Chicken Rustico

Most children love chicken and this is a dish with a twist. It's cooked with carrots, olives, celery and rosemary so there's plenty of goodness without them even realising they're eating their 5 a day.
This is my grandmother's recipe and fills your kitchen with the most gorgeous aroma that'll make your little ones hungry for dinner.
Chicken Rustico is cheap, easy to make and is perfect for everyday or a dinner party as it's all in the preparation. You can then take it to the table and serve with bread to mop up the sauce. Delicious!
It's even tastier the second day so make sure you and your children don't eat it all in one go!

Taste rating – 5 out of 5
Difficulty rating – 2 out of 5

You will need: (to serve four)

Fresh chicken legs (enough for one or two each)
One carrot
Two sticks celery
100gms Black Olives
25gms Rosemary (use dried if you don't have any)
25gms Thyme
Three Bay leaves
Three garlic cloves
Two tablespoon olive oil
100 ml Chicken stock (or knock chicken stock cube)
400gms passata

How to make it:
1. Peel the carrot and chop in half lengthways, and chop the celery in half too.

2. Pour olive oil into large saucepan and put onto medium heat.

3. Put the bay leaves, rosemary,thyme, carrot and celery immediately into the oil, cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure it doesn't stick to the pan.

4. Add the chicken legs, stir and put the lid on the saucepan and leave for eight to ten minutes until the chicken is white, with no pink showing. Stir occasionally.

5. Boil 100ml of water in a kettle, once boiled pour into jug and add stock cubs, stirring until it's dissolved.

6. Into the chicken pan, add the finely chopped garlic , stir, and once it's cooked for 30 seconds, add in 100ml of chicken stock.

7. Turn heat up to max, leave the lid off and stir occasionally while the stock reduces. You should be left with an inch of thick, tasty sauce.

8. Pour in the passata, add the black olives and bring to the boil.

9. Turn down heat and simmer for 15 – 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve immediately with sliced baguette or garlic bread. Yummy – just like Daddy Makes!