Elsa's Chicken Curry

Heat a medium-size soup pot over medium to medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon EVOO, about 1 turn of the pan. Add the garlic, onion, carrots and celery and saut until they start to soften up, 5-6 minutes.

Add the chicken stock and water, bring up to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and add the chicken and a bay leaf to the pot. Poach the chicken with a bay leaf until cooked through, 15 minutes. (The chicken can remain on stove over low heat through the curry preparation).

Get the rice started for tonight's dinner, according to package directions; it will take longer to cook than it takes to prepare the curry.

For the curry, heat a large skillet with a tablespoon of EVOO, about 1 turn of the pan, and the butter over medium heat. Cooks the onion until they start to get really tender, then add the garlic and continue to cook until the onions caramelize, about 12-15 minutes total. Season with a little salt and add the apples, cook 3-4 minutes, then sprinkle in the flour and curry powder. Cook for a minute then melt in the peanut butter, mincemeat and chutney. Stir in the chicken stock and simmer about 5 minutes to combine flavors.

While the curry is simmering, chop up 2 chicken breasts and 2 chicken thighs. Add a little lemon juice to the sauce, turn off the heat and fold in the chicken. Fill shallow bowls with the chicken curry and top them off with a small scoop of rice. Serve the assorted toppings alongside.

To prepare for the next night's meal, let the poaching liquid cool and chop up the remaining chicken breast and thighs. Add the meat back to the pot of cooled broth and veggies and place into the refrigerator for tomorrow night's Chicken Soup With Broken Spaghetti.