Take One Chicken

As everything else goes up in price, a free range chicken has become really expensive. If you look hard you can still get one for about a fiver (maybe more) and one chicken will feed lots of people. I can not bring myself to eat chicken breasts in a restaurant, fat and too large; or any made up product which will have battery chicken meat in it. Fussy? Well, like free trade coffee and tea, there are a few things you can take a stand on without becoming all Paltrowish. One positive result is that you really enjoy chicken when you have it.

So one chicken: chopped into at least 8 portions- I cut the breast into 4 so that makes 10 pieces;  the back and feet covered with water and simmered for stock with a onion, no need to peel, peppercorns, salt, bay leaf and optionally any other veg you have eg a celery stick or two; then one meal of chorizo, chicken and rice; one of tagine al la Jamie.

Chicken and Rice with Chorizo - in a large frying pan for 2/3/4

Brown rice - this works well though you could use basmati
Chicken pieces
Chorizo - the long sausage type, about 3ins to each 4 chicken pieces
Onion, garlic, oil, herbs
Olives, skinned peppers from a jar or a fresh red pepper, sun dried tomatoes - optional

  1. Cook as much brown rice as you need, a large handful per person, in water to which you have added a chicken stock cube or chicken stock.
  2. Soften at least one onion and 2 cloves garlic in olive oil; add the chopped chorizo and let it all cook together for several minutes.If you are using a fresh pepper chop it and add it now.
  3. In the same pan, after you have taken the veg etc out, brown your seasoned chicken pieces (as many as you want/need) till golden.
  4. Put all the ingredients together in the pan, and let them stew - you shouldn't need any liquid but just add a little if you do.
  5. When the chicken is cooked, say 20 minutes but check by poking near the bone with a skewer, add the cooked rice; heat it all together.
  6. Add some sliced red peppers from a jar and/or some sun dried tomatoes from a jar/ and or olives - or leave as it is. Carry on heating gently.
  7. Add lots of chopped parsley and some basil.
  8. Enjoy with a salad or alternatively add frozen peas to the rice at the last minute so you have some greens in the dish.

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