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    Saturday, May 06, 2017

    Chicken and Broccoli - Two Ways - Both Work

    Last night I made a Chicken and Potato Salad for the kids and they loved it

    I still had 2 chicken breasts left to cook
    Plus in the fridge was
    A head of Broccoli
    A red and a yellow Capsicum
    A shallot
    A Cucumber
    Bread and Butter Pickled Cucumbers

    Loving the colouful food 
    Mayonnaise (Make your own  It is so simple, particularly  if you use your blender)
    click here to get the easy recipe
    Here is the Mayo I made and the Bread and Butter Pickles
    I love them and use them in so many ways
    I like to use the vinegar to make the mayo, just lifts the Mayo and makes it special
    Corn in the freezer
    Pasta in the pantry

    I can make something with these.
    Rather than make a large salad, not good to have it hanging around too long
    I decided to split the ingredients
    Made a Salad and also a Pasta Bake

    So first poach the chicken in chicken stock preferably Homemade
    I quite often add some Vegeta Chicken Stock Powder
    It’s an excellent flavour boost
    Bring the stock to the boil
    Add chicken breasts, make sure they are covered
    Bring back to the boil, drop the heat and simmer for about 2 minutes
    Put a lid on the pot and leave till it has cooled
    Do this earlier in the day

    Chicken will be perfectly poached
    Set aside and cut into cubes
    Reserve the stock

    Meanwhile
    Break the broccoli into florets and into boiling salted water
    Cook for just a couple of minutes, Want to keep it lovely and green
    Strain into a colander… Keeping the water to cook the Pasta
    Run the broccoli under cold water to cool down, then drain
    Bring the water back to the boil and add 3 cups of pasta shells
    Cook till al dente about 8m minutes
    Drain divide into 2

    Chop the peppers
    Finely chop the shallot,
    De-seed the cucumber and chop, you need about 1/2 cup

    Let’s make the salad first
    Into a large bowl
    Place Half of the broccoli, half the peppers and shallots
    1/2 cup chopped cucumber
    3-4 slices of Bread and Butter Pickles finely chopped
    Half the cooked Pasta
    1 cubed chicken breast
    Big dollop of Mayonnaise
     Toss and let sit for about an hour for the flavours to meld
    Now lets work on the Bake

    3 Tablespoons butter
    3 Tablespoons Flour
    1 1/2 cups Chicken stock

    Melt the butter
    Add the shallot and peppers
    Season with S & P
    Cook gently about 3-4 minutes to soften the vegetables
    Add the flour
    Cook about 3-4 minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste
    Add chicken stock

    Whisk well and heat till it starts to simmer and thickens
    Once again simmer, stirring so it doesn't form any lumps
    Add the remainder of the Broccoli, Pasta. Chicken  and a cup of frozen corn

    Place in baking dishes.
    You can freeze it at this stage
    When you are ready to eat it
    Top with some breadcrumbs and cheese
    Bake for about 25 minutes, till it is bubbling and golden on top

    Perfect

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