The Pantry is VERY Low ...

What can you cook for dinner? With gasoline, utility and food prices soaring, and relief far down the road, many folks have been having to cut-back everywhere. I've noticed the first thing that folks reduce is the grocery budget. However, come the end of the week, many find themselves with a very low pantry & wondering how they will feed their family with such a small amount of food. Pot Pie is a very inexpensive dish. It uses small amounts of a variety of items that are usually on hand AND it will fill up hungry stomachs.

Pot Pie

2 pie crusts (recipe can be found in homemade pie crust post)
1 c. cooked meat (chicken, beef, pork, canned tuna, etc.)
1 qt. chicken, beef or vegetable broth (can also use water and bullion)
1 stalk celery, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 small potato, peeled and diced
1/2 onion, diced
1/3 c. green beans, fresh, frozen or canned (drained)
1/3 c. peas, fresh, frozen, or canned (drained)
1/3 c. corn, cut from cob, frozen or canned (drained)
1 tsp. dried parsley OR 1 tbls. fresh parsley
1 tsp. salt OR to taste
1/2 tsp. dried dill OR 2 tsp. fresh dill
1/2 tsp. black pepper OR to taste
2 tbls. flour
water


In a heavy skillet combine meat, broth, vegetables and spices. Cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender (if using canned vegetables heat just until boiling). In a small bowl combine flour and just enough water to make a thin paste, aka: thickening (make sure to stir out ALL the lumps). Pour into boiling stew and stir until thickened. Remove from heat.

While stew is cooking pre-heat oven to 375 degrees and prepare two pie crusts. Place one in a deep dish pie plate. When stew is finished pour into pie crust. Top with second pie crust. Trim and crimp crust and cut steam slits in the top. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Note: 1 -2 cans of pre-mixed vegetables (drained) or 1 1/3 c. frozen pre-mixed vegetables can be substituted. Remember to match your broth to your meat (chicken broth w/ chicken or tuna, beef broth with beef or pork, vegetable broth may be used with any kind of meat). This dish is also GREAT meatless, just double the amount of vegetables added. If there is an ingredient you don't care for or don't have on hand you may omit it or you can substitute whatever you do have on hand. Also great for using up leftovers.