Chicken Pot Pie

Stew

3 split chicken breasts (without bone)

3 Tbsp. olive oil

Salt and pepper

1 ½ sticks salted butter

2 c. chopped yellow onion

¾ c. flour

5 c. chicken stock

¼ c. heavy cream

1 ½ c. diced carrots, blanched for 4 minutes

1 10-oz package frozen peas 

1 Tbsp. dried parsley

1 medium potato 

Biscuits:

2 c. flour

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. sugar

1 stick of cold, salted butter

¾ c. half-and-half

1 Tbsp. dried parsley

1 egg with 1 tsp. water

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place chicken in a glass baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the tops with salt and pepper, and cover with tinfoil. Bake for 50-60 minutes. Stab the potato with a fork and place it in an un-sealed plastic bag. Microwave for about 8-10 minutes, or until potato is easy to squeeze. Set aside to cool a bit before you skin and dice it.

In a heavy bottom pot, melt butter and sauté the onions on medium heat. Add flour and stir constantly for 3 minutes on low heat. Add chicken stock and simmer for 2 minutes, or until stew is thickened. Add heavy cream, diced chicken, blanched carrots, frozen peas, parsley and diced potatoes. Pour stew in a 10X12X2 inch baking dish. Still on 375 degrees F., bake for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile make biscuits. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Cut in the cold butter. Add half-and-half and parsley and mix just until combined. Dump the dough onto a well-floured surface and roll out 1 inch thick, 2 ½ inch round circles (use a small cup if you don’t have a circle cutter).

Remove stew from the oven and arrange biscuit on top of the filling. Brush the tops with egg wash and return the dish to the oven. Bake for another 25-30 minutes, until biscuits are brown and stew is bubbly.

Green fruit salad

Green grapes

Kiwis

Granny Smith apples

Honey dew

Pears

Choose all or any variety of fruit above. Dice fruit into bite-size pieces. In a large bowl, toss the fruit together and serve with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream on top of each serving.

Pistachio and White Chocolate Pudding Cookies

2/3 c. flour

(1) 3.4 oz box instant pistachio pudding mix

1 tsp. baking soda

¼ c. light brown sugar

¾ c. granulated sugar

¾ c. salted butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 egg

¾ c. white chocolate chips

½ c. chopped pistachios

Whisk together flour, pudding, and baking soda. Set aside. Cream sugars and butter together until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat together until blended. Gradually stir in dry ingredients. Don’t over stir. Fold in chocolate chips and pistachios. Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Scoop out rounded tablespoons of cookie dough and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes or just until they are set. If you see any brown, pull them out.  Let cool on baking sheet for several minutes before moving them to a rack. Store in airtight container.

What is a Gun Trust

If you own every gun Chuck Norris ever used in his movies, then you might need a gun trust!

Gun trusts are becoming increasingly popular as more restrictive gun control laws are being implemented, the last of which was by executive order in July 2016. Certain firearms are restricted under Title II of the National Firearms Act (NFA). The most common Title II weapons include suppressors, short barreled rifles and shotguns, and automatic weapons. A gun trust protects the privacy of the gun owner and can shield the gun owner’s family and friends from being liable for unknowingly engaging in criminal acts. A gun trust gives you more protection in the acquisition, usage, and transfer of Title II weapons.

One of the biggest mistakes owners of restricted weapons make is exposing family and friends to criminal liability. Title II weapons must be registered on the National Firearms Registry. When a Title II weapon is registered to an individual, only that individual may use that weapon. For example, if you took your family or friends out shooting to “try out” your new suppressor, they would technically be felons under the law if they picked up your weapon. The criminal liability for a felony violation is up to $500,000 in fines and 10 years in prison. The ATF is the federal government agency responsible for enforcing the NFA and has recently brought on hundreds of additional agents to crack down on unlawful transfers.

An unlawful transfer occurs when a registered owner transfers possession and/or control of a Title II weapon to another person. The ATF and IRS have recently teamed up to maximize penalties for unlawful transfers. Federal law requires a purchaser of a Title II weapon to pay a $200 tax every time a restricted weapon is transferred. In cases where the ATF has imposed penalties for unlawful transfers, the IRS has prosecuted for tax evasion. The most common unlawful transfer is between spouses. A gun trust allows both spouses to exercise control and possession over Title II weapons as co-trustees. It also allows other named individual beneficiaries to use the weapons without criminal liability as long as they remain in the presence of a trustee.

Another common mistake is made upon the death of the registered owner. Gun trusts provide protection for executors who are unfamiliar with federal and state firearm laws. An executor who is trying to pass your guns to your heirs can accidentally commit a felony by transferring to a prohibited person. A gun trust has specific instructions to ensure that the successor trustee is aware of the laws and transfers legally.

This is a complicated area of law and I can help you navigate the complexities while ensuring that you retain as much privacy as possible and limit criminal liability for your loved ones.