Potluck Monday with Guest Angie Breidenbach!

I'm pleased to welcome friend and fellow blogger Angie Breidenbach today! She and I had a discussion on another blog about goals and perspective (after NaNoWriMo). I thought it could apply to food as well! So here's Angie...




Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the perfection of some goal like weight loss. If we can't do it right, we don't want to tackle the challenge. But I've learned I'm much closer to my goals by just trying. It's encouraging to look back and see how far I've come. Weight loss seems like a never-ending battle too. But once we've set smaller goals, we see that the whole picture is much less of a fearful situation.

Small steps take us in the right direction so we can turn around and see how far we've come. That's how we build confidence. Building confidence on small steps takes the fear out of the "BIG" goal. The closer we get to our goal, the less we fear it. Instead of saying the entire weight loss goal, just set a small series of goals. It's easier to lose 5 pounds than 50 pounds. Once you lose the first 5, you'll see it's manageable and can be done again.

It's the same for a larger New Year's resolution. Break it down into weekly steps and put it in your daily schedule. Each month you can see how 4 steps moved you closer to the giant annual goal. It's like walking a block and turning around to see how far you've walked. Do it a few more times and soon you've walked a mile!

Here's a simple recipe that looks complicated. Very small steps pull together a lovely little treat that's both healthy and perfect for your weight loss goals.
Enjoy small bites, with lots of flavor, that look like you spent all day in the kitchen.
 :-)
Angie




Blooming Chicken Savories

These are fun and elegant, perfect for a tea party or to impress family and yet so simple to make with very few ingredients.

Serves 12 (2 each)

1 Pkg phyllo dough

Butter pan spray

1 pound cooked chicken, diced

1 cup frozen peas

2 Cups chicken gravy

1 Cup sliced mushrooms

2 Tbs. butter

  Spray each layer of phyllo dough with butter pan spray or brush with melted butter and a pastry brush. Do quickly as the dough dries out fast. When finished, cut into 12 squares. Separate each square into half of the layers. Spray 2 muffin tins with butter pan spray going out over the edges on the tin.  Spin each square of dough so several layers are cross-wise forming a “T” pattern. Gently tuck dough squares into each muffin shape.

Bake at 350º for 12-15 minutes. Remove from oven. While phyllo blooms bake, sauté mushrooms in butter. Microwave the frozen peas for 2-3 minutes with a tablespoon of water. Add cut up chicken and cooked peas to the mushrooms. Add pre-made chicken gravy. Heat through. Fill blooms with 2-3 tablespoons of gravy/chicken mix and serve.
 

Insider Tip: For moister blooms, brush each layer of pastry with melted butter instead of pan spray.

Tip 2: Phyllo dough is easily found in the freezer section of your grocer’s.

Angela Breidenbach, Speaker/Author
http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com website
A Healing Heart, Abingdon Press, April 2013