Greek Chicken and Rice by Sandra Lee

Greek Chicken and Rice

I made my first money saving meal out of Sandra's cookbook.  

Now, plated.

Cook Review

* Easy directions and assembly.

* Ingredients were inexpensive.  I bought generic brands to lower the cost further.

* You can brown the chicken ahead, then make the rice mixture and bake the casserole when you're ready to make dinner.

* Very flavorful.  There are so many full flavored ingredients in this one dish that

your taste buds will sing & dance or run away screaming.  Mine sang & danced.

* The Process:  I seasoned and browned the chicken before soccer practice.  I also drained the spinach, artichokes and diced tomatoes as the chicken was browning.  Basically, all the prep work was done before soccer practice.

After soccer practice, I made the rice combination with the spinach and such, covered in it with foil and popped it in the oven.  As the casserole baked, I cleaned up my work station and mopped the sticky floor up from an earlier spill.  In other words, You have about 40 minutes of free time.

Family Review

* Presentation was a success... initially.  My sons saw the onions in it and quickly complained.  

* Taste:  Each person gave me their honest opinion, so I think it's only fair that I be honest with you.  I got Mixed Reviews.  No surprise there.  Remember I mentioned that everyone seems to have opposing taste buds in my family.

Alas, this was not deemed a "keeper" by most.  Now, I know, that I know that

my family is picky.  After hearing everyone's tell like it is comments, I decided to use the rating scale that I have so often used during therapy sessions.

*Rating Scale:  I asked each person to rate the dish from 1 to 10.  One meaning that it was gross, never make it again.  Ten meaning, I loved it.  It's a keeper.

I figured this will keep their unkind comments to themselves and I will get an

accurate rating of their like or dislike of the meal.  On a post-it, I jotted down each person's rating for the chicken, then for the rice.  I placed the post-it on that recipe page.  This will allow me to remember how that recipe was received.   It'll also help out in future dinner planning. 

Just to give you an example of how different my family's taste buds are.  The 

chicken received a 9 from one individual and a 1 from another.  Opposites, I tell ya! The rice received the same polar opposite scores.  

Tonight I am making Sandra's Enchilada Lasagna.  I think, I'll be happy :)

This little piggy already went to the market so today she'll stay home.  I wonder if the piggy will have roast beef tomorrow?