3 Days of Rotisserie Chicken

If that title doesn't get your attention, I don't know what will.  But since you haven't clicked away, I'll share with you some of my criteria for making tasty meals in our house:


1) lean protein
2) some sort of fiber component - usually beans, because they are
3) cheap

One of my favorite ways to do this is to start with a rotisserie chicken from Costco for $4.99 ($4.99?!  You can hardly buy a chicken sammich at McDonald's for that much).  Here is what you do:

DAY 1)  Eat the chicken.  It is delicious. (Maybe pair it with some frozen green beans and rosemary bread, also from Costco and sold in 2-loaf packages.  Freeze one for later.  You'll be glad you did.)

"Eat the wha?"

  DAY 2)  Hopefully you didn't eat ALL the chicken.  You can probably scavenge about 2 cups or so of the dark bits and little underside pieces that usually get thrown away.  Do not throw them away.  Make this:

 Chicken Tortilla Soup 
(ready in 15 minutes, I promise)

                       

4 cups chicken broth
3 cloves garlic, smashed
1 can Mexican-style diced tomatoes (Rotel works)
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
1 small jalapeno, seeded and diced, which you could leave  
      out if you are from Minnesota and only like bland foods
      (just kidding, Minnesotans!  We love your bland foods)
2 cups or so of the scavenged chicken bits
1 can black beans
1/2 c whatever kind of shredded cheese you have in the  
      fridge 
*optional but highly encouraged:
cilantro, avocado, and crushed tortillas 

Bring broth, tomatoes, garlic, jalapeno, and spices to a boil in an appropriately sized saucepan.  Reduce heat to low and simmer about 5 minutes.  Add chicken and beans.  Simmer 5 more minutes.  Stir in cheese.  Taste it and add a little salt.  Top with cilantro, avocado, and tortillas.

Husband's* ringing endorsement:  "I could eat this every day." BAM.  
*He was known to eat dirt as a child, so do with that comment what you will.

DAY 3:  CROCK POT TIME.  Do not be intimidated.  This is also easy.  Since you have a sad-looking chicken carcass taking up room in your fridge, put it to work.

Chicken Stock



1 sad-looking chicken carcass
10 cups water (or whatever your crock pot will hold)
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp thyme
1 tsp salt
1 onion, unpeeled and cut in half
1 celery stalk, cut in half
1 carrot, cut in half
4 cloves garlic, unpeeled (just throw them in! easy peasy)

Put everything in the crock pot on low for about 8 hours or so (great to do overnight).  Then when it has cooled a bit, strain it, pour 2-cup servings in freezer bags and lie flat on a freezer shelf.  DONE. 

But enough chicken talk.  Today is the FIRST DAY OF SPRING.  Let's celebrate by glaring at the 6-foot pile of snow on either side of the driveway listening to this happy tune by my middlemost brother.

 "Nothing says 'welcome home' like the spring.  spring.  spring."