Creuset Pan = Gone But Not Forgotten – Now How Do I Boil A Whole Chicken?

There are smaller pans in my cupboard but nothing will replace my big Creuset Dutch Oven Pan. Yes, I had to give it up due to wear and tear. It was chipped on the inside. That’s not good. The Creuset company, as it turns out has a life time guarantee. They claim that they will replace your pan. When I went out online to read their conditions on replacement, it was apparent to me that my great pan would not be replaced.

Moving on from there, on Sunday at the Lyndale Farmers Market, one of the Hmong sellers had put together a herb bouquet garni  or “a bunch of herbs, typically encased in a cheesecloth bag, used for flavoring a stew or soup.”

Hmong bouquet garni for Boiled Chicken recipe 9-18119

Anyway, I was intrigued by the beauty and color of the bouquet and asked what it was. A very nice Hmong lady became very enthusiastic and explained that is was for cooking a whole chicken for soup. It is used for woman who have just given birth to cleanse the body and make it strong. Also good for women to be strong.  She was so happy to share this knowledge with me even as she struggled in English to explain the purpose of the herbs. I bought the bouquet of herbs and thought that it would be fun to try it.

Yeah, I bought a whole chicken. This is where I am embarrassed to admit, that I sorta’ forgot about the loss of my Creuset Dutch Oven. Okay. I can look up Creuset Pans and GAK! How much is a Creuset Dutch oven – $500 plus dollars?  Some were Priced at $300 plus dollars? Never mind, I’ll cut the chicken up. How hard can that be?

Cutting the chicken up was not my favoritetest kitchen moment. The gory details will never be repeated here. I sharpened the knife and went at the poor bird’s carcass, after looking at instructions. Put the parts in two separate pans with water. Add the herbs split between the two pans with the onion and cook for 90 minutes until the chicken falls of the bone.

Cutting up a chicken for a boiled chicken recipe won’t be high on my to do list again. I am too aware of the animal as I cut it up. I wondered how so many women and men through the centuries have caught, killed and dressed a chicken to cook it for meals? Yup. In this day and age, I realize, I am a wuss who thinks too much.

Boiled Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

1- 3 pound chicken – Mine was 6.5 pounds*

One large onion cut in half

3 large carrots

2 stalks of celery cut into chunks

Tablespoon of while peppercorns

Water to cover

* I used only the onion and the Hmong bouquet garni with salt and pepper and a little garlic. My pans are too small and I am hoping that the taste of the herbs is good. So far everything seems to look and smell good.

The above recipe was found at Allrecipes for Boiled Chicken. There were many comments about how to use and clear the stock from this recipe. That was handy to read.

The chicken was tender, moist and delicious. I took the herbs and onion out of the stock let that cool and put it in a glass storage container to let the fat congeal. Then remove the fat and strain the broth through cheese cloth. The broth tastes good. Sorry that I can’t identify the mix of herbs.

Thanks for stopping by my kitchen.

I am grateful to the many people, who stop by to comment on my kitchen and other adventures.

Lyndale Farmers’ Market finds of broccoli, fresh thyme, garlic and Hmong bouquet garni 9-18-19

Have a peaceful day wherever you may be in your life.