Today I have cooked a Chicken Casserole for our Sunday meal. My hubby has been requesting this for some time, so being a good wifey his wish was granted and voila Chicken Casserole for dinner. This is another easy to create dish and perfect for a lazy rainy Sunday like today. I will be serving this with creamy mash potato.Chicken Casserole
SERVES 8-10
PREPARATION 25 MINS
COOKING 1 HR 30 MINS
4tbsp olive oil
4 leeks, cut into 1cm (½in) thick slices
6 rashers streaky bacon, chopped
3 stalks celery, sliced
500g (1lb) baby or Chantenay carrots, scrubbed
8 large chicken thighs
4 chicken breasts, halved
3 fresh bay leaves
4 cloves garlic, peeled and left whole
1 litre (32fl oz) chicken stock
Fresh thyme (optional)
1. Heat the oven to 180°C (gas mark 4). Heat the olive oil over a medium heat in a large frying pan or a large flameproof casserole dish or saucepan. Sauté the leeks, bacon, and celery for 5-6 minutes, or until they have softened (without browning too much). Add the carrots, chicken pieces, bay leaves, garlic cloves and stock. If you do have some fresh thyme, add a few sprigs of it to the mixture.
2. Bring to the boil, cover with a tight-fitting lid and transfer to the oven. Cook for 1 hour. Remove the lid and cook for a further 30 minutes, or until the chicken is nicely coloured.
3. Set the casserole aside to cool and then divide it into individual portions. Freeze in airtight containers and keep for up to 3 months. Defrost the casserole before reheating in a covered saucepan over a gentle heat.
Malteser Traybake
I present to you this weekend's second installment of traybake but today I have used Maltesers. I have lost count of the times I have made this traybake using Maltesers and it is by far the best no bake treat I've ever made. My son and hubby are addicted to this, infact anyone I know that's tried this has become addicted within seconds of the first bite! I tend to make it every once in a while as a treat (this stuff should come with a health warning, yes its seriously good), I don't want to add to the number of obese cases already hitting the nation, so a little of something naughty every once in a while does us all good. After all what would life be without a little traybake now and then!
Looks like some good comfort food for a rainy day. It's in the 90's here in San Diego today so I'll be looking to make some sort of salad with grilled meat for dinner!
ReplyDeleteMaria, this casserole looks divine! Thank you so much for the recipe...I have never cooked with leeks before, so now I have to get some of those and give this a try..it'll be perfect for all the people in our house these days!! Plus, it's still wintery here in upstate NY, so it'll be a perfect main dish.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Patty
xo
That traybake looks so good that it took me several attempts to formulate a full sentence about it. I was about to rave about the aero one but I think using maltesers is even better!
ReplyDeleteAnd that casserole looks so comforting and good ^__^. I can tell my brother would love that.
Gorgeous Maria. Those tray bakes are fantastic. Can't wait to make your cake!
ReplyDeleteVicky xxx
Gorgeous Maria! I love the look of the tray bakes especially. I can't wait to make your rich butter cake!
ReplyDeleteVicky xxx
Oh my goodness Maria, that looks like a perfect cool weather Sunday meal to me.
ReplyDeleteDo stop tormenting me with that traybake though I'm drooling now LOL.
George xx
That casserole looks lovely. The malteser tray bake........... what can I say. Yum Yum. The pic is great. Well done getting it on TasteSpotting
ReplyDeletexxx
Lovely casserole, and of course I know how good the tray bake is! We tend to have it just now and again as well, as it's just so popable :)
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for your lovely comments!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Maria
x
I love chicken casserole, it's been on my "must make" list for a long time now. It's such a comforting dish.
ReplyDeleteAs for the malteser traybake..... anything with maltesers is a winner in my book!
Gorgeous Maria, nothing beats a comforting casserole and this one looks divine!! Oooooh and just look at that scrummy tray bake too :)
ReplyDeleteRosie x
I love the Malteser tray bake.
ReplyDeleteLove the casserol too.
Ruth you must give this one a try, my hubby kept saying how good it was during the meal.
ReplyDeleteRosie thanks sweetie ;o)
Happy Cook thanks!
Maria
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The traybakes look delicious! If it wasn't in the high 90's I would be making the casserole for dinner tonight.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gigi ;o)
ReplyDeleteMaria
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The tray bake looks so tempting Maria..No wonder your family is a big fan of this..I love it!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Swati and lovely to see you here again!
ReplyDeleteMaria
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I was trying to decide which was more tempting - the delicious-sounding casserole or the chocolately malteaser tray bake. And then I came to my senses - the latter involves chocolate. And malteasers. I would just love a slice right now.
ReplyDeleteThen again, I'd love a big bowlful of that casserole too - so comforting!
WOW! Maria, it all looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteMaria, is this "traybake" with malteasers (I think we call those Malt Balls in the US) the same recipe as the Mint Aero traybake, except you substituted whole malt balls instead of the mint candy? I'd love to try it.
ReplyDeleteHi Kate
ReplyDeleteYes I used Maltesers in this traybake, I beleive in America they are called Whoppers (Malt Balls).
Maria
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