting herself with her own food business while incorporating her boys in her efforts. I just think that entrepreneurship is wonderful especially when sharing it with your children. That is what I am trying to do with my jewelry business. She has a new book out called Paula Deen's Savannah Style. It looks amazing! I just love Savannah, Georgia. It is such a beautiful place with amazing architecture and great places to shop and eat. Below is an amazing recipe that turned out fabulous. My family just gobbled this casserole up! I mean gobbled! You have to try this recipe. This was featured in Paula Deen's Magazine for the Jan/Feb issue. Enjoy!

Chicken Cobbler

From Cooking with Paula Deen, Jan/Feb 2010

Ingredients

1. 1⁄2 cup butter, divided
2. 1 cup chopped celery
3. 1 cup chopped carrots
4. 1 cup chopped onion
5. 1 (8-ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms
6. 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
7. 2⁄3 cup all-purpose flour
8. 4 cups reserved chicken broth
9. 1⁄2 cup heavy whipping cream
10. 4 cups reserved chopped cooked chicken
11. 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
12. 11⁄2 teaspoons salt
13. 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
14. 2 (7.5-ounce) bags complete buttermilk biscuit mix (Bisquick)
15. 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
16. 1 cup whole milk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400˚. Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a large skillet, melt 1⁄4 cup butter over medium-high heat. Add celery, carrots, onion, and mushrooms; cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Stir in peas. Set aside.
3. In a large Dutch oven, melt remaining 1⁄4 cup butter over medium heat. Add flour, and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add chicken broth, and cream, whisking until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until mixture is thickened. Add reserved chicken, celery mixture, thyme, salt, and pepper. Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish.
4. In a medium bowl, combine biscuit mix, cheese, and milk, stirring just until combined. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto cobbler. Bake for 18 to 23 minutes, or until biscuits are golden brown and cobbler is hot and bubbly. Serve immediately.

Makes 8 - 10 servings

Featuring Janey Mac Wall Art

Today I would like to talk about an amazing shop on Etsy. I came across this Vinyl Wall Art shop called Janey Mac Press and wanted to share some of the beautiful decals that she has. Don't forget to bookmark her shop!

Right now, she is in the midst of moving her office and so she is offering a free bird decal for orders placed from April 8th-23rd. You can still place orders if you are interested. I thought I would show you some of my favorites! Here is an example of Scroll Art that she has used as a headboard. It is hard to see but this really is a bed. This can be art behind a couch or to make a statement in your bedroom as a headboard. So creative!

Take a look at this Damask Wall Pack. It has (6) 11 inch and (12) 5 inch decals. It comes in the color of your choice but don't you just love the white on black! Wow! Amazing!



This next decal is a Wrought Iron Oval Family Monogram. Wouldn't you love to have this at the entrance of your home? Can you imagine your family name in that oval?



I would love to have this laundry decal in my laundry room. Think about how it would jazz up your laundry room. My laundry room could sure use a makeover!



How about this amazing Bath decal with a scroll design. She has 35 colors to choose from. Each decal is made from high-quality self adhesive, and waterproof vinyl.



How amazing is this Block with Cherry Blossoms and A Bird? I just love her designs. I think Janey Mac Press Designs are just fabulous and are set apart from a lot of others on Etsy. I hope you will visit her shop and let her know that Tahra West sent you! Can't you see one of these in your home? How can you resist? I also want to mention that orders over 150 dollars will get 10% off. Her designs are so affordable. I love that about her shop!

Another Giveaway-Gorgeous Goblets

I just love the fun giveaways, don't you? I love to post them because I want my readers to have a part in entering to win "great things". Rie at Home and Harmony is having her very first giveaway! She is so cute, she says she's so excited! She is giving away a gorgeous set of drinking glasses. They scream spring with an adorable little bee embossed on the glass. You have to enter to win these precious glasses and while you are commenting on her giveaway, check out her site and become a follower. She is just precious!

Giveaway Day with "GUSSY"

Today is Giveaway Day with Gussy! She is going to have a giveaway which started at 6am today (Monday) and ends Tuesday at Midnight. All winners will be announced late-morning on Wednesday. All you have to do is leave a comment for each one of the giveaways and then you are entered for a chance to win! How's that for free! Don't miss out on this opportunity! Hope you win!

Mount Dora

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to treat my Mom, my niece and my kids to a fun day in Mount Dora. We ventured to the Garden Gate Tea Room. They serve tea in such beautiful feminine pots. I had the Famous Herb Crusted Rosemary Baked Chicken Pie. It was absolutely delicious! Now I know why they call it "Our Famous Baked Chicken Pie". The food was really fabulous there and I would not hesitate to go back. I especially liked the ambiance. I felt so feminine sitting around with all of the pillows and cozy decor. Here is a picture of the room that we ate in. Notice the fabric hanging from the wall and the white baby grand piano.

Now here is another picture of the room we dined in. Take a look at the lighted mirror above the fireplace and the trees in the room that have lights on them, not to mention that every chair had a pillow in it for comfort.

I just loved this buffet table that they used for the cold iced tea beverages. Isn't it just gorgeous! I wish I had that in my home!

How about this cozy seating arrangement with these comfy chairs right next to the fireplace! Two could have a romantic date in this Tea Room.

Then we walked around Mount Dora and went in a couple of shops! Mount Dora really caters to visitors and they love to have tourists! One shop that struck my fancy for spring was a shop called the Timeless Keepsakes on 4th Avenue. It is run by the Krill family and they had some of the cutest things for your spring decor. The first thing I saw as I walked in the door was the robin's eggs and the birdies. How cute! Can you find the butterfly pillow and the little rabbit? And don't forget the painted picture of flowers.

They had all kinds of candles and look at the precious little birdie! I especially enjoyed the letters that said family. It made me smile thinking that I had done something special with my family that day.

They also had every color, shape, and pattern that you could imagine to decorate your dining table regarding place mats. There were so many I couldn't count them.

I enjoyed the hanging beach candles. They had starfish and shells and I thought these were adorable decorations. Perfect for a nautical bathroom or for your beach cottage!

After browsing through the store and getting ready to leave, I spotted these adorable black bedroom hangers with vintage knobs on a black wooden plaque. What a great idea! I wanted to buy those but I thought they could easily be duplicated. How fun!

It was such a beautiful day outside for walking and we enjoyed the shops and the food tremendously. It is fun to be with family and to enjoy one another away from the hustle and bustle of home schooling and busy life! Have you taken your family somewhere special just to enjoy one another and the sights around you? If you are interested in the shop from Mount Dora, it is Timeless Keepsakes 128 West 4th Avenue Mt Dora, FL 32757-5558 and the phone number is (352) 383-1221. Don't be afraid to take a day off!

Dreamy Whites Annette Tatum Duvet Giveaway

Here is a view of her new catalog that has just come out!

I have recently learned of a blog called Dreamy Whites that is giving away a Queen size duvet cover. You just need to check out Dreamy White's blog and follow her directions to put your name into the drawing. I am excited, hoping that I might win. Who would have thought I would have won a blog makeover? So, ya just never know when you could win something totally unexpected.

That reminds me, I am going to be working on doing my own giveaway. Keep checking back! I am going to make a special piece of jewelry for my blog followers.

Take a look at this new book out by Annette Tatum called The Well-Dressed Home! You have got to take a close look at Dreamy Whites blog because she shows some fabulous pictures from this amazing book! Think of all that I could learn if I just had this book! http://www.dreamywhites.blogspot.com/

Martha Stewart

Today, I was browsing Martha Stewart and came upon these pictures that remind me of the "Dreamy Whites". Check out this gorgeous table that I found with just a simple bowl filled with water and a pretty flower. I thought, I can do that! I tend to make things so difficult. This is a simple remedy to adding a touch of spring to a pretty table!




Here is a wardrobe that has been dressed on the top with all of the empty vases and containers. I thought this was a super smart idea! Got any unused vases that you don't know where to place? Remember placement is a struggle for me. How about dressing this wardrobe up with cream paint! That is Shabby Chic for sure! Love it! Thanks, Martha Stewart!