Wok's For Dinner: Chicken Divan

We had this meal for dinner Sunday evening. It got pushed back due to us not eating supper Saturday night. Well, hubs and I skipped supper and fed the kids sandwiches. We ate such a late lunch that night, that a big meal just didn't seem appetizing. Which was quite all right because this meal is definitely worth waiting for. I found this recipe in one of my aunt's cookbooks many, many years ago and it's been a hit with everyone I've ever made it for. It's one of my husband's favorites and he was definitely happy to see me serve it up.

Chicken Divan

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen chopped broccoli

3 Tbsp butter or margarine

3 Tbsp all-purpose flour

1/8 tsp ground black pepper

dash ground nutmeg

1/2 cup chicken broth

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, monterrey jack, colby--your choice)

1 1/2 cups cubed, cooked chicken or turkey

2 slices of American cheese, broken into small pieces

Paprika

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange broccoli along the bottom of a 13x9x2-inch casserole dish. Add cooked chicken on top of broccoli. Meanwhile, for sauce, in a medium saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour, nutmeg and pepper until blended with butter. Add chicken broth and milk. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Add cheese, stirring until cheese melts. Pour cheese sauce over chicken and broccoli. Place small pieces of American cheese on top and sprinkle with paprika. Bake in oven about 20 minutes, or until heated through.

If freezing: I think the best option for this meal as a freezer meal is to keep it simple. Cook your chicken ahead of time and freeze it. Then pull the chicken out and thaw in refrigerator for 24 hours. Use chicken as indicated in recipe.

After all these years, this is still a classic recipe that our family enjoys! Hubs had a few helpings, our daughter ate every bite on her plate, and our son finished off most of his (he's picky about meat lately). All-in-all, a great-tasting meal enjoyed by all. :)