This is what I call comfort food! I love casseroles. Here's another great one from Marie over at the English Kitchen.
Chicken Divan Casserole
1 medium head of fresh broccoli
1 lb of chicken breast tenders ...
salt and pepper to taste
1 bay leaf
splash of hot pepper sauce
2 cups cooked rice
For the sauce:
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 cups whole milk or half and half, warmed
1/4 teaspoon of medium curry powder
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
salt and white pepper to taste
Topping
1 cup Ritz crackers, crushed
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
Place the chicken into a saucepan along with cold water to cover. Add some salt and black pepper, the bay leaf and a splash of hot pepper sauce. Bring to the boil. Take off the heat, cover and set aside to cool.
Wash and trim the broccoli. Break up into bite sized florets. Peel the stems and cut into chunks. Steam until crispy tender, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Melt the butter for the sauce in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Cook, stirring for one minute. Whisk in the warm milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until the mixture bubbles and thickens. Crumble in the bouillon cube and whisk in along with the cheddar and Parmesan cheeses. Taste and add salt and white pepper to taste. Keep warm.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a shallow baking dish with cooking spray. Open the rice and sprinkle it over the bottom of the dish. Drain the chicken and break into pieces, sprinkle this over the rice. Top with the broccoli florets and stems. Nap the top with the warm cheese sauce, covering everything completely and allowing it to sink down into the casserole dish. Mix together the topping ingredients. Sprinkle them evenly over top of the casserole. If desired, spritz lightly with cooking spray.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until heated through, bubbling and the topping is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Delicious!