3 Easy Chicken Meals to Gift New Moms

Chicken Barley Chili, Yummy Chicken Pot Pie, Easy Arroz con Pollo

© Maria Blanco

Jul 27, 2009

It’s always difficult to balance child care, self care, cooking, cleaning, and the myriad of other household responsibilities that face a mom. But it is even more difficult for new moms. Give a new mom the gift of a few meals. She will love them, and she will love the giver, too!

When thinking about preparing meals-ahead for new moms, please don’t overlook second and third-time moms. Sometimes people think that experienced moms have everything under control and don’t need any help. On the contrary, many times it is the experienced mom who comes home to the greatest demands on her time and energy. She is the mom who will probably appreciate any additional help the most! The following recipes were developed by a mom-of-nine who knows what it’s like.

Yummy Chicken Chili with Barley – Makes 11 One-Cup Servings

Yummy Chicken Chili with Barley is a hearty soup that will be a welcomed supper meal, and will also serve up well at lunch time from leftovers. It always appeals to children and adults alike. Some nice, crusty, French bread or whole wheat rolls would go well with this meal.

Ingredients:

• 1 - 14.5 ounce can Stewed Tomatoes, undrained
• 1 - 10 ounce can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
• ¼ cup Bell Pepper, chopped
• 5 cups Water
• 2 teaspoons Chicken or Vegetable Soup Base
• 1 cup "Quick" Barley (Quaker® makes a good one)
• 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
• 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
• 1 - 15 ounce can of Black Beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 - 14.5 ounce can Whole Kernel Corn
• 2 - 13 ounce cans Chicken Breast Meat (or 3 cups cooked chicken, roughly chopped)

:

Instructions:

1. In a 5 – 6 quart Dutch oven, combine the first 8 ingredients (through the Cumin). Bring contents to a boil over a high flame, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Add the remaining ingredients, and return the pot to a boil; cover and reduce heat to low once more. Simmer for 10 – 20 minutes more, or until the Barley is tender.

Serving suggestions:

• This soup is tasty topped with a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, or chopped green onions.
• If the soup thickens too much, additional water or broth may be added.

Easy Peasy Chicken Pot Pie – Makes 6 Generous Servings

Easy Peasy Chicken Pot Pie is a real winner, too. There is no comparing this dish to a store bought freezer meal. What a comfort food! And the recipe is so versatile that it would work just as well with turkey or ham in place of the chicken.

Filling ingredients:

• 1/3 cup Butter
• 1/3 cup Onions, chopped
• 1 medium Potato, peeled and diced
• ½ teaspoon Salt
• ¼ teaspoon Pepper
• 1/3 cup Flour
• 1 ¾ cup Chicken Broth (or substitute with water, adding 2 teaspoons bouillon or soup base)
• 2/3 cup milk
• 3 cups Chicken meat, cooked and chopped (canned chicken may be substituted)
• 10 ounces Frozen Mixed Vegetables

Crust ingredients:

• 1 cup Original Bisquick® mix
• ½ cup Milk
• 1 Egg, lightly beaten

Pre-heat oven to 400°F, and prepare a 2.5 – 3 quart casserole dish by spraying it with non-stick baking spray.

To prepare the filling:

1. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions, potato, flour, salt, and pepper.
2. Stir and cook until smooth and bubbly.
3. Remove from heat. Stir in the chicken broth and milk.
4. Return to heat and stir continuously while bringing the mixture back to a boil. Continue to boil and stir one minute longer.
5. Add vegetables and chicken; stirring to thoroughly combine.
6. Pour filling into prepared casserole dish.

To prepare the crust:

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the Bisquick®, milk and egg until blended.
2. Gently, pour the crust mixture over the chicken mixture to cover the surface of the filling.
3. Finish by baking at 400°F for about 45 minutes, or until the crust is a deep golden brown.
4. Cool 5 – 10 minutes before serving.

Quick and Easy Arroz con Pollo – Makes 4 – 6 Servings

Here is another recipe that almost makes itself yet, when all the flavors come together they cry out, “Someone slaved over this dish all day!” Enjoy this delicious chicken meal with a fresh green salad and a Light Italian or Vinaigrette dressing.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds Chicken parts
• 1 - 10.25 ounce can Condensed Chicken Broth
• 1 - 10 ounce can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
• ½ cup Water
• ½ cup Onion, chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• ½ teaspoon Turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1 medium Bay Leaf
• 10 ounces Frozen Peas
• 1 cup White Rice, raw
• ½ cup Stuffed Green Olives or Ripe Olives, sliced

Instructions:

1. Coat the inside of a Dutch oven with non-stick cooking spray and brown the chicken parts.
2. Drain off any excess fat.
3. Add the broth, tomatoes, water, onion, garlic, salt, turmeric, pepper, and bay leaf.
4. Cover and cook over medium-low heat 15 minutes.
5. Add peas, rice and olives, and bring up to a boil.
6. Cover and reduce heat to low; cooking for 30 minutes more. The dish is complete when the chicken juices run clear and rice is tender.

Remember to print a copy of these recipes for Mom, as well. These dishes are easy to prepare, nutritious and popular with the whole family. Mom will appreciate having these quick and easy recipes on hand when she resumes all of her cooking duties.

Finally, consider doubling the ingredients in these dishes. In this way, by measuring and chopping only once the results will yield one dish to give and one dish to keep—all prepared in the same amount of time!

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