MrsEarles Chicken( thank you Mrs Earle) and strawberries grown at waist height

Cooking Mrs Earles chicken tonight for our very dear neighbours, the Unsworths, who moved in 6 months before us, 30 years ago.. You get to know people after all that time. For pudding, strawberries from Farndon Farm shop. These are grown on platforms about 4 feet above the floor. Just let the slugs try and get them-no way.
Mrs Earles Chicken


Ingredients



25g butter

1 tbsp oil

5 boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped

5 bacon rashers rinds removed, chopped

2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 celery sticks chopped

1 leek, sliced and rinsed

25g plain flour

150ml milk

150ml chicken stock

25g button mushrooms, wiped and quartered

Bunch of flat leaved parley, finely chopped

Salt and pepper

For the topping

55g fresh breadcrumbs

55g grated cheese



Method



Preheat oven to gas mark 5 190 degrees

Heat butter and oil in a large pan and brown chicken pieces (takes about five minutes)

Add bacon and garlic to pan until bacon becomes crisp, and then add celery and leek until they soften.

Then lower heat, add flour and cook for a few minutes. Then add milk gradually, and then chicken stock, to make a smooth sauce. Add mushrooms and parsley.

Tip the lot into a large oven proof dish and smooth the surface.

Then mix crumbs and cheese together and spread over the top of the chicken and veg mixture.

Bake for 20 minutes or until the topping is crisp

Serves five people