Simple Pleasures

"What is it about chicken, coleslaw, and some kind of potato product that is so satisfying?" My husband's musings last night over dinner at Nando's. Maybe it's the soft, therapeutic warmth of well cooked chicken, the creamy, slightly oniony crunch of coleslaw, combined with the cheering full-up feeling from the starch, that makes it the ultimate comfort food. Maybe it was just the thoroughly relaxed atmosphere that we were able to dine in, thanks to Nando's gluten free food (check out http://www.nandos.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=model.faq&cat=CU&description=Contact_Us) and the server who double checked everything in the restaurants' dietary information book. I had wrongly assumed that Nando's was off the menu, but actually, most of the menu is suitable for Coeliacs!

My husband had a point about chicken. Tonight, I poached a chicken (RSPCA Freedom Food Endorsed, of course) in chicken stock with chopped carrots, celery and onion, a couple of cloves of garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, and a sprig of rosemary. I chopped more carrot, onion, and celery, gently sauteed until soft, added some of the beautiful, moist chicken meat and the poaching broth. Then, the last of Mrs Leepers Rice Alphabets made a delicious, nourishing supper. I'm a self-confessed comfort food addict and this was truly one of the most pleasing meals I've eaten in weeks.

And, as an added bonus, there's plenty of chicken left to make a salad for lunch tomorrow - with leftovers, and enough stock left to make another pot of soup (I'm thinking about cock-a-leekie with quinoa). Maybe even enough for a risotto?