Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

2 frozen pie crusts

2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 1 small precooked rotisserie chicken from the deli)

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup chopped celery

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

1 small can sliced mushrooms (pieces and stems work well, too)

1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables

2 cans "cream of" soup (cream of mushroom, chicken, or celery)

1/2 tsp poultry seasoning

garlic powder

onion powder

salt

pepper

Defrost chicken breasts, dice into small pieces, and marinate in a brine of garlic powder and salt water for a couple of hours. Sautee chicken with onion, celery and mushrooms, cooking till chicken is done and onion and celery are cooked through. Add garlic and saute about 30 seconds more. (OR debone a precooked rotisserie chicken, dice and set aside while you sautee the onion, celery, mushrooms and garlic.)

While chicken is cooking, in separate microwave-safe bowl, add frozen mixed vegetables with enough water to cover and microwave until veggies are tender, about 10-15 minutes.

Open both cans cream soup (I like one each of mushroom and celery), pour in large bowl, and add 1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning. Add cooked chicken mixture and cooked veggies to soups in bowl. Mix well and set aside to allow flavors to meld. Taste and season as needed.

Follow directions on pie crust package for a two-crust pie. Generally, you will remove both crusts from freezer, set one aside, and take one out of pie tin to set on waxed paper to thaw, aproximately 15 minutes. For crust on waxed paper, after thawed, press gently to flatten and repair any cracks by pressing crust back together.

Pour filling mixture into other, non-flattened crust. Very carefully, turn flattened crust over and apply to top of filled crust. Press around edges of pan to remove excess crust. Press with a fork to seal (and make a pretty design on edges!), the cut several small slits in top. I like to take extra crust from edges, flatten, and cut out shapes to put on top of crust before baking. My kids love it!

Bake according to pie crust package directions until golden brown on top.

Experiment with different types of vegetables, different flavors of soup, and varied seasonings to come up with a pot pie recipe that is all your own! Enjoy!