Chicken Stew

Chicken Stew

We're talking about that thick stew that sticks to your ribs type stew

Go to the store and get one of those chickens that were done yesterday.

Very likely 50% off so they can put new chickens out today at full price

Cut up the chicken

You can make your own chicken broth

Or...  you can do like I did, just buy it

Start by melting the butter

Then add the same amount of flour

Only cook on medium heat

Continue to cook till the flour smell is gone

Constantly stir

Do not let it burn

Add the chicken stock, about a 1/2 cup at a time

It will thicken up, but keep stiring

Don't let it burn

Keep adding more and more chicken stock

Keep stiring

Finally, your gravy is ready

I "pumped up" the taste of my stew

I put in an onion and the onion peelings

A couple chopped carrots

A couple chopping up celery pieces

I threw in the chicken bones

I boiled that down

I kept the broth

Oh the yummy broth

I boiled up the potatoes and carrots

Then added the stuff together

Gravy, broth, chicken pieces, boiled potatoes and carrots

Le voila, the chicken stew

Ingredients

1 rotisserie chicken deboned
1 onion
2 celery stalks
4 potatoes, diced
3 carrots, coined, or diced (Dicing carrots is BORING and labour intensive)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
1 box of chicken broth

Stuff you will need

Cutting board
Sharp Knife
2 pots
1 dutch oven
Wire whisk

Directions

Take the chicken off the bone.  Put the chicken in the same container it came in.  There is drippings in there you don't want to get rid of.

Put the chicken bones, skin, wing tips, popes nose and other pieces of chicken that your not really going to eat, in a pot.  Add the onion, chopped into 1/4's, carrot chunks and the chopped celery pieces.  Add water to cover and boil that down.  Don't be afraid to add Salt, Pepper and any chicken spices that you may like.  Drain and keep the broth.  

In another pot, put in your diced potatoes and carrot coins.  Add water and boil them up.  

Make your chicken gravy.  See my previous blog on how to make chicken gravy: http://cookwithmitch.blogspot.ca/2016/08/chicken-gravy.html

To the dutch oven, add the drained potatoes and carrots.  Add the boiled down chicken broth.  Add the chicken pieces.  Add the chicken gravy.  Simmer on low heat.  Everything is cooked, so it can be served right away.  Or it can sit on the stove top at low heat while you are running around the yard cleaning up for fall.

Please keep in mind, if you want to add extra stuff to this, you can.  This chicken stew is only a starter recipe.  Make it your own.  Add other veggies to your stew. i.e. before you add stuff to the dutch oven, you could saute up some onions and celery.  Then add the other ingredients when they are done.  Do you like turnips (rutabaga in some parts of the world), well add those.  Or parsnips.  The list goes on.  Use your imagination.

Comments and suggestions are ALWAYS welcome.