Mini Chicken Pot Pies

Tomorrow marks the official beginning of the Christmas season for me.  I recognize that many of you have already jumped into full blown holiday mode with both feet and I know this because I've seen your Christmas tree pictures on Facebook. :) It's not that I'm not READY to get into the Christmas spirit, quite the opposite really.  I feel like I'm about to burst into Christmas carols at any moment but I'm doing my best to reign it in because today we're singing "Happy Birthday" to my sweet daughter. I'm devoting all of my energy to honoring our youngest child today but believe me when I tell you that at promptly 7 AM tomorrow morning - our house is absolutely going to explode with Christmas.  

Today my sweet girl turns twenty.  TWENTY!  When she was younger, she used to insist that we not put up any Christmas decorations, play Christmas music or watch Christmas movies until AFTER her birthday.  I would find myself sneaking candy canes into the grocery cart when she wasn't looking.  I would secretly watch Christmas movies while she was at school and play my Christmas music when she wasn't in the car.  That is exactly how December 2nd became the first official day of the Christmas season for me.  The day that I could openly celebrate Christmas.  

Every year, I feel like I've been able to push the boundaries of Christmas decorating prior to December 2nd just a little bit more.  Even though my sweet girl is living in her own apartment now, I still feel guilty about putting up Christmas decorations ahead of the birthday celebration.  Old habits die hard I guess.  ​

Between the birthday cake baking and the secret Christmas preparations, this has been a busy week.  I haven't made a lot of meals and if I'm being perfectly honest, I haven't been in the mood to cook.  We still have a refrigerator full of Thanksgiving leftovers and I am perfectly happy eating those until they're gone.  My family isn't as thrilled about 5 consecutive days of leftovers though so I made some Mini Chicken Pot Pies for us last night.  

These pot pies are so good AND you can make them ahead of time if you've got a busy week.  Let's face it - it's December - we're all busy.  And if you've still got leftover turkey in your frig - make some Mini Turkey Pot Pies.  Delish.  

Mini Chicken Pot Pies
1 Tablespoon oil
4 cups chopped mushrooms
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 1/2 cups cubes sweet potato
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1/3 cup flour
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup whole milk
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken breast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 frozen puff pastry sheet
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Heat oil in skillet.  Add mushrooms, onions and celery and cook 7-8 minutes.  

Add sweet potatoes and thyme and cook 6-7 minutes longer.  

Stir in flour to coat.  

Add stock and milk and bring to a boil for 1 minute.  

Stir in chicken and salt.  Let cool 20 minutes.  

Cut puff pastry into 4 1/2" rounds.  Fill 4 ramekins with chicken mixture.  ​

Top with dough round. 

Bake 17-19 minutes at 425.  

Sandwiching a birthday between Thanksgiving and Christmas can be a bit of a challenge but it's also a wonderful time of year to celebrate.  This birthday is a bittersweet day for me because it marks the end of an era.  We're no longer the parents of teenagers.  As hard as it is for me to believe - we have adult children now.  I have always loved being their mom - at every stage of their lives.  I am blessed to be able to celebrate with her today as she celebrates her twentieth birthday.  

Ciao!

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