Tag: Refrigerator Biscuits

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Chick-a-Buns

It’s time for the post holiday energy drain. Even without snow on the ground, we are in deep winter mode. Ban Beavers, our family’s Beltline mascot, is missing and presumed hibernating.

The nights, although they are longer, never seem to be quite long enough. I’ve instituted 2 PM tea time at work followed by 2:30 stretching. (This is really just me making myself a quick cup of tea and then continuing to work. It sounds a lot more luxurious than it actually is.

By the time I get home, I’m wiped out and the last thing I really want to do is cook supper. It’s just so much coordination between getting homework done, chores completed, and dinner prepped. The noise of everyone telling me about their day interspersed with breaking up fights adds to the chaos. Meanwhile, my head is still in problem solving mode from work.

Occasionally everything works out perfectly. Everyone ate enough of a snack so that no one is hangry. Our tasks are divided and conquered. Children listen. It’s those times where I can make a more elaborate meal.

Unfortunately, most days aren’t like that. I’m exhausted and achy before dinner is on the table. We sit together as a family and enjoy whatever I have prepared, but after the 4th round of the “Worst Worst Game” or the “Thought Game,” I’m craving some space to re-calibrate.

It’s those nights that easy dinners are the best dinners.

I am not a huge fan of refrigerated biscuits when regular biscuits are so easy to make.

I searched high and low at one of my grocery stores for canned chicken spread with no luck. Which was kind of ok since the idea of chicken spread kind of freaks me out. I don’t remember my mom ever using it.

We ended up making our own using this recipe from Taste of Home: Chicken Spread. When made with quality chicken spread Chick-a-buns are rather delightful. We made a double batch of Chick-a-buns. The leftovers heated up well for lunch the next day.

Chick-a-buns are an easy concept that are very adaptable for any taste. Underwood, the company that makes canned chicken spread, also makes deviled ham and a variety of other canned meat pastes. I can also see this being an easy way to do tuna melts if that’s your thing.

Think of this as a super clever way to making your own Hot Pockets. I mean, sure they don’t come in those cool foil lined sleeves, but you also get to control exactly what goes in them.

Basically, you have no excuse. Make some Chick-a-buns, feed your family quickly, get more done.

The Recipe:

Chick-a-Buns

A quick and easy biscuit sandwich for those days on the go. These heat up nicely as leftovers.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 5 Sandwiches

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can Refrigerator Biscuits
  • 1 can Chicken Spread or make your own
  • 1/2 cup Celery chopped
  • 1 Hard Cooked Egg chopped
  • 2 TB Mayonaise

Instructions
 

  • Stretch or roll biscuits to twice their size. Mix remaining ingredients. Put filling between 2 biscuits. Press edges together. Brush top with beaten egg yolk. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 475 for 10 minutes.

If you liked this recipe try: Stroganoff burgers, Tuna Burger Casserole, and Chuck Wagon Casserole.

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Country Apple Coffeecake for Christina

My sister-in-law made the perfect cup of coffee.  She didn’t roast and grind her own beans, she didn’t make sure the water was at the perfect temperature and study the drip rate to make sure she was extracting maximum flavor from each bean.  That’s not who she was.   She would scoff at the pretentiousness of such things and would tease me if I alluded to caring about it.  Coffee is a morning drink to shake off the evils of the night before and to get your eyes open.  I don’t remember her ever drinking coffee after noon. 

It was this same sister-in-law that suggested to my husband that I was probably the ONE.  The story behind all of that is too messy to get into, but when we got serious she was the first family member that he wanted to introduce me to.  My connection to her was instant.  She immediately made me feel welcome.  We first bonded over a mutual love of her brother, but found so many more things that we had in common. 

Christina loved to feed her family.  It was more than just that perfect cup of coffee made from pre-ground grocery store coffee.  When we were at her house for the weekend, we could expect a full breakfast influenced by her Southern roots.  I can now publicly admit that my biscuits and gravy are better than hers, but since she wouldn’t let me help her cook, she would’ve had no idea.  

Sunday football meant a full buffet of fried, homemade pickles, chicken wings, and chili or soup of some kind.  I am not big on frying at home, but Christina didn’t have similar concerns. She also grilled all year long.  She loved having people around to cook for and never held back. She also made this amazing frozen coleslaw.  She had gotten the recipe from a lady with whom she had worked.  She refused to share the recipe with me.  I think it was because if I could make it on my own, I wouldn’t come visit her to eat hers.

And then there was the foray into homemade goat cheese.  When she married a goat farmer, she started making cheese.  She quickly got bored with plain cheese and texted me for ideas about flavors.  I sent her some suggestions and she branched off from there.  

When she would host a party, the food was almost as good as her company. Christina was warm and funny.  When I picture her face, I see her smile.  I can hear her laugh in my head.  She died last week creating a gaping hole in our lives.  There will be no more phone calls asking if using strategy in games is cheating.  There are so many pickles left unfried, so many pork loins left unplundered, and so many perfect cups of coffee left unmade.

In honor of Christina’s memory, I present to you Country Apple Coffeecake.  It seems especially symbolic of who she was.  Biscuit base for her Southern roots, country flavor for her time on the farm, a bit sweet, a bit tart, boozy, and kind of nutty.  It’s perfect to serve for breakfast with coffee.  It’d be great with a side of bacon or even some goat cheese.  I’d stay away from the pickles, though.