Full Recipe
Author
Lexy Durst | 2021-05-17
Description
One of the many reasons why I love cooking and sharing meals is because of the impact food has on evoking memories, experiences, and cherished nostalgia. For many people, when you hear the words "family recipe" a certain dish or memory of a meal comes to mind. Whether it is a recipe that has been passed down through generations of children and grandchildren, or a special meal your mom used to make, or a tradition that you look forward to each year like eating Chicken a la King on Christmas Eve. Food has a magical way of transporting you to another time and place.
My favorite meal growing up was my mom Deana's recipe for Chicken a la King, which refers to the velvety bechamel-style cream sauce that so elegantly wraps itself around peas, pimentos, and chicken of course. As a child, I fondly remember this dish being "so fancy" and was impressed by my mom's advanced culinary techniques. Turns out, it's a foolproof recipe that can be made in a pinch and tastes like being wrapped in a warm blanket, fresh out of the dryer.
As an ode to my sweet mama and a tender moment of appreciation for the "food that stole our hearts," I took on the profound task of recreating this recipe in a way that would make Deana proud. Spicewalla Cracked Coriander & Pepper blend was the perfect seasoning to compliment this dish, brightening up the dish and enhancing the flavours with subtle notes of citrus and spice. The effortlessly fluffy and puffy puff-pastries were the perfect vessel for the rich and decadent filling, creating the ultimate comfort food. It was love at first bite, as the memories came flooding back, bringing tears to my eyes. I think my mom would approve of the way I flavour-fied her Christmastime classic, and I hope it brings you a smile too.
yield: 2-4 servings
prep time: 1 hour
cook time: 20 minutes
