Ingredients
4 Idaho potatoes, peeled and cubed into 2-inch pieces
Salt
4 medium pieces of boneless, skinless chicken breasts (6 ounces each)
2 tablespoons fresh thyme (a few sprigs), stripped and chopped
Black pepper
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1 head broccoli, trimmed and cut into florets and 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup chicken stock
1 1/2 cups milk or half-and-half, divided
1 1/2 cups shredded Gouda cheese
Directions
Place potatoes in pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, salt water, reduce heat a bit and cook until tender, about 12 minutes. Heads up: about halfway through you will add broccoli to the pot, so use a pot large enough to accommodate both. Season the chicken breast pieces with thyme, salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons EVOO in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken for 6 minutes on each side. Add broccoli to the potatoes and cook for 6 minutes. Heat butter in a small saucepot over medium heat. When butter has melted, add in flour and cook for 1 minute, then whisk in chicken stock and 1 cup milk or half-and-half. Thicken 2-3 minutes, season the sauce with salt and pepper, then stir in the cheese in a figure eight motion with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes, or until melted. Turn off heat. Drain cooked broccoli and potatoes and return to hot pot to dry them out. Mash the broccoli and potatoes together with up to 1/2 cup milk or half-and-half to desired consistency and season with salt and pepper. Slice the chicken breasts on an angle. Pile some mashed Broc-o-tatoes on plates and arrange the fanned out chicken on the edge of the mound and pour the Gouda Gravy over the top.
This is one of many "Yum-o!" recipes – it's good and good for you. To find out more about Yum-o!, Rachael's nonprofit organization, go to www.yum-o.org.