Day 331: Creamed Chicken (or Turkey) and Biscuits
Creamed chicken and biscuits is like the edible version of flannel sheets that have been washed a thousand times. I almost had to go have a hot bath and wrap myself in a robe and my biggest, ugliest socks before eating it, just to complete the experience. Except that I had to go to an office-less Christmas party, and I knew it would set me up to be a no-show.
(I can’t believe you guys are still with me, and that I haven’t bored you to death. I’m starting to bore myself; no wonder I’m so sleepy. I think my writers’ block has followed me into the kitchen.)
So – my motivation: I had pulled a baggie of leftover roasted turkey from the freezer and tonight had to come up with some use for it. No salsa – quesadillas are out. I didn’t feel like fried rice, or turkey salad sandwiches. I could not think of one original use for it, despite my near-constant raves that roasted chicken and turkey make the very best and most versatile of leftovers. (They do, honest. You just need to have some brain function.) I thought of chicken pot pie first, but didn’t have the energy… this is like a disassembled chicken pot pie, with the guts spooned over biscuits – whole wheat and olive oil biscuits, to be precise. The chicken part can be made in under 20 minutes, while the biscuits are in the oven, and I bet you have all the ingredients in your kitchen. (I just realized I unintentionally made a recipe using turkey leftovers the day before US Thanksgiving.)
Creamed Chicken (or Turkey) and Biscuits
AuthorJulie
In a skillet, heat a drizzle of oil and a small lump of butter. When the foaming subsides, add the onion and cook for a few minutes, until soft. Add the celery, carrot and mushrooms and cook until they soften, release their liquid and then the mushrooms and onion start to brown a little. Add the herbs at some point while you're cooking them. Sprinkle the flour overtop and cook for a minute, then add the broth and water and bring to a simmer. Let it bubble for at least a minute, then add the chicken and peas and cook for 5 more minutes. If it's too thick, add a bit more stock or water. If it's too watery, keep cooking until it cooks down and thickens. Add the half & half and bring to a simmer again, just to heat it through. Season with salt and pepper and serve over warm biscuits.
Ingredients
Directions
In a skillet, heat a drizzle of oil and a small lump of butter. When the foaming subsides, add the onion and cook for a few minutes, until soft. Add the celery, carrot and mushrooms and cook until they soften, release their liquid and then the mushrooms and onion start to brown a little. Add the herbs at some point while you're cooking them. Sprinkle the flour overtop and cook for a minute, then add the broth and water and bring to a simmer. Let it bubble for at least a minute, then add the chicken and peas and cook for 5 more minutes. If it's too thick, add a bit more stock or water. If it's too watery, keep cooking until it cooks down and thickens. Add the half & half and bring to a simmer again, just to heat it through. Season with salt and pepper and serve over warm biscuits.
And – oh yes! Today marked a Momentous Occasion. Much like the first day of school, today was the first day W was old enough, tall enough and potty-trained enough to go to Småland in IKEA all by his very own self. They grow up so fast. Snif.
Mike and I lingered over coffee and cinnamon buns and shopped for a full hour, gripped intermittently with fleeting waves of panic that we had lost him. It was glorious. It’s going to be really hard not to bring my laptop and go hang out in the IKEA cafeteria every morning…
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I know that feeling…so much anticipated, but so hard on us (the parents) too. Doesn’t it feel like you’re skipping school?
Dinner looks great, I’d come to your house anyday for leftovers, or anything you pull out of the freezer.
I remember that day, too! It’s sort of like when you’ve just stashed the essentials in your pocket and keep panicking that you’ve lost your purse…
I really like this turkey and wild rice casserole (with far less cream than the recipe wants and the totally-yummy optional cranberries): http://kitchenparade.com/2006/11/turkey-wild-rice-casserole.php
Unpotted chicken(turkey) pot pie – love it! Like making dip to make omelets I think I’d make extra chicken just to make Chicken & biscuits 🙂
Oh to be able to shop without a preschooler running amok. I remember the first time Ali went to Smaland – she had a blast and the whole time I kept looking at the pager hehe. If the Ikea cafeteria had better coffee there might be riots in the Smaland lineup 😉
IKEA does serve wine, mind you. Not great wine, but white and red wine. The latter pairs as best as you can expect with the Swedish meatballs.
I’m just waiting for my 2 1/2 year old to be potty-trained enough to go to the kid’s area at Co-op!! 😉 That will make grocery shopping a lot more pleasant.
Wiping more drool off my keyboard. That supper is my idea of comfort heaven! If I only had some roast chicken/turkey in my freezer….
Funny, I pulled out some leftover turkey the other night too. I made a squash risotto and topped it with some maple glazed leftovers.
Hopefully your weekend away gives you some new energy and inspiration.
Ha! I vividly remember the red letter day I could finally take advantage of the Co-op Kiddie Korral! Who knew grocery shopping could be so peaceful?
Aw!! Big day! I can’t wait for Leo to go there…..I think he’s still a bit too short, and likely too shy. Maybe a few more months?
W must have LOVED it!
Julie, I know you like hearing about what others are eating and like you, I am a big fan of leftovers. I love finding creative and delicious ways to use things up and I have to tell you about my latest creation (which really isn’t that big of deal but it just all came together so well I have to share it with someone and most people just don’t care lol). So last Saturday was my Grandparents 61st anniversary (yes your read it right … 61 years!!! That’s like over 2 life sentences!! And they are still in love! Awesome!). So my mom did a big dinner for 12 at my house. She make a big Beef Tenderloin from Costco which was all eaten (it was absolutely out of this world) and baby potatoe, broccoli and corn on the cob which had lots left so I took out some Chicken stock I had frozen in the deepfreese (I use all the chicken parts when I make a roast chicken, I agree with you that they are a very ecconomical meal) and added some evaporated milk, crisp bacon and all the veggies cut up along with an onion and some flour to thicken it and it was the most amazing soup. It was like a potatoe, broccoli & corn chowder with bacon and it made enought of 3 meals!! I baked up some fresh biscuts and it was a great November meal.
Anyway, sorry to rambble on for so long but like I said, most people don’t appreciate turning leftovers into something delicious and cost efficient so I had to share it with you and everyone else who love hearing about this stuff! 🙂
I know that feeling exactly! My ‘ta da’ moment was when I dropped her off at a birthday party and actually got to leave – I was so excited, I didn’t know what to do!
Dinner looks tasty!!!
I’m laughing here because I agree on both fronts: (1) I always read a billion ways to use turkey or chicken leftovers, but when I have them I can never figure out what to do with them, and (2) I still vividly remember the first day we dropped our little one off at Smaland! It’s the best of both worlds…they love it and you get a short break. Now with an infant as well, it’s a nice time for me to wander and sit down and feed the babe while she has fun. We usually go on a weekday (since I’m on mat leave) and eat lunch there too…it’s the only place I know of that we can both eat for under $10!
You are never boring Julie! Just like chatting with a pal. Beware if you ever see us in the grocery store — we will think you are an old friend, and yet be a complete stranger to you. Leftovers are only boring if they are just reheated as is — recycled and reworked, they are miracles. We fondly refer to them as “L.O.” in our house that is, when I admit I have worked miracles with something previously served.
Oh, the day I can leave the little ones play at IKEA while we shop. Sigh. Jealous.
I remember the first time I left my house without my baby-bjorn on, I felt like I was naked. A very odd feeling. Now, I am at the point that I am leaving my daughter home alone for twenty minutes, from the time she is dropped at home, to the time I get home from work on the bus, and I get so worried about those twenty minutes. Do we EVER stop worrying?
I love comfort food. This is definitely and eat in your pj’s kind of dinner. I even want to put my pajamas on just looking at the photograph. YUMM!!
Hi Julie
Another idea that I created for those extremely lazy days (and I’m not very creative when it comes to the kitchen – my husband does 99% of the cooking/grilling)… leftover turkey or chicken with shredded cheese and gravy on top (I usually have a package or two of the Clubhouse gravy mix in my cupboard as it’s so much healthier than real gravy). Kind of like poutine but with meat instead of french fries…Protein Poutine perhaps?
I finally made this tonight and it is as you described – well worn flannel sheets in a bowl. I didn’t make the biscuits this time around I just added some leftover boiled potatoes.
“Comfort food” at it’s best (and at a time when I sorely needed it) Thank you Julie!