Monday, February 23, 2009

In the Kitchen with Kat: Can I bring you a chicken casserole?

I am not sure if I can recall the last time I cooked. I think it was in January. Maybe. Because ever since Michael went into the hospital, people have been bringing us meals. Neighbors. Friends from church. From our homeschool group. And this innundation of generosity is so wonderful. But sometimes. I am feeling a little bit ungrateful. And a lot a bit guilty.

Now, I fully admit we are a picky lot over here. There are a lot of things that we don't like. Like spicy foods. Veggies mixed with the other foods. Peas. Peppers. Peas. Sloppy Joes. Peas. Corn. Have I mentioned that we don't like peas?
Now we are certainly not limited to chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. But some of the things that have landed on my kitchen counter have been interesting to say the least. And I thought about telling you all the particulars of some of the concoctions. Because some of them were so "interesting" that they actually made me laugh. But then that guilt and ungrateful thing rears its ugly head. And I am reminded again of how thankful I need to be. So, I just put the interesting things in individual serving bowls. Freeze them. And plan to send them to work with Michael when he is ready. Because that Michael. Well...he'll eat anything.
So...I got to thinking. And thought I would share a family favorite - Chicken and rice casserole. I got the recipe from my friend Cindy. Who got it from her mother-in-law. I think it's a favorite because it's simple. Easy. Delicious. Contains NO peas. And would make a great meal to give to a friend in need.
Here are all the ingredients.I always double the recipe. And instead of using two cans of cream of mushroom soup, I use mushroom and cream of chicken. I also leave out the can of mushrooms that the recipe calls for. I know. I am such a rebel.
Pour the rice into the bottom of a casserole dish.
And then add the chicken pieces.
Mix up the soup in another container. And then add to the chicken.
Be sure to make sure that the soup gets under all the chicken. I like to sometimes mix it up with the rice. Because uncooked pieces of rice in your casserole are not so yummy.
Then top the whole thing with dry onion soup mix.Or you can be adventerous. And use onion-mushroom soup mix instead.
Cover the whole thing with foil.
You needed that picture didn't you? It might have been confusing otherwise. I love a pictorial cooking lesson.
Stick it in the oven. And when the timer beeps. And you peel off that foil. Oh, the aroma. Mmmmmmm. And the taste. Oh my. Delish!
Here is the simple recipe:
Put 1 cup of rice (not instant) into the bottom of a casserole dish.
Add your chicken pieces on top of the rice.
In a small bowl, mix a can of cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 can of water, and a small can of drained mushrooms.
Pour the mixture over the chicken. Be sure that it gets under the chicken so that all the rice is coated.
Cover the casserole with one package of dry onion soup mix.
Cover with foil and bake for 1 1/2 hours at 350º
So...what about you? Has anyone ever brought you a strange meal? Do you have a "go-to" meal when you want to provide a dinner for someone?
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44 comments:

Unknown said...

okay that looks delish...yes i have a goto meal my chicken parmesan...not to be confused with parmesan chicken...it is wonderful

ChicagoLady said...

I'd have a LOT of leftovers if I tried to make that dish, but it looks really good, except for the mushrooms. Do you substitute the Cream of Chicken soup for the mushroom soup? And also 86 the can of mushrooms?

Oh, and I don't like peas either. Or mushrooms. But you probably already figured that out.

Shannon said...

This looks both yummy and easy to make!

I think the strangest food that has been given to me were sausage balls made with deer meat. Blech.

lynette355 said...

It does look good but I would have to 86 the cream of mushroom soup (cant stand the stuff), the dry soup mix (have to think of other seasonings) and use covered dish (allergic to foil). I would also use boneless, skinless chicken. Now that I have changed the whole recipe. LOL

My go to meal is quiche. Easy and can use a variety of different mix ins.

We are so glad to see you back on. It feels like forever. How is Michael?

Rhonda said...

I do that with chicken and whatever cream soups we have in the house, but I never thought to put the rice under it and do the onion soup mix part!!! I am so trying that next time!!!

Thanks!

MsTypo said...

It's good to see you blogging again. **hugs*** How is Michael doing?

My easy meal is tortelini in a scratch blush sauce. Yeah, i'm lame - even when we do lazy in this house we start from scratch. LOL

Runner Girl said...

Mmmmmmmmm...looks like the ultimate comfort food! I am trying this tonight!! So glad you are back in the kitchen and back here with us!!!

Finding Normal said...

I was just thinkin about you. And wondering how things were going. I so get you on the guilt thing. But that just means you'll put more love into it when you pay it forward.
I'm good with the gift card. I don't like to make food for people because I worry that they won't like it, or that it'll be too garlic-y or won't hit the spot. So I usually do the gift card. I did make the John Deere Mom's baked spaghetti for a friend, and that was a big hit. Or so she told me.
Glad to see you back. Still praying!

Rhea said...

I'm so happy to see you cooking again! And posting about it.

I have a very, very similar version of this dish that I LOVE. The onion mix, the rice and chicken...and can of cream of mushroom soup. I just prepare it a tad differently...but the taste...oh, yum. A favorite for sure!!

Anonymous said...

I get it. I think when I had Elizabeth one of my friends brought a gross casserole-ish dish that she made up. Sometimes pasta and condensed soup should NOT go together.

I do know that there are always the same dishes at every church dinner--casseroles with macaroni and jello. Bleck.

Tiffany said...

hey Kat,

I have this recipe and we all really like it as well.

I must admit though that we do like peas and corn though. LOL

I saw the email go out asking for meals for your family and it did mention a few dislikes and likes although that is always a difficult situation when cooking for another family. As others mentioned, spices (esp. garlic), heat of the dish, certain sauces and not to mention ingredients can always make or break the dish.

Hope you're still hanging in there and feeling the hugs and love that surround you!

Michelle said...

Sounds yummy and I am gonna try it. I think I will add peas, I love peas (sorry). A chicken pot pie is always an easy dish to make for someone, of course it has peas in it.

Glad to see you back. I am sure you are ready for some "normal".

Tam said...

First Great Recipe! I have to try it.

To answer your questions...I was once brought a Chicken Pot Pie...It had Peas!

The meal I take to Somebody..well I go to the Honey Ham store and get a complete meal.. and that my friend is HARD HARD work.

I was very excited to see YOUR post and think of you and your family often!

Debie Napoleon said...

We have the fussy taste family ourselves...so we certainly understand.

We think of you and your family and are glad that things are on the upswing.

Heather said...

I'm a little scared of casseroles from other people. Unless they come with a list of the ingredients. I like to know exactly what I'm eating.

Tater tot casserole. Yuck. That is the strangest thing anyone has brought.

My "go-to" meal is chicken potpie. Sorry, it has peas. I'm sure you could make it without them. But peas are our favorite.

Can we still be friends?

Mama Dawg said...

We have a different kind of chicken and rice casserole that's delish. I'll have to get my mom to write down the recipe and I'll share.

It contains NO PEAS. I swear.

I hate peas, too. And celery. Otherwise, I'll eat anything.

Teri said...

Doug and I hate peas, also. The kids love them, however. Eeew. And is that a green veggie I see on the plate with that chicken and rice???

If I provide a dinner for someone, I like to bake/grill some chicken and include a bag salad and fruit.

Gina said...

I used to make this all the time. I can't stomach it any more. I may have thrown it up a few times when I was pregnant. That's usually why I stop liking stuff.
Glad to see that you are back in your kitchen.

Wanda said...

Yay....dinner!
Thanks for sharing it. I make something similar..but love the onion soup topping idea.
Going to be eating this tonight!

Jen said...

Yeah!!! Now I have something to make for dinner. Thank you so much!

People brought us food after the babies were born. It wasn't anything weird it was just all spaghetti. After 3 weeks of the stuff, I couldn't eat it any more and had to throw out all the left overs.

So glad to see you are back in the blogging world. You have been really missed.

Michelle said...

I have all of that stuff!

And I love peas, I'm sorry. Can we still be friends? I promise to brush my teeth so you can't smell them on my breath.

Susan said...

I love my chicken casserole recipe, but yours is so much easier. I need to try it out. I have an easy mexican tortellini recipe that is good "go to" in a pinch.

And I detest peas, too.
: )

Skeller said...

You think your lot is picky?

My lot (ok, me) won't do mushrooms in any way, shape, form. Or bones in chickens.

But your plated chicken & rice surely look tasty ;-).

Lula! said...

You're back!

And this is yummy-looking!

And I missed you.

And...
enough with the Ands...
but I will be calling you SOON!

Anonymous said...

My mom used to make this all the time when I was a kid. After I had my son a few of the ladies in my church brought us dinners for a week. It was such a blessing!

Brandy said...

I want to know what weird things you got. So that I know what to avoid in the future. :)

Glad to see you back...and with a recipe to boot!

Brian and Staci said...

YAY!!! A post from Kat :) I have this SAME recipe and oh my...it IS delish! I think mine calls for a little garlic salt too?? I may have to work this into my menu plan this week :o I'm still a prayin' for your family girl! Take care! Oh yea...my go to meal to take to people is usually rigatoni...and it is super yummy :) I can't remember anyone bringing me a strange meal :)

Anonymous said...

Hmm, I'm thinking now that I should call and order pizza for you next week when I'm supposed to bring you dinner. :o) I actually asked the dinner coordinator what kinds of food you'd been getting so I don't duplicate. I do have a yummy chicken casserole that's easy to make and freeze/reheat. Contains no peas. LOL

Susie said...

That looks so good! I have a chicken and rice dish I use for a "go to" when times are rough. Also my Susie's Semi-Homemade Spaghetti Dinner :-) That's always a winner:-0

Shannon @ Lifelong Impressions said...

It looks yummy! My hubby is probably waaaaayyyy more picky then you guys are. lol As yummy as this looks 90% is stuff he will not eat.

Dawn Parsons Smith said...

That looks delicious! I have a bunch of picky eaters too:(

LadyStyx said...

My brother cooks his like that too. Mine, well I cut up and brown up the chicken... then 1/2 cup water with a packet of the onion soup mix...let simmer. In a separate pan cook Rice A Roni pilaf per pkg instructions. Serve the chicken mixture over the rice pilaf. Yummy.

Jeanine said...

ok first of all, welcome back, we have all missed you! So it is great that you posted and gave us a photo casserole lesson. I laughed out loud when I read that you plan to poison Michael, oops I mean feed him left overs as soon as he is well enough. Does he know?? LOL Your Chicken casserole looks great, and so easy. I am going to have to try it, even if I do like all those things that everyone seems to hate.
Welcome back again.

Jeanine

jennifersusan said...

I make a version of this recipe except it does contain peas (because it's one of the only veggies the kids will eat), and it has shredded cheese on top.
Your version sounds way yummy, I'm gonna have to try it!

Bramblemoon Farm said...

NO WAY! A couple days ago my husband asked for a chicken and rice dish JUST like this. I didn't have time to google it, and didn't feel like dragging out my cookbooks. My kids hate mushrooms. I wonder if I could use cream of chicken instead? Thank you SO much for posting this. Wow, you saved me all that looking time:)

Carrie said...

My church meal staple is Tater Tot Casserole. We don't eat it at home because we're both on Weight Watchers and it's too high on the points. But everyone loves it and always asks for the recipe. It's so simple! 4 ingredients!

1 lb Ground Beef
1 can Green Beans, drained
2 cans Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 32 oz bag of Tater Tots

Brown the ground beef (I season with salt, pepper, & garlic powder) in a large skillet, add the soup and green beans and stir until combined. The dump in 1/2 the tater tots and mix gently. Then pour it into an ovensafe dish, top with the remaining tater tots and bake according to the tater tot package directions.

Yummy and FAST!

So glad you're back!!!

Bramblemoon Farm said...

Oops, I was so excited I didn't answer your question. I've never really made whole meals to take places. I love bringing quick breads and cookies:) No one's really giving me a "go-to" meal either. I make a mean chili, so that might be a good meal for me to give to someone that didn't just want bread. BAHAHAHAHA

Lori said...

making it tonight!

Elena said...

Made this for dinner tonight. SO yummy. Total hit!

And my go-to meal that I usually take is stuffed pasta shells. I usually get asked for the recipe so I guess that's a good sign. :S

Michelle said...

Yay, you're back! So glad to see you posting again.

I actually wouldn't eat this recipe because picky me I don't do mushrooms of any sort. I suppose I could do it with my own soups though ;)

I don't have a go to meal to serve to others only because I like to mix it up, but I try to find something I know people will like.

WheresMyAngels said...

I remember when I had my first child my cousins brought me soup in a large Sun Tea jar and to me it looked like well something I dispose of on a dialy basis. Now it is one of my favorite soups to make, even though it is NASTY looking and smelling.

I LOVE my foods all mixed together, you all are weird for not!! lol I love marshmellows melted on a frozen pizza!

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Scary Mommy said...

I know just what you mean--- we are a house of picky eaters and when I had Ben people brought us the strangest things. I hated to be ungrateful, but ewwwwww. I always do a breakfast spread- muffins, bagels, juices etc. Who doesn't like that? Your chicken would be welcome here though!

sassy stephanie said...

I can't say I can really complain about any meals we were brought when we had each of the kiddos. I guess I always lucked out on that.

Love this b/c it is all things I usually have on hand. I'm making it for the first time tonight!