Kay's Smothered Chicken

large whole chicken, cut into pieces.
4 cups water
2 cups rice
1 pkg dry chicken noodle soup mix (Lipton, Wylers, Mrs. Grass, Maggi, or Knorr - FOUR serving pkg!)
1 tbsp butter, salt/pepper/parsley to taste

pour dry rice, powdered soup mix, and water, into a large oven-safe casserole dish, and stir a bit.

go whole-hog, and use boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5 or 6) if feeling rich, or very tired.

I prefer a nice big round glass dish, with large HANDLES for ease of use.

in fry pan, quickly sear chicken pieces in hot oil until nicely browned, (a few minutes) and plop 'em into casserole.

cover casserole, and put in oven to bake for an hour.

or rather, get somebody kind to LIFT the suckah, and put it in the oven FOR ya.

and while you're AT it, have THEM do the scary searing of the chicken pieces, ha ha ha!

the rice soaks up the flavoured soup-stock, and rises to surround the chicken pieces, smothering them, and cooking them thoroughly to tenderness, without all that standing, and turning at the stove.

if really tired, skip browning the chicken, but I gotta warn ya, it looks pretty PALE and unsightly, so, serve by CANDLELIGHT.



oh, and since you have a flock of elves to assist, have THEM do the dishes for ya...



oh, and to make the casserole a COMPLETE meal in one dish, add:

1 cup sliced celery
1 cup sliced carrots
1 can green beans (or sliced fresh, if ya can find 'em)
1 diced medium onion
garlic if desired

add dried herbs to taste, and VOILA !!