CHICKEN CASSEROLE EXTRAORDINAIRE

RECIPES FOR ORDINARY DAYS WHEN YOU WANT TO CREATE SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY WITH VERY LITTLE FUSS.

Whoever said you can't make a casserole that everyone will love and will be as easy as anything you've ever made before that Martha Stewart or Julia Child never even heard of? Well, here it is! This marvelous casserole dish received a total thumb's up. There wouldn't have been any leftovers if we could possibly have eaten one more serving--and there were only two of us! Casseroles come and casseroles go and most of them are pretty Ho Hum, but this one stands out among all the rest as being as easy as anything you've ever done before but better than the rest by a long shot. It only takes five minutes or less (including the time you spend hunting for the rice and the chicken broth) and you can make it ahead, freeze it, then pop it in the oven on the day you want to eat it and it can be ready for you when you get back from wherever it was you had to go. How cool is that? This recipe is one of life's little bonuses: something far better than what you ever expected it would be. Theoretically it would serve 12 people, but don't count on it. Everyone will want more than one serving and trust me, some will want more than two. Oh well, just be glad they are eating their veggies with very little fuss. Here is how it's done:

1. First take out your 9" X 13" casserole dish, spray it with Pam and put in 1 1/2 C. rice. I used white Jasmine rice and it was absolutely delicious. It has such a marvelous flavor.

2. Now spread one package of frozen vegetables on top of the rice. I like this combination: carfrots, peas, corn and beans, but you can use whichever kind you and your family likes.

3. On top of this put some chicken tenders, about 1 pound or enough to cover the top.

4. Now pour 3 cups of chicken broth over the whole thing.

5. Cover it all with aluminum foil and bake for one hour in a 350 degree oven.

6. After it comes out of the oven, you'll need one can of cream of chicken soup and one cup of sour cream.

7. Mix these together in a bowl and then spread over the top of the casserole.

8. On top of this sprinkle 2 C. grated cheddar cheese. Put it back in the oven under a low broiler to melt the cheese until it's all bubbling and hot.

9. Serve immediately with whatever kind of salad and bread you want. Serves 4 to 12 depending on how hungry they are. Enjoy!