Hearty Chicken Stew

What secret ingredient do you use in the kitchen to share your best intentions? When added, does it make your go-to dishes taste even better? After eating a wonderful meal of Hearty Chicken Stew, prepared for us by a thoughtful neighbor, we thanked her for the meal. She responded with enthusiasm and then shared the recipe, including her secret ingredient.

Food For Recovery

Do you have a secret ingredient you rely on in the kitchen? Does it make everything taste better?

This past year a neighbor brought us dinner several days after I had major surgery. The meal she brought included cornbread and a fragrant chicken stew. The stew was loaded with tender chicken. It was also brimming with nutritious vegetables. The seasoning included a pinch of thyme, adding a subtle and delicious counterpoint to the mellow onions and sweet carrots, enhancing the flavor without assaulting my tender senses.

This unassuming meal tasted wonderful and was deeply appreciated. It seems that a good meal is never more satisfying than when our body is striving to heal and recover. That is especially true when the food is thoughtfully shared by a neighbor or friend. When we finished our meal my husband sent a note of thanks to our kind neighbor. He also requested the recipe we enjoyed so much.

THE Secret Ingredient

The next day our friend replied:

“Yours is the first e-mail I opened this morning. I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed my simple dinner.

I will be happy to share the recipe. The secret ingredient was Love. I was constantly mindful while preparing the meal with thoughts of healing, recovery and nourishment …”

Neighbors like that are among life’s richest blessing! They are also one of the reasons we hated to leave Tennessee.

May all our kitchens be stocked with a generous supply of THE Secret Ingredient as we care for and nourish those around us!

Hearty Chicken Stew

Course: Main Dish, SoupCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Total time

45

minutes

Loaded with tender chicken and diced vegetables, then seasoned with a pinch of thyme, this healing chicken stew is a thoughtful meal to share with a friend or neighbor in need of some TLC.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. chicken breast tenders, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1/4 cup flour

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

• 2 Tablespoons butter

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil

• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced

• 2 stalks celery, ¼ inch slices

• 2 cans (14.5 ounce) chicken broth

• 1/2 teaspoon thyme

• 1 Tablespoon ketchup

• 2 carrots, peeled and ¾-inch diced

• 1 1/2 cups yellow or red potatoes, peeled and 3/4-inch diced

Directions

• Combine the flour, salt and pepper in a shallow container. Toss the chicken pieces in the flour mixture to coat.
• Melt the butter in a 4 quart pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil. When hot, add the coated chicken pieces. Cook until chicken pieces are lightly brown.
• Add onions and celery. Stir and cook another 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Add remaining ingredients. Return to heat and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
• Enjoy!