SOL 12 Food For Thought: Chicken In a Pot

In most families, there are cherished recipes. Many are meals to be enjoyed on holidays or special occasions, like Grandma's eggplant.  Not us, we're into something called affectionately, chicken in a pot (CIP).

The recipe has roots in my mother in law's kitchen where as a busy working mother (back in the 1950s when few women worked outside of their homes), it was a way to make the cooking of one chicken last 3-4 days!  It started as soup and later, with  canned tomatoes added, was popped on top of pasta.

In my own kitchen, CIP has slowly changed as our family grew and changed.  As a working mom with busy children, it became a Sunday staple that reappeared on Monday and Wednesday in some form or other.  It was always available as a healthy meal even if sports' schedules disrupted cooking time.  With Minute rice (fast) or pasta, I could make it stretch where few meals could go!  When they came home from college or when I visited, CIP was the requested meal.  When friends came for dinner, they all seemed to all know about CIP, and were disappointed if something else was served!
There are no rules for this recipe and this recipe is far easier than my MIL's original.

Chicken In a Pot

Take onion(s) -green, yello -  whatever you have and garlic - saute in a little oil

Push them to the outside of the pot when they are soft cooked

Add boneless chicken breast or thighs - cut up - whole - if still frozen, just add anyway

Cook a while, then add cut up peppers (frozen or fresh) - red - green - yellow

Cut up and add whatever veggies you have available (eggplant, carrots, green beans, peas)

If you have no other veggies, that is OK too!

Add canned or fresh tomatoes - not too much juice - just the fleshy parts

Add basil + oregano - fresh or dried

Add onion powder and salt

Variations include, adding black or kidney beans and chili pepper; or an all veggie CIP (just leave out the meat and add more beans!)
The beauty in CIP is that YOU CAN NOT MAKE IT WRONG and it never is exactly the same although I have concluded after many batches that onion powder and tomato pieces are the key!  Thus, you can eat it every week....and we have been....for many years.....but still, when they come home, or when I visit...they ask for CIP!