Crispy Chicken with Cheesy Mash & Cream Gravy

 
The recipe I am sharing with you today is a total carb-fest, but every now and again, a gal has to do what a gal has to do.  Todd totally enjoyed this.  I thought that he might. He is a real meat and potatoes kind of a guy!  Like most men suppose!
 
My youngest son went through a period of several years when he was very young where he would only eat certain things.  Once for several weeks, I could only get him to eat hot dogs, and then it was toast, but the toast had to be a certain colour, not too dark, not too light. He loved all things white . . .  white bread, white potatoes, rice . . .  and he liked corn.  He used to mix his corn into his rice and his potatoes and he called them corny rice or corny potatoes. 
 
Yes, he was more than a bit spoilt and over-indulged, but he was the youngest of five and our last child. There was seven years age difference between him and our other four children, and we all coddled him.
 
This casserole is somewhat reminiscent of something which I think he might have enjoyed when he was a boy.  Its actually quite delicious!
 
I found myself with some leftover pieces of Crispy Chicken that needed using up, so I decided to incorporate them into a tasty bake.
 
The base of the bake is a cheesy mashed potatoes.   Filled with spring onions, and cheese . . . creamy and buttery . . .  you spread this in a buttered casserole dish.
 
I sprinkled some frozen corn over top of that and then topped it with some more grated cheese  . . .
 
Finally I cut the crispy chicken into strips and lay it on top of the corn and cheese and banged the whole thing into the oven so that it could heat through and the cheese would melt . . .
 
While the casserole was cooking I made a cream gravy.  One of my favorite things is chicken fried chicken with cream gravy  . . .
 
This gravy is an homage to that  . . .  creamy, rich and peppery  . . .
 
The recipe doesn't make a whole lot, just enough to drizzle generously over top of the finished casserole with a tiny bit to spare. You could certainly double it if you wished and if your family is fond of cream gravy.
 
Oh but this was some good  . . .  yes, I did partake and I enjoyed every carb-filled mouthful  . . .  back on the band waggon tomorrow  . . .  a girl can't be good 100% of the time.
 
I enjoyed a small serving along with a salad on the side . . .
  
That's a sandwich plate.  I always use a sandwich plate. It helps to keep me in check.

Crispy Chicken with Cheesy Mash & Cream Gravy

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Author: Marie RaynerA delicious casserole of cheesy mash topped with bits of crispy chicken and corn, served with a rich creamy gravy.

ingredients:

You will need:

• 4 Crispy chicken breast fillets, cooked and cut into strips
• 1 cup of frozen corn, unthawed
• 60g strong cheddar cheese, grated (1/2 cup)

For the cheesy mash:

• 2 pounds of floury potatoes, such as a Maris Piper, peeled and cut into chunks
• 1 bunch of spring onions, trimmed and chopped
• 60g strong cheddar cheese, grated (1/2 cup)
• 2 TBS butter
• Warm milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the cream gravy:

• 2 TBS butter
• 1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 chicken bullion cube, crushed
• 2 TBS flour
• 240ml whole milk (1 cup)
• 180ml double cream (3/4 cup heavy cream)
• salt to taste
• a generous grinding of black pepper

instructions:

How to cook Crispy Chicken with Cheesy Mash & Cream Gravy

1. First make the mash. Put the potatoes in a saucepan along with the onion and add boiling salted water to cover. Simmer just until the potatoes are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife and then drain well. Return the hot potatoes to the pot and mash well with a potato masher. Add the butter and just enough warm milk to make them creamy. Stir in the spring onions and the cheese, mixing in well, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/ gas mark 6.
3. Butter a shallow 9 by 13-inch casserole dish. Spread the cheesy mash in the casserole dish. Top with the frozen corn. Sprinkle the additional cheddar cheese over top. Sprinkle the chicken strips over top of the cheese. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until heated through and the cheese has melted.
4. While the casserole is baking make the cream gravy. Heat the milk and cream together in the microwave until  quite warm, but not boiling. Set aside.  Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the chopped onion. Cook over medium low heat until the onion is translucent without allowing it to color. Sprinkle with the flour.  Cook for a few minutes, then whisk in the milk/cream mixture, whisking constantly. Cook until it bubbles and thickens.  Crumble in the chicken stock cube and season to taste with salt and a hefty grinding of black pepper.
5. Drizzle the hot cream gravy over the casserole and serve.

Created using The Recipes Generator
 
This was really tasty . . .  creamy rich cheesy mash  . . .  sweet corn, crisp chicken and that peppery creamy gravy. To die for.    
  
I thought you might be interested in knowing that I have been featured in the latest Issue of the Canadian version of Hello! magazine with a recipe spread.  I remember when I worked at the Manor down South, the housekeeper used to save me our boss's discarded Hello! magazines for me to read. I loved them.  I never ever dreamt that one day some of my work would be gracing the pages.  Funny how life is!  Have a great day!