*(Final testing still needed on this recipe)

One of the things that all of those of us who cook for our families face on a day to day basis, is figuring out what’s for dinner when work has taken up the bulk of our waking hours.  A freezer full of large batches of home cooked food is a great help for these times.  However, sometimes when you haven’t planned that far ahead, and the freezer contents are still frozen, you still have to come up with something.

I keep a fairly well stocked pantry for such times.  Fortunately, we have a great selection of quick prepare items to choose from in this day and age.   These give one a great jumping off point for creating a homemade meal in short order.  One of our favorites is a chicken stew that starts off with a dried soup mix.  From there, a Mega-Mart BBQ chicken, some seasonings and add-ons, and in a short time you have a hearty meal that will leave you with a nice supply of leftovers for another night (or two).

I really highly recommend the addition of the Apera (Sherry) – it’s the secret ingredient that makes restaurant soups so good! 

 

10 cup                   Water

1 pkg                     Shore Lunch Creamy Wild Rice Soup Mix

1 cup                     Lunenberg Wild Blend Rice

2 tsp                      Better than Bouillon Chicken Stock concentrate

¼ cup                    Apera (Sherry)

1 cup                     Milk (2% or Whole)

1 tbsp                   Franks Hot Sauce

1                             Mega-Mart BBQ Chicken from the Deli Section

1                             Recipe of Dumplings (Optional)

 

In a large pot, bring the water to a boil. 

Add the soup base, chicken bouillon and rice, whisk well and bring back up to a boil

Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook uncovered for 15 minutes

While it cooks, strip all the meat off of the BBQ chicken and break into chunks.  Discard bones and skin.

If you would like to add dumplings to the stew, this is a great time to mix up the dough

After the 15 minutes are up, add Kitchen Bouquet, sherry and hot sauce, stir well to combine

Add chicken, and stir to combine

Add milk, and stir to combine

Bring heat up to medium, stirring regularly unit it reaches a slow boil

Season with salt and pepper to taste

If you are adding dumplings, now is the time to place them on top of the stew

Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 min until the dumplings are soft and puffy all the way thru.

Remove from heat and let sit 5 minutes.

Serve in a bowl with a dumpling (or two) on top

 

* Reheating note – The leftovers will thicken up as the rice absorbs the water.  When reheating, add just enough water to loosen up the stew back to original consistency.