Shredded Chicken & Gravy (aka Cafeteria Chicken Gravy) | Rustic Joyful Food's Danielle Kartes

"When I was in elementary school, we'd get a hot-lunch calendar at the beginning of the month detailing what was to be served each day," Danielle says. "I was about 10 and in the fourth grade when I saw the 'Holiday Lunch Option.' Nothing else listed. Such mystery! There were four of us kids in my family, and we got to pick hot lunch once, maybe twice, a month for really special occasions. I saw Holiday Lunch Option, and I fancied myself a gambling woman: I was in! When I arrived at school, all I could think about was lunchtime. WHAT COULD IT BE? When the lunch bell rang, I flew to the front of the class and waited eagerly for dismissal. I could smell something delicious as we rounded the corner of the library in a perfect line of 24 kids, converging with other classes, all of us filtering into the lunch hall. I grabbed my tray and placed it on the counter. Plop—mashed potatoes; this was promising! Then came the gravy, with little bits of chicken meat. This was right up my alley. I was so impressed! I’d had gravy and potatoes many times, but never with the chicken mixed into the gravy! I laugh when I think back to that day, and remember my excitement. Little did I know, I would tuck the memory away for a recipe years later. I love to make this homestyle comfort food in the fall for my boys. When my mom was going through chemotherapy, I remember her asking me to make my chicken gravy and potatoes. That might have been one of the dearest meals I have ever cooked." —Rustic Joyful Food's Danielle Kartes

Danielle's Pro Tip: Save the bones and skin for perfect chicken stock.

Danielle likes to serve this with her Creamy Buttermilk and Parsley Mashed Potatoes. For another one of Danielle's recipes, check out her Simple Sick Day Chicken. 

Adapted from Rustic Joyful Food: Generations by Danielle Kartes. Copyright © 2020 by Danielle Kartes. Used with permission by Sourcebooks. All rights reserved.