Chicken Divine

The other day, it was rainy outside and crazy inside and I was craving some comfort food. Growing up, my mom made some delicious Chicken Divine. And, like all good things back then, it involved Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup. It was so creamy and delicious and it was always served over some pasta. For my junior prom, a big group of my friends went "out" to dinner at my dad's empty tool store (he had just moved to a new location), which our moms had decorated beautifully to look like a nice restaurant. We were served Chicken Divine by our parents and even a few of our younger siblings. It sounds cheesy, but it was pretty cool. And the food was tasty.

However, I knew that I could come up with something similar once I had perfected making homemade mayo. Last week, I did just that! After consulting my mom's recipe and a few others online, I came up with something pretty close to what I grew up with.

Paleo Chicken Divine

6 chicken thighs (about 1 1/2 pounds), cut up into bite sized pieces
4 broccoli crowns, chopped
2 1/2 cups mayo
1 1/2 Tbsp curry
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp poultry seasoning*
1 Tbsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1-2 Tbsp olive oil or butter

In large skillet, heat oil and then add chicken. I usually season with a bit of poultry seasoning and salt and pepper, but that is optional. Once cooked, set aside. In large bowl, combine mayo, curry powder, poultry seasoning, onion powder and salt. Mix well. Next, add chicken and broccoli and combine well. Once combined, place in 13x9 baking dish and bake for 30-40 minutes at 350. Top with almond last 15 minutes, if desired.

A note about homemade mayo: First off, it's actually really easy to make your own mayo, so don't be scared. You really only need eggs, olive oil, and an acid (vinegar or lemon juice). The two most helpful recipes I've found are at Everyday Paleo and The Clothes Make the Girl. Give it a shot!

*The stuff that we get at New Seasons turns everything a funky shade of green, as you can see in the above picture