Start With Cooked Chicken

Having chopped or shredded cooked chicken on hand is a lifesaver. You'll save both time and money. Watch for sales on chicken to get the lowest prices; then cook, package, and freeze bags of it. Supper will be ready to serve much faster. And don't forget, in a pinch, you can always use a rotisserie chicken from the deli.

For three ways to cook chicken along with how-to-freeze instructions, check outsouthernliving.com/february2007. You'll also find 25 of our readers' highest rated chicken recipes.

-VICKI A. POELLNITZ

Creamy Chicken and Noodles

MAKES 6 SERVINGS

PREP: 10 MIN., COOK: 15 MIN.

1 (0.6-oz.) envelope Italian dressing mix

1 (8-oz.) package wide egg noodles

2 Tbsp. butter, softened

3 cups chopped cooked chicken

1 cup whipping cream

¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

1. Remove 1 Tbsp. Italian dressing mix from envelope, and set aside; reserve remaining mix for another use.

2. Cook noodles according to package directions; drain well, and return noodles to pan.

3. Stir in 2 Tbsp. butter, and toss to coat. Stir in chopped chicken, next 3 ingredients, and 1 Tbsp. dressing mix. Cook mixture over medium-high heat, tossing to coat evenly, 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve immediately.

KIM MORTON

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

Chicken-and-Sausage Creole

MAKES 6 SERVINGS

PREP: 15 MIN., COOK: 30 MIN.

1 cup uncooked long-grain rice

2 (14-oz.) cans low-sodium fat-free chicken broth, divided

½ lb. smoked sausage, cut into ½-inch rounds

1 medium-size yellow onion, chopped (about 2 cups)

1 cup chopped celery

1 green bell pepper, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 cups chopped cooked chicken

1 (14½-oz.) can diced tomatoes

2 tsp. chopped fresh parsley

1 tsp. salt

1/8s tsp. ground red pepper

2 bay leaves

1. Prepare rice according to package directions, substituting 2 cups broth for water.

2. Meanwhile, sauté sausage and next 4 ingredients in a lightly greased Dutch oven over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in remaining broth, chicken, and next 5 ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaves, and serve over hot cooked rice.

DOREN CLARK

MCDONOUGH, GEORGIA

One-Dish Wonder

We enjoy the simplicity of Creamy Chicken and Noodles, but when you have a good thing, sometimes it's hard to leave it alone. Our staff is always full of suggestions to dress up recipes with ingredients that add additional flavor. Here are a few stirin variations to enjoy.

* Chopped Ham and Peas: Stir in 8 oz. diced ham and 1 cup thawed frozen peas.

* Southwestern Style: Omit Italian dressing and Parmesan cheese. Stir in 1 (10-oz.)can diced tomatoes and green chiles and ½ cup (2 oz.) shredded Mexican fourcheese blend.

* Italian Style: Add ¼ up diced sun-dried tomatoes and 1 cup turkey pepperoni slices.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Feb 2007
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