All in One Chicken

Having enough time to cook, blog, entertain guests, watch TV, exercise, sleep and read is a full time job for me. Then if you throw in a challenge like Ready Steady Cook I'm about ready to jump off the bus.

Thank goodness for one pot oven baked meals, they are a wonder to me. I can read, watch TV, entertain and sleep all the while my meal is gently cooking away in the oven. What makes this meal even better is that you can have your meat and vegetables all done together - so the washing up is a breeze.

I came up with this simple meal yesterday after having our water cut from 9.30am - 7.30pm. I had only the  water in the water-cooler as my only supply. So this is a perfect low water meal too - saving time and water!

Chicken with Leeks and Green Olives.
Served with Pasta Rice with Courgettes and Kidney Beans
Serves 4

8 Pieces of Chicken ( I used legs and thighs)
6 Large Leeks cut into 2" chunks
1 packet Pitted Green Olives (about 100g)
45ml Chicken Stock Concentrate (I use Nomu Chicken Fond)
500ml Water
45ml Nomu Stir (or Tomato paste, dried garlic and dried chilli)

Pre-heat your oven to 200ºC
In an pot that can go from stove to oven brown the chicken until golden.
Add the rest of the ingredients and stir.
Once the liquid is boiling place in the oven for 2 hours.

Pasta Rice with Courgettes and Kidney Beans

250ml Pasta Rice ( risoni / orzo)
8 Courgettes cut into 1" pieces
1 Can Kidney Beans, drained and washed
2 Cloves of Garlic crushed

Cook the pasta rice ( risoni /orzo) as per instructions on the packet.
Drain, leaving a little of the water behind in the pot.
Return to the heat and add the courgettes, garlic and the beans.
Stir through and cook on a very low heat until the courgettes are tender and beans are warmed through.
Serve.