Chicken à la King

When I was a kid, one of the staples my mom kept in the freezer was Chicken a la King packets.  They were these pouches, filled with a gravy/chicken/vegetable mixture, that was amazing over top of toast.  I remember eating them on snow days;  you would take the pouch out, and boil it in hot water, or put it in the microwave after stabbing the heck out of the bag.  This recipe tastes just like those Chicken a la King packets, and I still love it just as much.  Basically, it's like a hot chicken sandwich, with peppers, mushrooms, and peas.  Great cold weather recipe!!



1 stick butter or margarine
1 small bell pepper, chopped
1/2 small onion, chopped (omit these if you're not a fan)
8 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced (you can also use a can of mushrooms)
1 tbsp water
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
1 1/2 cups milk (I used skim)
1 1/4 cups chicken broth
2 cups cooked chicken or turkey (or even tuna)  (you can used canned chicken)
1 (2 oz jar) pimientos, drained
Toasted bread, cooked rice, or egg noodles  (it's good on french fries, too, which is the way my dad likes it)


Melt butter in a 5 quart saucepan, on medium high heat.  Once the butter is melted, add the mushrooms, green peppers, and onions.  Saute until the veggies are crisp tender.  Add the water.
Next, stir in the flour, salt, and pepper.  Turn the heat down to medium and let cook until bubbly, stirring constantly.
Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the milk and chicken broth.  Return to heat, and keep stirring until the mixture boils.  Boil for 2 minutes, letting the sauce thicken.  Stir in the pimientos and chicken (or turkey or tuna).  Turn the heat down to medium low, and let cook until hot.
Serve over toast, cooked rice, egg noodles, or even french fries.

My review:  This recipe was delicious, and tastes just like the kind I had when I was a kid!  I also love the red and green colors of the veggies in it.  This is comfort food at its absolute best.  Try this on a cold rainy day.  You'll love it!