Shoe: Chicken and rice with tomato sauce

Shoe - Here's the recipe I mentioned in chat. This is a really easy meal to make and I'm not sure I can give you quantities of stuff. Believe me, since our stove completely died and I've been forced to cook with nothing but the microwave and crockpot, I've made this kind of stuff a lot!

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup rice (white or long-grain)*
2 cups water
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup parmesan/romano cheese

fennel seed
dried thyme
dried oregano


Optional:
Add 12oz can of diced tomatoes (if you like more sauce).
Add sliced fresh or canned mushrooms.
I like using Prego's mushroom sauce, but experiment and enjoy the different flavors various kinds bring to the dish.

THE CHICKEN: Cut it into small cubes and cook it however you prefer to cook your chicken. I've been doing mine in the microwave: put in a shallow microwave-safe bowl with a little water, cover it with plastic wrap (vented at side) and microwave it for 5-7 minutes on 50% power. The time will vary depending on the wattage of your microwave. Drain chicken, rinse off any fat, and set aside.

THE RICE: By the way, this is how I always cook rice, and it turns out great, no muss and no fuss! Add water to rice in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover bowl and microwave 5 minutes on HIGH, then 15 minutes on MEDIUM (50%).

* If you are using long-grain rice, you may need to add 5 minutes to the time on MEDIUM.

In this recipe, I also add about 1/2 teaspoon each spice to the water prior to cooking it. The amount - or even the spices you use - will differ according to your taste. I like adding the spices to the water first because they hydrate and flavor the dish much better than if add dry at the end (no crunchy fennel seeds!).

THE MARRIAGE OF THE TWO:
When rice is done, mix spaghetti sauce and rice together, adding cooked chicken and cheese as you stir. Microwave again enough to heat everything.

It's nothing fancy; no gourmets in this house. Served with a salad and veggie, this is tasty and filling - and very frugal! It freezes very well, so I put it in freezer containers for quick lunches and dinners.

Hope I didn't forget anything! :o)

This message was edited Tuesday, Oct 16th 11:27 PM