Poppy Seed Chicken

When we lived in Texas our sweet next door neighbor made this for us for dinner several times when our husbands were both traveling for work. It was one of our favorite diners- with a package of Mahatma Yellow Rice and maybe some broccoli it was perfect. I never made it for Mr. Old Lady- but one night he came home and there was a little left in the pan and he gave it a try. Now it's on our spreadsheet and I made it last week. It did not disappoint. Just look at it there- unassuming with it's crunchy buttery ritz topping and piping hot creaminess inside.

The recipe calls for cooked chicken- I usually poach it for 15 minutes ish with a portion of an onion, some garlic powder and a carrot if I have one. You could also use a rotisserie chicken or leftover roast chicken- you just need a portion of chicken- how ever many you need for how ever many people you want to feed. I would do 2 breasts for the 2 of us which would give a serving for leftovers.

Poppy Seed Chicken

• cooked chicken- I would use 2 breasts for 2 people

• 4 oz sour cream

• a can of Cream of Mushroom/ Cream of Chicken soup

• about a tablespoon of poppy seeds

• a shake of garlic powder

• a stick of butter

• 1 to 1 ½ sleeves of ritz depending on how thick you like your topping

Mix all ingredients except butter and ritz. Pour into sprayed casserole dish like an 8x8 or something similarly sized. Heat butter in a bowl big enough to hold the butter and crackers. Carefully crush the ritz and stir into the butter. Sprinkle on top of the chicken-soup-sour cream mixture and bake uncovered at 350 for about 25 minutes which is the perfect amount if time to make yellow rice.

Notes:

• Last week the Little Old Lady added a bag of steam in the bag broccoli to her chicken and said it was fabulous.

• If you're making a bigger batch like for a full family with kids meal in like a 13x9 glass pan, you might want two sleeves of ritz. The big sleeves- not the little fresh packs.

• Theres a can of soup called Cream of Chicken and Cream of mushroom thats a can that's ½ and ½ for you. If you're making a larger batch, use a full can of each and add 4 more ounces of sour cream.

• big family discussion on if the poppy seeds add anything to the flavor. We honestly don't know. If you don't have any make this chicken anyway. Its fantastic.