Chicken Stanley Food

HOMEMADE CHICKEN STOCK

Steps:

• Put the chicken back and breastbone, parsley, celery, carrots, garlic, onions, tomatoes, peppercorns and bay leaves in a large (6-quart) pot. Add water to cover completely, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Reduce the heat to low and cook at a bare simmer, skimming the scum from the surface periodically and adding additional hot water as needed to keep the ingredients submerged, until the stock is flavorful, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Strain the stock through a fine-mesh sieve, and then divide it between two containers to cool quickly. Let cool completely before freezing or refrigerating. The stock keeps for about 1 week in the refrigerator and for many months in the freezer.

CHICKEN STEW

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy 5 1/2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the celery, carrot, and onion. Saute the vegetables until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in the tomatoes with their juices, chicken broth, basil, tomato paste, bay leaf, and thyme. Add the chicken breasts; press to submerge.
• Bring the cooking liquid to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer gently uncovered until the chicken is almost cooked through, turning the chicken breasts over and stirring the mixture occasionally, about 25 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the chicken breasts to a work surface and cool for 5 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Add the kidney beans to the pot and simmer until the liquid has reduced into a stew consistency, about 10 minutes.
• Discard the skin and bones from the chicken breasts. Shred or cut the chicken into bite- size pieces. Return the chicken meat to the stew. Bring the stew just to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Ladle the stew into serving bowls and serve with the bread.
• Serving suggestion: crusty bread.