Chicken Broccoli Bake

University of Michigan is notorious for poor cafeteria food. Surprisingly, many current students and recent alumni have rallied behind one reliable dish: Chicken Broccoli Bake. It's rich in flavor and substance, has high sauce appeal, and even enough vegetables to keep mom off your back. A hefty portion served on rice is the perfect companion to salad bar and soft serve.

The university has it's recipe available online. And, though it produces good results, it seems too tedious for the average student slop chef. So, here's an attempt at easy broccoli bake.



CHICKEN BROCCOLI BAKE (adapted from UofM)
::1.5 c water
::1 c rice
::1 can cream of mushroom soup
::.5-1 cup sour cream
::1 onion (chopped)
::1 garlic clove (chopped)
::4 T butter
::1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into small chunks

-Mix water, rice, soup, sour cream in a casserole dish (I use my trusty 13x9x2 pyrex)
-Sauté onion and garlic with 2 T butter until golden
-Sauté chicken with remaining butter until lightly browned (NOT cooked all the way through)
-Mix onion and chicken with previously combined ingredients.
-sprinkle pan with bread crumbs, parmesan, salt, and pepper
-***for white rice, bake at 350 for 45.
-***for brown rice, bake at 350 for just over an hour

This was easy and excellent. Just as I remember in the dorms. Maybe I would change a few things: more onions and garlic, maybe some white wine. Also, some interesting flavors might come from swapping beef for chicken, egg noodles for rice.

a potluck, some chicken

It's been a while since I've had a group of friends together for dinner. And for once, nearly everyone contributed. There was a delicious spinach dip, some hummus, a great summer salad, and plenty of beverages.
When I host a dinner, I usually provide the main course.

ZESTY BAKED CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES
- layer sliced yellow summer squash, carrots, sweet potato, and red onions in a 13x9 Pyrex.
- drizzle a little olive oil, some salt and pepper, some fresh thyme.
- pan fry the chicken with either olive or sesame oil until golden, season with paprika, cayenne, garlic powder.
- place chicken on layered vegetables
- mince half an onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 jalaeñop, 1/2 green pepper mixed with some lemon juice, olive oil.
- cover chicken with mixture, cover Pyrex with aluminum foil, bake for 30-40 minutes at 350-375.