Friday, September 3, 2010

Planning Ahead for Guest with Quick Easy Meals

Half the fun of making new dishes is being able to share them with others.






Planning ahead and having precooked and measured ingredients in the freezer makes mealtime planning worry free. With your Chicken Mix prepared, you have a head start on your main course and dinner can be on the table in 20-30 minutes. That is less time than it takes to go out to eat. Of course, it is much more economical also. Now, start collecting recipes that call for 1-2 cups of cooked chicken. Keep only your favorites together in your file or book. When you are asked, "What's for dinner?" you already have a plan.

Chicken Mix
11 lbs Chicken
4 qts cold Water
4 tsp Salt (if using Kosher salt double)
1/2 tsp Pepper
4-5 pods Garlic
1 onion (peeled and quartered)
2-4 carrots and celery ribs(washed ends removed, cut in chunks)

*Combine all ingredients in a large pot.
*Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cover.
Simmer until meat is tender, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
*Remove from heat. Remove chicken from broth and let it cool. Strain broth and refrigerate until fat can be skimmed. *Discard vegetables (or use in soup). Pour skimmed broth into six or more 1 pint containers. Allow about 1/2” freezing room. Label and freeze. Remove and discard bones and skin from cooled chicken. Place chicken into six 1 quart Ziploc bags. Seal and label and freeze. Use within 3 months.
Yields: 6 pints broth 6 pints chicken

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