Base chicken recipe:
1 quart chicken stock
8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 shallots, chopped
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg or the equivalent of freshly grated
Salt and pepper
Divine Divan:
1 pound broccoli spears
8 ounces Gruyere, shredded to 2 cups
Tremendous Tetrazzini:
2 tablespoons butter
12 mushrooms, sliced
1/2 pound wide egg noodles, cooked to al dente and hot
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup (a couple of handfuls) grated Parmigiano
2 ounces slivered almonds, toasted
Suggested side for Chicken Divan:
1 (10-ounce) bay baby salad greens
White wine vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil, for dressing
Salt and pepper
Bread and butter, for the table
Suggested side for Chicken Tetrazzini: Mixed Greens with Vegetable Streamers and Confetti
1 (10-ounce) bay baby salad greens
1 baby zucchini or 1/4 cucumber, seedless
1 carrott, peeled
1/2 red bell pepper
2 scallions
3 tablespoons fresh herbs, mix from what you have on hand
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons (3 turns around the bowl) extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
Bread and butter, for the table
Bring 1 quart chicken stock to a boil in a wide, deep skillet with lid. Add chicken breasts. Return broth to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, cover, and poach the chicken 8 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside. Reserve the broth for the sauce.
In a skillet, saute shallots in oil and butter for 2 minutes. Sprinkle in 3 tablespoons flour and cook 1 minute. Whisk in 1 cup wine and reduce by half, 1 minute. Ladle in chicken broth, whisking sauce as you do. Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream. Season sauce with nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Bring to a bubble and reduce heat to low.
Slice the chicken into 1/2-inch strips and add to the pan. Coat chicken in sauce. At this stage, in order to have enough for 2 meals, remove half of the chicken in sauce and transfer to a container with a tight fitting lid. Cool the chicken, cover, and freeze for the tetrazzini, recipe follows.
To assemble Divine Divan: simmer broccoli spears in 1-inch water, covered, for 5 minutes. Drain and transfer to a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Top with half the grated Gruyere and half of the base chicken recipe. Top chicken with remaining Gruyere and brown until bubbling and golden under preheated broiler, about 2 minutes. Serve with dressed salad greens and bread.
To assemble tetrazzini: reheat defrosted base chicken recipe in microwave oven. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small pan. Saute mushrooms 5 minutes, until tender. Toss drained hot egg noodles with chicken and mushrooms. Transfer mixture to a baking dish and top with bread crumbs, cheese, and almonds. Brown under preheated broiler until topping is even golden brown. Place pan 6 inches from heat source. Topping will brown in 2 to 3 minutes.
Serve with salad and bread. Place greens in a bowl. Using a vegetable peeler, peel strips of zucchini or cucumber into the salad bowl. Repeat with carrot. The vegetables will look like party streamers. Finely chop pepper, scallions, and fresh herbs to make colorful confetti. Sprinkle chopped vegetables into bowl. Toss salad at the table with oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper, to your taste. Serve with bread and butter.
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