the story book: Extra special chicken casserole

The following recipe is by far, truly delicious and most importantly, easy. Although it isn’t the quickest dinner to make, it is definitely worth the wait. All you need is 15 minutes prep and the rest is left to brew for an hour or 3 in the oven, whilst you sit back and relax with a glass of wine. This recipe is very easily changed to your own tastes and preferences.

Ingredients- for 2-3 persons

3 rashers of bacon

1 onion

2 small cloves of garlic

470g chicken breasts

Handful of mushrooms (optional)

Glass of red wine

Tin of chopped tomatoes

Half a tube of tomato puree

3 table spoons of mixed herbs

Handful of plain flour

Cooking oil

What you will need
1 casserole dish
2 frying pans
1 cooking pot (rice)
kitchen utensils

1. Start by pre heating the oven to 160 degrees, and then start chopping the onion, garlic, mushrooms and bacon

2. Heat a frying pan with a dribble of oil, and throw in the bacon, garlic and onions. Keep mixing for 5 minutes until golden

3. Whilst the bacon is browning, start to heat the second frying pan.
4. Now cover the chicken breasts in flour, and then place into the frying pan to seal the chicken.

5. Add the tin of tomatoes and puree to the frying pan with the bacon in, make sure you give it a good old mix.

6. Then add your mixed herbs. Again mix thouroughly.

7. You are now ready to transfer the chicken and the sauce mix into the casserole dish. Once in the dish stir in the glass of red wine.

8. Put the dish into the pre-heated oven. You now have 2 options. Either a long, slow cook for 3 hours at a lower temp (140) or you can chose to cook for just over an hour (160) Both options are amazing, so I would probably just stick with an hour or so.
9. Check on the food half way in, and give everything a good stir.
10. After one hour, put the rice on. To do this put a cup full of rice into boiling water, and simmer for 12-15 minutes, making sure to stir throughout.