Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

ALL-IN-ONE CHICKEN

- Heloise@Heloise.com

1 teaspoon oil

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup diced potato (½-inch cubes)

1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish

2 tablespoon­s chopped celery

1 cup water

1 bay leaf

1/8 teaspoon thyme Freshly ground black pepper to taste

2 (3-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1 cup canned peas

Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat, then add onion and potato; cook, stirring until they begin to brown. Add the remaining ingredient­s as listed, except peas and chicken. Stir and bring to a boil. Place chicken in sauce, reduce heat to simmer. Cover and cook for about 12 minutes. Then add peas and continue to simmer until the liquid is reduced, about 5 minutes or so. To serve, place one chicken breast on each plate and spoon the sauce over the top. Garnish with parsley.

This recipe is for two, so double if necessary. Enjoy.

DEAR HELOISE: When a recipe I used called for a cup of raisins, I decided to add a little more flavor to the raisins by soaking them in rum for about 15 minutes. The alcohol was burned off during the baking, but the flavor remained. It added a little “zing” to an otherwise bland cookie.

— Frances in Alabama DEAR HELOISE: Nine times out of 10, my gravy is too thin and runny. I’m a novice at cooking, so how do I make a thicker gravy that doesn’t resemble dirty water?

— Roger in Colorado DEAR READER: Heat the thin gravy in a pot on the stove over medium heat. Dissolve a little cornstarch in cold water to make a paste, then add it to the gravy. Keep stirring until the gravy thickens and so it doesn’t stick to the pan. Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email

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