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..jpg)
And then add the chicken pieces..jpg)
Mix up the soup in another container. And then add to the chicken..jpg)
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..jpg)
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..jpg)
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!.jpg)
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?

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.
.jpg)
Pour the rice into the bottom of a casserole dish.
.jpg)
And then add the chicken pieces.
.jpg)
Mix up the soup in another container. And then add to the chicken.
.jpg)
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.
.jpg)
Then top the whole thing with dry onion soup mix.
.jpg)
Cover the whole thing with foil.
.jpg)
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!
.jpg)
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?