Rotisserie Chicken & Chicken Broth

Toddler approved chicken quesadilla

If there is one thing we eat in this house more often than pulled pork, its Costco's rotisserie chicken. For $4.99 + tax, you can walk home with a fully cooked 3.0lb bird. Deal of the century! Personally, I find the meat pretty delicious on its own, and often the first night home that is what we eat.... But, what makes the rotisserie chicken so amazing is that its cooked chicken to use as you like! Talk about easy, cheap and convenient. There are plenty of you tube videos showing how to cut one up if they intimidate you (check out this one). I will be posting some real recipes but here are some ideas to get you started....

• Chicken Salad
• Chicken Quesadillas
• Fajitas
• Chicken Tacos
• Chicken Enchiladas
• BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
• Chicken Alfredo

Crockpot Dinner on Left, Chicken Stock on Right

But wait! Even the left overs can be used! Once you've used all the meat you're going to use, throw the bones into a bag and into the freezer. Once you've got 2-3 chickens worth you can use them to make some delicious broth!

It's easy, delicious, and cheap. Ok - I know chicken broth isn't really all that pricey, but if you can make it with ingredients you had on hand - why not? All you need is your left over chicken scraps and bones, some veggies (celery, onion, garlic, carrot), water and a pressure cooker or crock pot.

First, brown the chicken bones in the oven. Broil for 15-20 minutes. Then throw them in your crockpot/pressure cooker. Throw in some veggies. Put in just enough water to cover all the bones.  Add a splash of vinegar (optional) to help pull the calcium out of the bones and into the stock. Cook on low for 12 (or more) hours in slow cooker, or for one hour in pressure cooker. My last batch made close to 8 cups.

Afterwards I allowed mine to cool, then cooled over night in the fridge. I poured mine into ice cup trays and froze, then transferred to a bag, for easy access (Trays are about 2/$2 at Bed Bath and Beyond. Four cubes is a 1/2 cup). Now I pretty much always always have chicken broth available!